Why I wish I was voting Green

I can't vote what I would like to vote, which is Green, because we don't have a candidate. We have been moved out of the Stroud constituency and into Cirencester, though we don't really feel we belong there at all. Labour-held Stroud has a Green candidate; Tory-held Cirencester doesn't. I hope they decide to stand here in the future.

That leaves me voting Liberal Democrat, which is what I've voted all my life. I would like to have had the chance to switch to the Greens this time because I'm more concerned than ever with global warming, the environment, the arms trade, and the general callousness evident in farming, with factory farming and the export of live animals.

The Lib Dems put it in their manifesto, which is good, and they talk about it more than the other two parties, but the Greens take it even more seriously. Some people might say a vote for the Greens would be a wasted vote with our electoral system, but I feel I ought to vote for what is right. I don't believe in tactical voting and have never done it in my life.

I agree strongly with the Lib Dems that taxes should rise, but I'm not very happy with their policy on Europe and the single currency. Sometimes different solutions will fit each individual country. Institutions can get too big and, in getting agreement, a lot of babies can be thrown out with the bathwater.

I don't think Britain should be in with the rest of Europe; I'd rather us form a union with the Scandinavian countries, which would be more manageable. We are heading for a situation where America and Europe will be two opposed blocs.

Despite my feelings on Europe, I could never vote for the Tories, the inegalitarian party. A good government cares for the helpless, the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the elderly. I don't feel health and education are safe under Labour, but they certainly wouldn't be under the Tories.

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