GREEN Party’s Westminster candidate Tanya Jones addressed her party’s election manifesto launch last week, saying it was her desire to “build our vision of politics for the common good.” The Enniskillen woman told delegates that she has been “overwhelmed” by the support she has received from the people of Fermanagh-south Tyrone.

“And I’m delighted at this manifesto,” she said. “What’s so different about it is that it isn’t a list of disconnected policies. It’s a complete, interconnected, interlinked fabric, a seamless garment, if you like.” “The Green Party is best-known for its protection of the environment,” explained Mrs. Jones.

“But you can’t have a clean environment in a war zone. You can’t have peace where people are hungry and desperate. And you can’t have economic justice when some are more equal than others.” The would-be MP reiterated the Green Party’s pledges: “We need all four of our key principles: environmental sustainability and social justice; non-violence and grassroots democracy. This manifesto encapsulates that vision, and it also sets out the practical steps we need to take to make that a reality.” Mrs. Jones said all five of her party’s Westminster candidates across Northern Ireland “come from different backgrounds.” “We have different motivations, and different issues lie closest to our hearts. But we share that vision of the common good, for present generations and those to come, and we share the knowledge of how to achieve it. We know where we’re going, and we know how to get there,” she said.

And Mrs. Jones had reason to feel proud this week when her son Aidan, a final year student at the Erne Integrated College, was elected chair of the Young Greens, the young people’s group of the Green Party in Northern Ireland.   “It’s really an honour to become Chair of the Young Greens at this point, to represent young people across Northern Ireland and help continue the Green surge we’ve had in recent months. I want to help push progressive, egalitarian politics here, particularly in areas like education, which affect young people most,” he said.