Greens name local candidates

THE Green Party has announced its local candidates for the General Election, with Plymouth City Councillor Lauren McLay leading the charge in South West Devon.

The Green Party is standing candidates in a record 574 seats across England and Wales, including in South West Devon, Plymouth Moor View, and Plymouth Sutton & Devonport Ms McLay has been selected as the Green Party candidate for South West Devon, a constituency that includes Plympton, Plymstock, Woolwell, Yelverton, Shaugh Prior, Ivybridge, and Sherford. As the Green Party Group Leader on Plymouth City Council and the representative for Plympton Chaddlewood ward, Ms McLay has made history as the first Green Party councillor to be successfully re-elected to Plymouth City Council, securing 53% of the vote in May 2024.

Since her initial election in January 2023, Ms McLay has been a staunch advocate for improving local play parks and green spaces, promoting nature conservation, and pushing for a just transition to net zero. She serves on several key committees on Plymouth City Council, including Health and Wellbeing, Natural Infrastructure and Growth, and Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panels.

Ms McLay, who grew up in Scotland, moved to the South West to work for an environmental charity.

She has a professional background in tourism, culture and communications. She said it is a 'great honour' to have been selected to contest the seat which has been held by retiring Conservative Sir Gary Streeter for 27 years.

Ms McLay's campaign is focused on addressing critical local and national issues. She said: "We live in one of the richest countries on the planet, yet in Plymouth and South West Devon nurses are using food banks, putting a roof over our heads is all too often unaffordable, thousands of children are growing up in poverty, and a hospital or dentist appointment is like gold dust.