Local elections are around the corner and if you have ever wondered whether your vote actually does anything, especially if you are thinking about voting Green, let me give you a gentle but firm encouraging nudge.
Yes, it can make a difference. Not in some vague or distant kind of way. I mean in the very real, very local decisions that shape the places we live.
Read more below.
When people from the Green Party of England and Wales get elected to councils, they are not just there for decoration or protest. They are voting on planning decisions, transport changes, housing policies, and climate action at a local level. These are the things that decide whether your neighbourhood gets greener, cleaner, and more liveable, or continues as more of the same.
Even a small number of Green councillors can have an impact. Plenty of councils do not have one party fully in control, which means decisions come down to negotiation and compromise. That is where Greens can push for better outcomes, whether that is protecting green spaces, improving cycling routes, or making councils take climate commitments seriously instead of just talking about them.
And let us be honest, a single Green councillor might not transform everything overnight, but they can shine a light on issues, challenge decisions, and represent voices that might otherwise be ignored. Add a few more Green councillors into the mix and suddenly that influence grows. It is how change actually starts to take shape.
Of course, every area is different. Some places already have a Green presence. Others are just getting started. The impact of your vote depends on what is happening in your local ward and how close the race is. But that is exactly why it matters. Local elections are often decided by surprisingly small numbers of votes.
I know it is easy to feel like one vote does not count. But collectively, those votes are what decide who gets a seat at the table. And once someone is at that table, they have a say in decisions that affect your daily life.
So if you are looking for a way to support climate action, fairer communities, and a different approach to local decision making, voting Green is one of the most direct things you can do.
Turn up, mark your ballot, and have your say. It is local, it is immediate, and it matters a whole lot more than you might think.
I have a series of FGV events coming up in London including the return of London Vegan Beer Fest. Click here to find out more and book tickets. You can also join my FGV email newsletter online here.
If you appreciate these blog posts and the work I do to support vegan business, please consider making a one time small donation of a couple of quid online here. You might also be in the position to sponsor my work on an regular basis via Patreon.
You can order my book ‘Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t’ online now. It has been out a while now but is still a good read. You can also listen to the Audiobook read by me!
You can watch/stream my weekly podcast Tell Me Where I’m Going (Wrong) on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Follow me on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Facebook, and Blue Sky.