Green Party secure funding to run in mayoral elections

The Green Party successfully raised enough money in the nick of time to put a candidate in the Sheffield City Region mayoral elections, taking place on May 3.
Green Party mayoral candidate Rob MurphyGreen Party mayoral candidate Rob Murphy
Green Party mayoral candidate Rob Murphy

After realising the high costs of standing in the election, which councillor Alison Teal called an attempt to "price out progressive parties", the party started a crowdfunding campaign to raise a necessary £8,000 to stand and be included in the information booklet sent to electors.

Coun Robert Murphy, Speaker for Sheffield Green Group, was announced as the Green Party candidate for the elections in March.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: "I'm chuffed to be getting the opportunity to challenge the establishment in South Yorkshire. The area is desperate for change and my experience of fighting the major party machines in Sheffield has given me a good idea of what to expect.

"I think local people are finally losing patience with the old ways of doing politics and are ready for a new open, transparent 21st century style of government."

According to Crowdfunder.com, 55 people donated money to the campaign with an anonymous final pledge of nearly £3,000 which allowed them to hit their target one day before the deadline closed for candidates.

The deposit to stand in the election costs £5,000 and another £3,000 was needed to be put in the information booklet which is sent to residents across the city.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A statement attached to the campaign said: “We have a very effective group of councillors on Sheffield City Council campaigning against the infamous programme of cutting down healthy trees by private contractor Amey.

“We have parish councillors fighting fracking and HS2 in Rotherham and Doncaster and an active party making headway in Barnsley.

“We want to be sure that the Green Party’s message is heard loud and clear in this election and therefore we intend to stand a candidate.

“This will mean every voter in South Yorkshire will have the opportunity to vote for the Green Party and receive information about what we stand for.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The elections will take place on Thursday, May 3, the same date as the local elections, and residents in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham will be able to vote. The final date to register is on Tuesday, April 17.