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Why The Greens are Near the Top of a Blind Taste Test

11/25/2019

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Ahead of the UK General Election on December 12, the four candidates hoping to become the new MP for my local constituency, Hinckley and Bosworth, have each written an exclusive guest post for my blog.

We've had Conservative Dr Luke Evans: stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/dr-luke-evans-conservative-parliamentary-candidate

Labour's Rick Middleton: stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/for-the-many-not-the-few  


Lib Dems' Michael Mullaney: 
stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/campaigning-to-save-local-services

Today, it's the turn of The Green Party candidate, Mick Gregg.
by Mick Gregg
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Hi, my name is Mick Gregg and I am definitely not going to be your next MP.

My 52nd birthday is fast approaching. I live in Desford with my wife and 8-year-old son, who enjoys going to Desford Primary school.

We’ve been in the village for 2 years, and before that we were in Kirkby Mallory for 12. I have been a social worker in various Midlands councils since 1991, working in children’s safeguarding, mental health, courts and have now been employed with Leicestershire County Council for the last two years as a senior in a team for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, and I like my job.

As a hobby I like walking down canals that are no longer there.

As I say, I am definitely not going to be your next MP.

The truth is that most MP’s in our parliament are sitting on jobs that are pretty near as safe as any job you can get in the public sector.  I think it’s bad for our democracy; it means that new voters, or even older voters, can wonder why they vote, when the outcome in most constituencies is a pretty near certainty. And it’s also bad for our democracy because it means that many of our representatives don’t really, deep down, have to worry too much about what the people they represent really want or need.

As long as they keep in with the local party members (the ones who chose the candidate) they can be pretty sure where they’ll be after the election.  Now I am not saying, at all, that the other candidates in the election in Bosworth would take this attitude. On the contrary my fellow candidates seem to me to be decent people who want to work for our area.  I am not picking a fight with them about how they’d perform if they were our MP; in fact, as a Green candidate we purposely choose to be polite and respectful to other candidates.   And I think this Green Party principle of good manners shows when Caroline Lucas speaks out, and what you can expect when more Greens get elected.

In Bosworth, and everywhere else, we would change the voting system to one where you can show preferences for the parties and candidates. We’d give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote; we trust young people.  How exciting would it be to feel that your vote choices really mattered even if you lived in a safe seat? and even (although I’d really rather you didn’t) if you wanted to vote for the Brexit Party!  

So, if I know I’m not going to win then why do you stand?” The answer is because I want you to know us, and not the cliched stereotype that you might think of as Greens.  I want to tell you of the Green solutions, and I most of all I want you to have the opportunity if you share our vision and values to be able to vote Green in Bosworth. My Party took the step to see where, if we stood back, a LibDem might be able to win; and they did the same with us. Bosworth was a long way off being on that list.

What I want to do with this time you have given me in reading this is to encourage you to look at what we stand for and what we want to do. When people are asked to rate various policies in a kind of ‘blind taste test’, the Green policies always come out near the top of people’s choices.
Try: 
https://voteforpolicies.org.uk

We have the solutions to all things in our lives and future, way beyond just the climate crisis.  

I wanted to spend the next paragraph or two to tell you what distinguishes the Green Party from all the others; what it is that makes us different.
 
1.  We are driven by a basic undeniable logic. Simply put, we know cannot keep taking things from the earth, and expect to grow every year on year, on year; eventually the things we take run out.  What we ask is simply, “will this still be here as a way to do things for the next generation?” Even our ideas in detail are called “Policies for a Sustainable Society”!
You’ll find them at:  https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/core-values.html

2. We take a global view of how to solve the world’s problems, but we are not naïve as to how difficult this is.  However, anything other than this view of all people working together and you end up with divisions and blaming other countries and people.  We embrace diversity and difference whether it’s in Hinckley or in the World.  We believe, if we don’t view the world this way, we will see more wars for oil, wars for water, wars for land as these things get scarcer.  We are citizens of one world. If this sounds naïve then it might be a good point to mention that we are not an overtly pacifist party, we would indeed avoid killing people and use every alternative method to change corrupt governments, and manage conflict, but a Green Government would still have our armed services. What makes us different is that we would take our place within strategies agreed through the United Nations.  We would not start wars on our own or at the bequest of America. There is no ‘macho crusade’ in the Green Party.  We would cancel Trident and in doing so find something like a £100 billion down the back of the sofa; (we’re also going to scrap HS2, and there’s another odd £100 billion).
   
We have some people in the world who would presumably do me harm for holding my values of tolerance and respect, whether they be Islamic extremists or fascists in our, or other, countries.  But to have fought wars in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya has really solved what exactly? We do have an alternative international way forward, which doesn’t destroy countries, and in doing so create a new generation of bitter and angry people.

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3. We recognise that there is real imbalance in the world between the Northern and Southern hemispheres. We simply want to help the people in difficult circumstances because we believe that to help people makes them more likely to be our friends, and less our enemies.  When things are not in balance, they fall over. Without balance our world, or our country, will never really be safe, and at the moment we see the balance between those who have, and those who have not, becoming worse and worse.

4. It is this belief in ‘one world’ that leads, in part, to our stance on the EU referendum.  We are very democratic in our Green hearts! I believe that the EU referendum was not fought with anything like accurate information and because of this was not democratic in the real sense.  The ‘remain’ side never really believed that we vote to leave (and frankly neither did Boris Johnson).
 
Let’s say I go to have an operation I can only give my consent knowing all the facts, and all the risks; if I am sold PPI without then giving me all the details I get my money back.  Where in the referendum was ‘this is going to really mess up Ireland?” or “we’ll be paying the EU at least £39 billion just to leave?”……...The reason we support an immediate new referendum - and were involved at the start of a People’s Vote campaign -  is because now we really do know what it would mean to vote ‘leave’ or ‘remain’.  This new vote will be taken with our collective eyes fully opened, and if it’s to ‘leave’ then we will leave.  At our core, the Green Party believes in democracy, we believe people will do the right thing in the right circumstances with the right information - essentially, we believe in people!

4. Another big difference between Greens and the rest, is that we want you to work less, we want everyone to have more time to spend with family, finally learn to play that guitar (ok, that might be just me)  or whatever; have access to green spaces and time to go there; feel less anxiety and angry. Our collective improving emotional wellbeing would reduce the cost of health services and everything that goes with it for families and communities. We are not simply here to work; we are here to live!

5. For this reason, and many others, we want to promote a Universal Basic Income - £92 per week paid into every citizens’ bank account. As we earn more this basic payment is reclaimed in tax. The idea that this would somehow result in people giving up work has no basis in reality or evidence from where it’s been tried in practice, we would still work as we’d want more for ourselves, there would still be people with much more money than others, Amazon would still be delivering your Christmas presents (but paying tax)  It isn’t impossible, think about how many families get Child Benefit every month into their accounts.  Think about how it could remove the whole benefits system, student loans, old age pensions and give people security.  

6. Locally, or course, is where we believe decisions should be made, and the best decisions for our communities are made. We would create Citizens Assemblies and the right of constituents to call for a sitting MP to be removed, making it easier to get rid of corruption and self-interest. What is needed is more control for the people who use the services and not leaving to an MP to try to create change.  

The Green Party would provide free public transport across the constituency, monitor air pollution, pay to reopen the Ivanhoe railway line that runs through Desford to passengers, and provide a safe cycle path alongside it.
   

We would spend the money, raised through specific taxation to restore, and provide parity of, the funding to Leicestershire County Council with other councils in England, and our local NHS Trusts necessary to ensure that services are local and accessible.  We would make it illegal to profit from an NHS service. Provide enough money to reopen Surestart centres, and build quality local housing with a strategy that only small estates could be built, attached to existing villages and towns, that are relevant and affordable to local people, with a clear answer to ensuring that schools, transport and doctor surgeries have capacity to absorb the new families.

Your local candidates make promises, but be careful to consider what candidates tell you they can do about health, transport, creating jobs or other important issues for our local towns and our villages: remember to ask them “how?”
 
                                              
Now, I thank you for reading this and considering the ideas, and you’ll see that I hardly mentioned climate breakdown (I presume you already know where we stand on that - and how dangerous our situation is if we don’t do something big and do it now. All I’ll say is that as far as ‘Green New Deals’ go; the original is always the better than the copy. Who do you believe will do what is necessary without distractions?

https://campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto

                    
    IF THESE PRINCIPLES SEEM TO BE ALONGSIDE YOUR OWN, A VOTE FOR GREEN IS THE BEST WAY TO  LET THE OTHER PARTIES AND THE GOVERNMENT KNOW
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Campaigning to Save Local Services

11/20/2019

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Ahead of the UK General Election on December 12, the four candidates hoping to become the new MP for my local constituency, Hinckley and Bosworth, have each written an exclusive guest post for my blog.

We've had Conservative Dr Luke Evans: stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/dr-luke-evans-conservative-parliamentary-candidate

Labour's Rick Middleton: stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/for-the-many-not-the-few  

For the Green Party: Mick Gregg:
https://stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/why-the-greens-are-near-the-top-of-a-blind-taste-test

And today it's the turn of Lib Dem Michael Mullaney

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Michael Mullaney was the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Bosworth in 2010,2015 and 2017 each time getting the highest Liberal Democrat vote in the East Midlands.

Michael has been a Councillor for Hinckley since 2011 having been elected four times a councillor.

He lives in Hinckley with his family.



Campaigning to Save Local Services
I'm the candidate for Hinckley and Bosworth who has the track record of campaigning for our area over the years.

I have been involved in a series of campaigns to save vital local services.
In 2012/2013 I helped lead the campaign which save Hinckley ambulance station when it was faced with closure and succeeded in keeping it open.

In 2015/16 I campaigned to stop plans that would have seen Hinckley's second fire engine axed.

I've been involved in campaigns to save vital local services in villages in our borough such as bus services and sure start Children's Centres in places like Barwell when they were threatened with closure.  

More recently following the removal of X-ray facilities from Hinckley Hospital I campaigned to get xray services back in Hinckley and am delighted that the health authority has agreed to return them to the town.


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I've a record of action before being elected Bosworth's MP. If given the chance to be the MP with the platform that gives you I can achieve so much more for our area.

Hinckley and Bosworth has been let down by the Tories. We have among the worst funded schools in the country. This leads to us having one of the worst levels of social mobility in the country. Someone born poor in our area is more likely to stay there throughout their lives than they are in most other places.

This urgently needs changing. Young people in Hinckley and Bosworth deserve a fair chance in life and that means properly funded schools. Our NHS is underfunded we need a new facility for our large and growing population like a Walk-in Centre or Minor Injuries Unit, instead we've had to fight to save basic local services like X-rays in Hinckley.

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Our police are not properly funded people rarely see a police officer locally. We urgently need more police.

As Hinckley and Bosworth's MP I would bang the drum and speak up in Parliament for the extra resources for health education and police we need locally. Every seat in Leicestershire County voted Tory last time. The Tories take our area for granted and think we will continue to vote for them while they fail to give our vital local services the funds they need.

We need a change  in Hinckley and Bosworth and we can get a change here. In May Liberal Democrats gained the council from the Conservatives. For the first time ever we won the popular vote with Lib Dems getting 42% Tories 36% and Labour just 15%. In the European elections Lib Dem's got more votes than the Tories and Labour here.

There's a real chance for change here in Bosworth this time. We can elect a new Lib Dem MP who lives locally and who has a track record of campaigning for years for our vital local services health, education and other key services.

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For The Many, Not The Few

11/18/2019

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With the UK General Election coming on December 12, the four candidates hopeful of becoming the MP for my local constituency, Hinckley and Bosworth, are each writing an exclusive guest post for my blog.

We have Conservative, Dr Luke Evans; Labour, Rick Middleton;  Lib Dem, Michael Mullaney; and Green Party, Mick Gregg.

We have Dr Luke Evans - you can read his post here:

https://stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/dr-luke-evans-conservative-parliamentary-candidate

Michael Mullaney, for the Lib Dems:  stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/campaigning-to-save-local-services

Mick Gregg, for the Green Party: 
https://stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/why-the-greens-are-near-the-top-of-a-blind-taste-test

Today, it's the turn of Labour's Rick Middleton.
Rick Middleton, the Labour candidate for Bosworth is a father-of-one, lives in Hinckley and runs his own web consultancy business. He is also the chair of Bosworth Constituency Labour Party.

After studying IT & communications at North Warwickshire & Hinckley College, he took an apprenticeship in IT, working as a knitwear designer at a factory in Earl Shilton which later moved to Barwell.

Whilst later working at a web design agency, he also studied part time for foundation degree in Graphic design and E-media at Leicester college, graduating in 2014.

Here, he tells us why he feels he should be Bosworth's next MP.
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by Rick Middleton
Local, Positive, Credible
Being an MP requires many qualities but these are a good three to start with.

Local

Don't get me wrong, I believe a candidate can move to an area, become an MP and make it their own over time but growing up here, going to the local schools here and knowing the local community gives me a huge advantage over some of the other candidates.

Whilst I grew up in Hinckley and that's where I live now, I spent 4 years living in the village of Barlestone which helped me to understand how village life differs from living in the town.

People in villages face different challenges from those in towns. Whilst many in towns are concerned about traffic and parking, the concerns of villages are often with a lack of employment in the area, especially when new developments take place without the sufficient infrastructure that will create jobs.

Whilst good quality, reliable public transport is very important to those in towns, to those in villages it's a necessity. Recently bus services have been cut across the borough in our villages with some of the smaller villages having had their bus services slashed entirely.

This is unfortunately what happens when private companies operate public services in the interest of profit over the needs of our local communities, something a Labour government will end by bringing transport networks back into public ownership.

Positive

Positivity is what being an MP should be all about. Anyone elected into the House of Commons should always be thinking about how they can make a positive difference to their local community.

Whatever I do in life, whether it be at work or in politics, I always look towards a positive outcome. I'm always looking at how I can influence change rather than concerning myself with anything that's outside of my control.
​
Right now, I'm focused on becoming the next MP for Bosworth. I'm taking action by campaigning across the constituency. Labour finished second to the Tories in Bosworth here at the last election and I believe we can do better. I'll be doing everything I can to win as many votes as possible to make that a reality.
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Credible

Unfortunately, we live in a time where people's trust in politicians is at an all-time low. 

This is evidenced by the hundreds of spoilt ballots in this year's local election, something that politicians need to reflect on.

During the EU referendum in 2016 a whole host of promises were made, many of which were not compatible with leaving the European Union. Voters were promised that if they voted leave things would change, and that they would change quickly. They have not.

David Cameron spent £9million of tax payers money in an attempt to convince the public to remain. The morning after the result was declared, he stepped down.

Theresa May promised the country she would get a good deal, she failed to do so and stepped down.

Boris Johnson said he'd “… rather die in a ditch” than fail in his mission to take Britain out of the EU on the 31st October. He failed and cost the tax payer an estimated £100million on advertising the deadline. To build bridges with those who have lost faith in politics we need credible policies. 

Boris Johnson's slogan “Get Brexit Done” might be a great sound bite, but the truth is that it's not credible. It's “Get Brexit done” no matter what the cost, to our country, to jobs, to our economy. A position that even some of the most loyal, well-respected and long serving Conservative MP's didn't support in parliament, a position which cost them their party membership.

The reality is that even if a withdrawal agreement with the EU was reached, and was voted through parliament, this would not be the end. Brexit would not be done; this would be just the start of the process. We would be negotiating our future relationship with the EU for years to come.

This makes this slogan very misleading to those who want to get beyond Brexit.

How to get Britain beyond Brexit

Many people ask me on the doorstep how I voted in the EU referendum.
The answer is simple - I voted to remain. But I am also a democrat. After the result of the referendum in 2016, I refused to sign a petition calling for another referendum on the basis that we should respect the result of the first vote even if it wasn't the outcome I'd campaigned for.

I supported Labour's commitment to negotiate a Brexit deal that would keep our close trading relationship with the EU through a customs union and a single market deal.

By doing this we could avoid the disastrous no deal Brexit Theresa May put on the table as part of her negotiation strategy.

Three and a half years since the result of the referendum so much of parliament’s time has been dedicated to Brexit, with a lot of resources going on preparations for no-deal outcome. We have now reached a point where the only way to solve the Brexit crisis is to go back to the people with a deal on the table.

This would not be a re-run of the referendum because the choice would be between remain and a credible Brexit deal, this time offering an outcome rather than a promise for those voters who still want to leave.

This would not be reversing the 2016 result but updating it to reflect the will of the people in 2020, the year the referendum would be held, and when the decision would be implemented.

If we take action on Brexit in 2020 without going back to the people, this in itself would be undemocratic. We would be ignoring the views of thousands of voters recently turning 21 who did not get a say in 2016 and therefore will not have a say on their own future.
​
Giving the people the final say is how we get beyond Brexit.
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Why I'm a socialist
Socialism is the reason that thanks to our wonderful NHS, when a child gets sick in this country, we all pay towards the care of that child through our contributions. We all value the lives and well-being of our fellow citizens and value their contributions that pay for our healthcare when we’re in our hour of need.

Socialism is not an economic system of its own, socialism is a set of principles that can be applied to an economic system to ensure power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few. The Labour Party believe that the market should work for everyone, not just those who have capital.

I come from a working-class household, I didn’t do well at school, I didn’t go to university. I worked as an apprentice in a knitwear factory and when I left home at 20, I had no capital.

Thankfully there were opportunities for me to study and further my skills. I studied a part time degree which was funded by a student maintenance grant, something that was scrapped by George Osborne in 2016. The same course today now costs students £6,000 in fees.

By learning new skills, I was able to start my own web consultancy business from home. I had to work two jobs as many have to today, I did this for several months until my business became self-sufficient.

Unfortunately, many don't get the same opportunities as I did. Over the last 9 years those from working class backgrounds have really suffered at the hands of Tory austerity. Many are too concerned with where their next meal is going to come from and how they are going to pay their rent to think about entrepreneurship or self-improvement.

Labour have always provided a platform for every man, woman and child in this country to reach their full potential.

From the 1945 Labour government that created the NHS, with the last Labour government that founded Sure Start children's centres, to the next Labour government that will create a National Education Service to give everyone the opportunity to learn at any stage in their life, no matter their background or financial situation.
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I joined the Labour Party to play a part in improving people’s lives for the better. Labour governments have always achieved that.
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Dr Luke Evans - Conservative Parliamentary Candidate

11/17/2019

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With the UK General Election coming on December 12, the four candidates hopeful of becoming the MP for my local constituency, Hinckley and Bosworth, are each writing an exclusive guest post for my blog.

We have Conservative, Dr Luke Evans; Labour, Rick Middleton; Lib Dem, Michael Mullaney, and Green Party, Mick Gregg.

Labour's Rick Middleton:  stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/for-the-many-not-the-few

Lib Dem Michael Mullaney: stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/campaigning-to-save-local-services

Green Party's Mick Gregg: 
https://stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/stewart-bints-blog/why-the-greens-are-near-the-top-of-a-blind-taste-test

This is Dr Luke Evans's post

by Conservative candidate Dr Luke Evans
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​I am a GP. I believe there are a lot of similarities between a good local MP and a good GP. You must communicate clearly and effectively. You must be able to deal with complex information and make decisions. You have to problem solve. But above all, you must care about the people you look after and work hard to earn their respect.
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I come from a medical background. My father is a GP and my mother a retired nurse. I am the eldest of three brothers, all of whom have chosen a profession in medicine. I guess public service is in our blood!
I have spent over 15 years in the Midlands, starting my medical training in 2002, at The University of Birmingham Medical School.

Having successfully completed my medical degree in 2007, I worked in in Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Heartlands NHS hospitals.

After completing my 2 years as a junior doctor, I returned to The University of Birmingham to teach anatomy to first- and second-year medical students. I completed my GP training in 2013, proceeding to work across the Midlands including: Leicester, Loughborough, Birmingham, Rugby, Coventry and Leamington Spa. My wife is also a GP, and in 2018 we moved to Oxford for her to join a practice. The opportunity to come back to the Midlands was something we both relished.

For me, the chance to return to an area that has been so good to me over the years is a privilege. For my wife, to come back to the region she grew up in and to have family close by as we continue to build our life here. Living here, we share all the challenges you and your family face: buying a house, getting to work, maternity services, educating children, caring for family and supporting a community to live a fulfilled life.

​This is my life. This is our life, our future.
Dr Luke’s Priorities:

1) Get Brexit done - End the Uncertainty

I voted LEAVE.
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The country voted democratically to leave, and I want to see that decision upheld. Whether you voted leave or remain, as a nation we must end the deadlock to allow us to move on to concentrate on the domestic agenda like Schools, the NHS and Policing.
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2) Our Schools

The Conservatives are investing £14 billion into our schools, increasing funding by an average of 4.6% per pupil in Leicestershire, with local schools here in Hinckley & Bosworth receiving and average of 5% per pupil.

I have been a school governor twice in the past and will continue to fight for fairer funding and better education for our children.
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3) Crime in our area
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Tackling crime here in our area is very important to me:

Rurally: fly tipping, hare coursing, machinery theft and speeding

Urban: antisocial behaviour, knife crime and drug use.

I will fight to make sure funding is not sucked towards Leicester.

4) Our NHS

I have spent my professional life in the NHS. The Conservatives have just delivered a £450 Million package to Leicester Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as £8 Million for Hinckley hospital. Some of this money will fund the new X-ray department in Hinckley.

More needs to be done to keep up with demand and the announcement of 50 million new GP appointments will go some way to helping ease pressure. 
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I will use my professional knowledge to continue to improve our local health services.
5) Our Local Development

Families and businesses want to settle here for the opportunities on offer. Development in the area needs to be managed, appropriate and sustainable, with proper scrutiny of amenities provided like schools and doctors’ places, otherwise we simply won’t cope.
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I want to see congestion and HGVs on our roads tackled, including getting the A5 improved. We must have effective road infrastructure to support our community.

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4 Comments

Faulty Roots - A Film About Teenage Depression

11/7/2019

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My latest guest blogger is Ella Greenwood, an 18-year old Londoner, and the writer and producer of a short film,  Faulty Roots, about teenage depression, friendship and dreams.
by Ella Greenwood
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Having joined youth theatres and productions from a young age, I trained in both stage and screen. I made my screen debut as lead character Lina in New York Director Adam Llamas' horror 'In Front of You' and my stage debut at local theatres as well as the West End. I trained with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.

I’m also a voice-over actor, having narrated books for Audible/Amazon and having voiced a key character in a new American series. I have recently been called a 'Rising Young Acting Talent' by David Duprey of That Moment In and 'one of those "up-and-comers" to watch circumspectly' by Entertainment Writer Ruth Hill. Faulty Roots is the first time that I am going to work as a producer on a film, and I’d love to get to help share many more stories in the future.

I wanted to make a film on depression in teens and to raise awareness for mental health problems. This is because they affect so many teens and there is a lot more that can be done to help with this.


I've personally faced mental health problems and I think it’s rare that as teens we won’t have already faced them, be currently facing them or won’t do in the future.  A lot of people still find it difficult to reach out and ask for help with any problems that they might be facing and so I wanted to demonstrate with the film what this may be like and to represent some of the struggles faced. This is why I decided to write the script, so that it would come from a teenager’s perspective.

I have worked as an actor for many years and wanted to help portray the story which is why I will be taking on the character of Lola.

 The story follows Lola, a young girl with depression, and the friendship that she is forced to form with Zack. The two teens each have genetic conditions which affect their lives in different ways. The film will focus on the relationship built and the struggles faced, as well as how important is to talk to others.

To take on the character of Zack, we have the brilliant young actor Sani Thabo. I first saw Sani in the short film ‘Third Wheeling’ where he gave an amazing performance. From his audition, I knew that he could bring the same comedic talent and brightness that I had seen to the film. Sani has performed at the Brighton fringe festival and the New Theatre Royal. He has been in the short films Third Wheeling, Transteen and Listen.

Zack and Lola’s friendship is an important feature in the film. It demonstrates the importance of sharing pain and hurt as well as joy and happiness.

I also wanted to demonstrate the affect that a mental illness can have on the relationship between a parent and their teen and so this is why the character of Susan, Lola’s mother, is so important to the story. Susan will be played by the wonderful actress Sarah Eastwood.

I first worked with Sarah on the film In Front of You where she played my mother. We immediately got on and I learnt so much from her. Sarah has worked on over 40 projects, all predominately film & TV, including ITV, SKY & Amazon Prime productions. She starred in the award winning film ‘A Pinprick of Light’ that screened at Cannes Film Festival.

Sarah is also the founder of Visutap which offers Guided Audio Meditations.

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She is passionate about helping others on their inner journey and I know from experience how helpful meditation can be to overcome such things as stress and anxiety.

We have an extremely talented Director of Photography on board, Ash Lang Wen Li.  Ash grew up in Hong Kong, before pursuing a Film and Politics double major at Wesleyan University (Connecticut, USA), where she received the Freeman Asian Scholarship, a merit-based scholarship that covered 4 years of undergraduate tuition. She has a strong narrative background, and has worked with cinematographers whose work has been recognized by the Oscars, the Emmys and the BAFTAs. I absolutely love Ash's work and I know that she is the right DoP to bring my vision to life.

I’m hoping that the film will help to represent what it is like to suffer from depression as a teen and that it will raise awareness of the issue. I want it to both inform and entertain people. I’m going to submit it to as many film festivals as I can to try and share the story with as wide an audience as possible.

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We have launched an Indiegogo campaign for the film and I’m hoping to raise as much money as possible to get the story told and to get it told well.

So many people have already helped to support the film and I am so thankful for that. We also have the wonderful Ruth DesRoches on board as an Associate Producer and Brent N. Hunter on board as a co-producer. I would love for more people to get involved with the film and I’d be happy for people to contact me if they would like to know more about Faulty Roots or ways that they can help.

Rehearsals for the film start this month and then we begin shooting it during the start of December. The film will be completed by spring next year where we will be having a screening of it and will be submitting it to film festivals.

I am so excited to start the production of the film and to begin working with the cast and crew.

You can follow our progress on Instagram and Twitter using the links below:
www.instagram.com/faultyroots

www.twitter.com/faultyroots

Please also check out the crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/faulty-roots-film#/
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    Stewart Bint supports mental health charity Lamp Advocacy.

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    Author

    Stewart Bint is a novelist, magazine columnist and PR writer. 

    He lives with his wife, Sue, in Leicestershire in the UK, and has two children, Christopher and Charlotte, and a budgie called Sparky.

    Usually goes barefoot.

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