A grass-roots internet fund-raising scheme is being used to give Dorset voters a greater choice of candidates at this May’s General Election. The Green Party is hoping to field its first-ever parliamentary candidates in five south east Dorset constituencies, using the crowdfunding internet initiative.
Adrian Oliver, election co-ordinator for the South East Dorset Green Party, explained that although Green Party membership is growing rapidly, both nationally and locally, it doesn’t have the large-scale financial backing from which the other parties benefit.
He said: “We don’t get the same level of big donations from corporations, unions and wealthy private individuals.
“However, Crowdfunding provides an opportunity to put our case to local people and use their support to put up candidates that will give voters a real alternative to the old political parties.”
The five constituencies being targeted by the Green Party locally are: Bournemouth East, Bournemouth West, Christchurch, Mid Dorset & North Poole, and Poole.
Adrian said: “Our local membership has been going up fast – more than 120 people have joined in January alone – and we know lots of people share our belief in social and environmental justice.
“We want to bring about a fairer society but to do that we’ve got to get our candidates elected – and standing in a General Election costs money.”
Each parliamentary candidate has to put up a £500 deposit – and the Green Party also wants to raise £800 for each constituency so it can send a leaflet to every home and tell voters about its policies.
Adrian added: “Whether people donate £1 or £100, any money we raise will help make it possible for us to give the people of these five constituencies a real alternative, a better choice and an opportunity to help bring about that fairer society we all want.”
To view the Green Party’s crowdfunding websites for the South East Dorset constituencies, go to:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bournemoutheast
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bournemouthwest
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/christchurch
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/middorsetnorthpoole
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/poole
Helen Woodall
