Clear Green Water

What makes a Green vote - and a Green councillor - distinct from all the rest?

In practice, given that council decisions are pretty much limited to what the government will permit and fund, it's hard to see much distinction between any of the parties outside their general philosophies. We can only generalise. The Tories will keep council tax down by cutting services; Labour will do whatever it thinks it can get away with; the LibDems will say one thing and do something completely different.

So here are three exclusive, very specific promises that you get from Bristol's Green Party candidates, me included.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

The Greens' RECALL policy was formally spelled out last year. It provides for councillors who've lost the confidence of their electorate to be 'recalled', ie to stand down, if 20% of the electorate demand it, forcing a byelection. It's a voluntary promise from the Greens; the other parties on the council were invited to do the same, but refused.

MASS MEDICATION

Almost certainly, the 23 councillors elected next Thursday will be asked to vote on whether everyone of their electorate should have fluoride added to their drinking water. Green councillors will say no - because we believe that everyone should keep the right to choose, it's not for councillors to say what medication you should have.

TRANSPORT

All the parties pay lip service to the need to get a 'modal shift' away from car use. Only the Greens see a major Bristol transport interchange as a vital part of the answer - and want Plot 6 at Temple Meads, along with redundant station buildings, to provide it. Other parties seem to prioritise making it easier to commute to Bristol by car, using a Park and Ride and a bendybus for the last leg!