Robert Pass

The Green Party’s 2017 General Election candidate for Lichfield and Burntwood says the need for radical change is greater than ever.

Robert Pass
Robert Pass

Robert Pass has been chosen to fight the seat once again after previously contesting the 2015 poll.

His selection comes after it was confirmed that the Greens would have candidates standing in all Lichfield and Burntwood areas in next month’s county council elections.

Mr Pass said voters needed to stand up to policies being delivered by the Conservatives.

“We all know that Theresa May has called this election before the fallout from Brexit comes home to roost,” he said. “The need for radical change is greater than ever.

“The damage this government is doing to the social fabric of our country is ideological and due to policies which penalise people on low and middle incomes. We have an NHS at breaking point, a funding crisis in our state schools, a housing crisis, rising crime rates, and the food banks that sprang up following the Crash of 2008 are busier than ever.

“We have a right-wing government leading us down the path to a ‘hard Brexit’ which will do serious damage to the economy, jobs and Britain’s standing in the world. Meanwhile, climate change, the greatest threat that humankind has ever faced, is simply being ignored.”

Mr Pass said he was pleased to be given the opportunity to represent the party once more.

“I’m proud to stand as Green Party candidate in my home town for an economy that functions in the interests of the common good, for a society that is fair and democratic and a planet that is habitable for future generations,” he said.

“The Green Party is the only party that is united with coherent policies for dealing with the huge issues we face. As Einstein once said ‘We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them’.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

34 Comments
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Ann
6 years ago

They’ve got my vote. Labour are a basket case and I’d never trust the Lib Dems again.

W
6 years ago

Just a shame all of the anti-tory parties in Lichfield/Bwood can’t band together to just unseat Fabby.

Gives us a bit of a change. Please.

Rob
6 years ago

FYI
The Trussell Trust food banks “sprang up” in 2004, at the height of the Labour “no more boom and bust” years.
Facts eh?

Toast
6 years ago

Go home Rob, you’re drunk.

Rob
6 years ago

Pitiful

Steve
6 years ago

All candidates Green, Lib Dems, Labour….. are saying they will listen to the electorate.

Have one unity candidate, to go up against Mr Fabricant. You may win then.

If not, he will win a massive majority.

Listen to us, we want one sensible alternative that may win. No more stupid party politics.

Darryl
6 years ago

Rob touting that nonsense again.

John Newson
6 years ago

Do the maths Steve.

John Griffin
6 years ago

Too many egos on the line, only one way to beat the oleaginous Fabricant is to field one pro-NHS anti-Tory candidate. Trouble is, so many will whinge and then vote Tory, and then whinge even more.

Rob
6 years ago

Darryl in denial again.

John Newson
6 years ago

Why would the Greens stand aside when the combined total of Green, Labour and Lib Dem votes still wouldn’t even get close to beating him?

John Griffin
6 years ago

Quote from the Guardian about Prime Minister’s Question Time today:
“What was wanted on a day like this were weak and servile MPs to show up the strength and stability of Kim Jong-May. Step forward Michael Fabricant, a man whose only known talent is for sycophancy. Could the Supreme Leader say why she was the only person capable of showing strong and stable leadership?”

mike
6 years ago

Steve, if you want a unity candidate go for it, stand. Don’t just sit back and snipe at others efforts, go out and campaign. If you can’t be bothered then pick someone and back them. I think its great the Greens are making the effort and taking a stand. Good luck to them.

Steve
6 years ago

@John Newson. 2015 Fabricant 55.2% others 44.8%.

It would not take that much, for one alternative candidate to win.

So many people don’t bother to vote, as they know who is going to win. If there was a genuine competition, we could have a change.

Steve
6 years ago

@mike I would love to. Sadly, my health means that I would not be able to give all that being genuine MP requires.

I am not sniping. I want what is best for Lichfield. Mr Fabricant had his chance today, to raise a question about Lichfield, in parliament. Instead he did his party political bit, saying how wonderful the Conservative mayoral candidate is.

Five Spires Live
6 years ago

If only a unity non-partisan candidate could be persuaded to stand

Steve
6 years ago

Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley wrote to their counterparts to argue that cooperation between centre-left parties was the the only way to “stop the Tories from wrecking our country for generations to come”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/19/greens-urge-labour-and-lib-dems-to-form-electoral-pact-to-defeat-tories

This comes from the Greens. I would vote for a unity candidate.

Toast
6 years ago

I’d stand, but my opinion on Marmite would divide support.

Darryl
6 years ago

@Rob could you explain why I am in denial and you are not?

You logged onto Wikipedia, read the formation date of the Trussell Trust, correlated that with Labour being in power and continue to spout it as fact ever since.

What you continue to fail to mention is the Trussell Trust didn’t start UK operations until 2000, some 3 years later and only in Salisbury up until 2004.

Aside from that, Tony Blair was hardly a dye in the wool Labour type leader, policies often referred to as ‘Conservatism lite.’

The Trussell Trust increased operations around the UK from 2004, using churches and halls. Their figures on their website don’t go back to 2004, but from 2011, where they handed 128,000 emergency food packs, we can look at 2016 where they handed out 1.18 million food packs.

So, please, stop with your nonsensical rhetoric to equate a Labour government with the rise of food-banks.

Rob
6 years ago

Darryl:
You are denying what you state in your own post, it started under a labour government.
Irrespective of what “type” of leader Blair was, it said Labour on the ballot paper, and Labour is what we got.
Or are you going to try and deny that as well?

Darryl
6 years ago

It started at a time we had a Labour government. It did not start because of it.

Rob
6 years ago

Can you point out where I said it did?

Darryl
6 years ago

“FYI
The Trussell Trust food banks “sprang up” in 2004, at the height of the Labour “no more boom and bust” years.
Facts eh?”

Rob
6 years ago

So you can’t show where I said it started because of the Labour government.

John Griffin
6 years ago

Food banks have been around for years, largely for the homeless. It’s the fact their use has multiplied exponentially and includes people in work that is the issue. Facts, eh, Darryl ‘CleverClogs’.

Mat
6 years ago

Darryl -sprang up? What is your meaning here? Yes the first Foodbank began in UK in 2004 but it was to cater for a specific local need. It was set up by a couple who were attached to a church which highlighted that there were people in need due to debt. If any springing took place it was between 2008 and 2012 when they multiplied into the thousands due to poverty and destitution. If the Tory record is so great, why did Cameron instruct that no official figures be taken regarding their use? Whilst we are on the subject, why do they no longer collect data on child poverty?

Darryl
6 years ago

I’m quoting Rob, Mat. It’s not my comment, read further up.

Rob
6 years ago

Come on Darryl – explain yourself, LOL.

John Griffin
6 years ago

Sorry Darryl, didn’t realise it was the Tory scoffing troll with the ‘whataboutery’ tactic.

Rob
6 years ago

“Tory scoffing troll”
Is this part of the unification technique of the man with no policies?

Ben
6 years ago

They do collect data on child poverty… it’s all under the title child well being.

Ben
6 years ago

*in addition to my very brief answer. The only difference between how the conservatives measure child well being compared with how labour do it is that they gather their data from an earlier point. They believe that we should put money into children as they are the future.

Mat
6 years ago

A thousand apologies Daryll. They don’t collect data child poverty. The term as you have said has been changed. (not you Daryll)

Adam Elsdon
6 years ago

Lichfield Food Bank opened 2014 at Wade Street, and later at the Life Church.

Two Food Banks in a small city, which has had the same MP for the last twenty years why is that? because Michael Fabricant Conservative MP for Lichfield:-

Voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices.
Voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
Voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support.
Voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits.
Voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed.

Michael stated in Parliament about Food Banks:-
“Instead of harping on about what the Government might or might not be doing—and we are doing much to get people out of food poverty—I urge colleagues to do as I have done and visit their local food bank. I know that many colleagues have already done so. They should also emphasise to their constituents that what food banks require is not fresh food, but pasta, sugar and other goods that can be stored for some time.”

So to summarise, vote against motions in parliament that can help people in desperate need, and advise other MP’s that their constituents give Pasta and Sugar to Food Banks.

This from an MP who claimed £10006.86 for council tax, rent etc on top of his £74,962 basic pay.

Twenty years of this, is this really the best that Lichfield can do?

(votinginfo/quote/figs from Theyworkforyou and IPSA)