The Mayor can and should work for us all

Siobhan pledges to give communities a voice as the Green Party’s candidate for West Midlands Mayor.

Siobhan’s campaign will focus on making the Combined Authority work harder for our most left behind communities, be more accountable to residents, and increase the pace and scale of regional action on climate change.

For over 20 years Siobhan has worked with charities and community organisations to support people in our most left behind communities.

She has worked both in the public and third sector raising money and working with a raft of organisations, such as ISE (Institute of Social Enterprise) and NCVO (National Council of Voluntary Organisations), to support and improve communities.

In 2007 she founded Shakti Women, an organisation that supports women in both personal and professional development through coaching and training.

She is also currently vice-chair of Birmingham Race Impact Group, a group working for many years to promote racial justice in Birmingham.

She knows the challenges our communities face and what support they need to thrive.

Siobhan says:

“What we have at the moment is just not working for the people of the West Midlands.”

“Too many places in the West Midlands are still underfunded and left behind, and this has barely changed over the past 7 years. I will relentlessly focus on how we help our left-behind communities and tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

“The West Midlands Combined Authority is out of touch and doesn’t look like or represent us. People still don’t know what it is and what it does. I want to give communities a stronger voice and make sure the Combined Authority works for and listens to us.”

“Action on the climate is too little and too late. We need action now, not future promises. I will work to increase the pace and scale of change. For example, greater action on warmer homes so people don’t have to choose between eating and heating.”

Promoted by Margaret Okole on behalf of Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Green Party), both at 2A Blackthorn House, Birmingham B3 1RL

Green Party Mayoral Manifesto Launched

Green Party Candidate Siobhan Harper-Nunes today unveiled her manifesto for the West Midlands Mayoral election.

Siobhan is confident that her Green manifesto has the policies the West Midlands needs, saying:

“It’s time for a change. The Green Party has always been the party of new ideas, and our manifesto for West Midlands Mayor is no exception, so I urge people who are fed up with the status quo to look at what we’re offering.

Our policies will help tackle the crippling inequality in our region. I will support communities that have been overlooked and left behind for so long, ensure that action on the climate crisis is at the right scale and speed, and create a more democratic and accountable Combined Authority.

Seven years ago we were saying the Mayor should take buses back into public control. Now the other parties have finally caught up on that, but they are still way behind on other issues. 

Throughout this campaign I’ve been championing investment in warmer homes and social homes, putting the needs of people and planet first. The other parties can’t be trusted to prioritise this.

If you want a Mayor who’s going to work for everyone, look after the planet and bring true democratic engagement and accountability to the region, vote Green on May 2nd.”

Some of Siobhan’s key pledges are to:

  • Appoint people to a number of key roles to drive the most urgent priorities, such as
    • A Deputy Mayor charged with championing community wealth building
    • A Homes Transformation Lead to set up and fund major retrofit programmes across the West Midlands to improve levels of energy efficiency, create thousands of jobs and transform the lives of people who have been struggling to afford energy bills.
    • A Walking and Cycling Commissioner to drive a ‘vision zero’ approach of no serious injuries or deaths on our roads.
  • Establish a community wealth building grant fund, to support local community organisations working on a local level to strengthen local economies and wellbeing.
  • Establish an investment/business support fund for locally based Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Social Enterprises and Co-ops targeted at the areas of the region that need most support and the sectors that will bring most benefits. 
  • Work with colleges across the region to deliver the skills needed for the Green jobs of the future, including those needed for mass home retrofit programmes. Also, undertake a detailed assessment of the skills gaps to ensure our young people are prepared for the future opportunities that investment in Green technology will bring.
  • Lobby for funding for fare-free public transport for under 22s, those looking for work, those in full time education and 60-65 year olds., and conduct a study of the feasibility and benefits of extending this to everyone.
  • Come together with Councils to issue Green Bonds to assist with decarbonisation, fund low-carbon infrastructure and support our low-carbon future. They will draw investment to the region, driving innovation and creating jobs.
  • Lead efforts to ensure that public buildings of the WMCA, member councils and others are properly insulated and energy efficient.
  • Take all possible steps to divest the West Midlands Pension Fund (WMPF) of its investments in fossil-fuel industries and push for more pension funds to be invested in local energy technologies.
  • Lobby central government to allow the WMCA to have a directly elected Assembly.
  • Include representatives of voluntary organisations, community groups, unions, SMEs and under-represented or vulnerable groups in scrutinising the Mayor and Combined Authority’s work
  • Engage more with community groups, giving local communities a bigger say over how the mayor’s powers protect and develop their local areas.
  • Use Citizens’ Assemblies to ensure the direct participation of members of the public in forming policy, investigating issues of real concern to the WMCA and co-producing WMCA plans.
  • Work to at least 20% of the Combined Authority being decided by the public.

The full manifesto can be read here:

2024 Green Party Mayoral Manifesto

Politicians should lead on Anti-Racism

Green Party West Midlands Mayoral candidate Siobhan Harper-Nunes has reacted to the recent racism rows among politicians.

“Politicians should be leading by example, not fanning the flames of hate. There should be no room in politics for the ugly Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism that we have seen recently.”

“Racism in all its forms is a sad reality for too many, one we should all be ashamed of.”

“Anti-racism is not a passive act of tolerance, but proactive work to root out prejudice and systemic injustice. I will use my position to lead by example and work to tackle racial injustice head on.”

Green Party Mayoral Candidate Calls for Immediate Action to Make Roads Safer

Green Party Mayoral candidate Siobhan Harper-Nunes has backed calls for a transformation of the region’s roads.

Siobhan said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with the families and friends of all the victims of these preventable tragedies.”

“So that we needn’t fear that one of our loved ones could be the next victim of this reckless driving on the roads, we need action now.”

“This region needs to seriously step up to achieve its ambition to have zero deaths and serious accidents on the roads per year, and so I support the challenge set by Better Streets for Birmingham.”

“Safer roads have multiple benefits, including for mental and physical health, cleaner air and less noise pollution. The people of the West Midlands deserve this and we must get on with delivering it.”

“Some of our poorest communities have the lowest rates of car ownership, yet also have some of the worst roads in terms of safety, noise and air pollution, and have seen the least action to tackle dangerous driving. This must change.”

“Drivers in this region must know that there are consequences if they endanger the lives of others by breaking the law. Currently, there is a common perception that this isn’t the case.”

“We need a Mayor and Combined Authority that works with communities to tackle the blight of dangerous driving.”