Trump Councillor Joins Greens
Sun., May 31, 2009. 12:15.
Councillor Martin Ford joins the Scottish Green Party
Councillor Martin Ford, campaigner against Donald Trump's proposed golf course in Aberdeenshire, has today announced his decision to join the Scottish Green Party following a personal invitation to do so from Patrick Harvie MSP, co-convener of the Greens. (1) Councillor Ford resigned from the Liberal Democrats in January (2) over the conduct of senior councillors and environmental issues following his vote against the Trump development, and will continue to sit as a member of the four-strong Democratic Independent Group on Aberdeenshire Council. (3)
Councillor Martin Ford said:
I believe we need a more liberal and democratic society, one where power and wealth are more equally shared.
Fairer distribution implies a reduction in the use of natural resources and waste generation to sustainable levels, so future generations are not unfairly penalised. We have to recognise that there are absolute limits to the planet's capacity to cope with human activity. Creating a society that respects planetary limits - for example, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions - is the biggest challenge we face.
I have been involved in politics for most of my adult life. I got involved in order to further the liberal, democratic and environmental ideals I believe in. I have stood for election and been elected to Aberdeenshire Council three times on a commitment to support those ideals on the Council.
After a period in which I have not been a member of any political party, I am joining the Scottish Green Party to further those same liberal, democratic and environmental principles.
In decisions ranging from road building to airport expansion, all of the four main parties are still pursuing policies that will significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions while promising to reduce them. No wonder there is a serious problem of public trust in politicians.
I have concluded that only the Green Party can be relied upon to consistently support policies that will prevent climate change emissions reaching dangerous levels. That alone is more than enough reason to join.
Patrick Harvie MSP, the Scottish Green Party's co-convener, said:
Martin Ford has made a name for himself as one of the most consistent and persuasive campaigners for Scotland's environment, and his principled rejection of Donald Trump's vanity golf course scheme was heard around the world. We are therefore delighted to welcome him to the Scottish Green Party, and I look forward to working closely with him on the Trump campaign and many others.
For years, Liberal Democrat parliamentarians have faced both ways on climate change, talking a good game while simultaneously backing inexcusable plans for motorway and airport expansion. They are now starting to pay the price for ignoring the concerns both of their voters and of those, like Martin Ford, who were once proud to stand for election under their banner.
We believe that Scotland's future depends both on the clean industries of the future and the kind of protection for Scotland's environment he has fought so hard for. The other parties still don't get it, and I would urge anyone who shares Martin Ford's disappointment with them to join him and vote for the Scottish Greens this Thursday.
Notes
1. Councillor Ford represents the East Garioch ward on Aberdeenshire Council, and was first elected in 1999. He has been a Westminster and Scottish Parliament candidate for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and was vice-chair of the party from 1992 to 1996. Prior to his election, he worked as a plant ecologist at the Scottish Agricultural College in Aberdeen, and has a Ph.D. in plant ecology from the University of Wales (Swansea). He has campaigned on rail improvements (chaired North East Scotland Rail Freight Development Group), climate change (including as chair of North East Scotland Climate Change Partnership), against the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (opposed it in the council and at the public inquiry), and notably against the Menie development (voted against planning application and opposed at public inquiry). Councillor Ford currently sits as one of the four members of the Democratic Independent Group on Aberdeenshire Council, and will continue to do so as a member of the Scottish Green Party. The group advocates policies of transparency and good governance in council business and 'liberal, democratic and environmental principles'.
2. The following are extracts from Councillor Ford's January letter of resignation to Tavish Scott:
Essentially, I have been forced to the conclusion that the party does not do 'what it says on the tin'. I still strongly support the vast majority of the party's stated policies and the liberal and democratic ideals it was formed to promote - I just don't trust the party any more to adhere to these things itself. I also recognise that the great majority of party members are decent people who sincerely support the things the party says it stands for and act accordingly. Most of my closest friends are party members.
And:
One of the main reasons I joined the Liberal Democrats was the party's environmental policies. They remain, on paper, a powerful argument for supporting the party. Unfortunately, the reality is different. I have canvassed for the party at every election in the last twenty years. During most or all of those campaigns, at some point I have had to reassure a sceptical voter as to the party's stance on the environment. "All the parties now say they are committed to the environment. But the Liberal Democrats really mean it." I can hear myself say it. I don't believe it myself any more, so, in all conscience, I can't say it to others.
3. In the 2007 local elections Scottish Green Party won eight seats, five in Glasgow and three in Edinburgh.
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.