Brian Candeland, Manchester Withington, Green party

link / contact details for potential supporters
brian.candeland@ntlworld.com



i.
what do you think is the most important issue in this election?

Answer    I believe the most important single issue is (or should be) the threat of climate change

ii.
why did you make the decision to stand in this constituency and for this party (as an independent)?

Answer    The Green Party has stood in local and other elections in this constituency for a number of years, gaining a rising and above average vote. I have been a member of the Green Party for around 20 years

iii.
what kind of vote are you expecting on May 5th?

Answer    5% plus of the vote;  I also consider I have a chance of pushing the Tories into 4th place

iv.
aside from the vote what are you hoping to get out of this campaign?

Answer   Increasing public awareness of the issues and policies we believe are important, plus pressure on other parties.

v.
in your view what is the greatest threat to our civil liberties at the moment?

Answer   The growing range of measures being pushed though under the guise of 'the war against terror' by increasingly authoritarian home secretaries

vi.
Blair has taken us to war three times since coming to power (not including the occasional ad hoc bombing raid) in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. Can war ever be justified?

Answer   Only in extreme circumstances (e.g. World War 2); I opposed the three wars mentioned above, and want to see a timetable for withdrawal of British troops from Iraq as soon as possible

vii.
There is very little left to privatise in this country, if you had your way what would be brought into public hands.

Answer: The rail system for one thing; also we want to see the National Health service restored to the principles on which it was founded; we are
completely opposed to PFI and the privatisation by stealth of a range of public services including education and council housing.

viii.
Some environmental campaigners have started talking about nuclear power as a way to bring down CO2 emissions - what do you think of this?

Answer:   Nuclear power is a very poor solution to the threat of climate change and of course brings its own problems.  The vast majority of
environmental scientists and campaigners share this view.  The right solutions to climate change are tackling excessive consumption of energy and developing renewables such as solar.

ix.
Asylum and immigration will be central issues in this election. What action on this issue would you like to see the next government push
through?

Answer:  The next government must stand up to the racist scaremongering of elements of the press, and fairly treat those fleeing persecution.  It must also address the international causes of asylum seeking such as war and environmental degradation.

x.
What question do you wish was on this list but doesn't appear?

Answer:  What would you do to achieve international social justice? (reason - I do not feel there is sufficient international dimension in the
questions above)

My answer to the question would be:  We need to change the international trading system from one that promotes so-called 'free trade' (which in truth distorts in favour of the rich) to one that promotes fair trade; also we need to increase aid, reduce debt of poorest countries and promote greater equity across the world now and across generations.
 

April 2005