Dear Sir,

For some reason failed Labour politician John Howarth has decided that the Green Party is against prosperity. He doesn't seem to have based this on any facts so here are a few for him.

Before it became fashionable we've been working to defend local businesses – from the likes of Tesco megastores – because we recognise the value they bring to the area through job creation, keeping money in the local economy and being part of the glue that holds the local community together. We are currently backing the Federation of Small Businesses 'Keep Trade Local' campaign.

We lobbied for the introduction of a minimum wage so people could earn a better living, and since its introduction Greens like London Mayoral Candidate Sian Berry have been calling for it to be increased to a living wage that will lift people out of poverty.

What's more, we had been active on the biggest long term threat to our prosperity – climate change – long before other parties jumped on the bandwagon to grab a few votes. On this topic, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas recently called for a Green New Deal to create new green collar jobs in industries like recycling and renewable energies.

Does this sound like anti-prosperity to you? The reason John attempts to attack us in this way is because he and his Labour Party buddies are threatened by us. They've seen our vote rise in areas where we've worked hard - such as Park ward where John was a councillor. And coincidentally, Park ward is where the Green Party polled 994 and came within 20 votes of getting our first councillor this year.

Yours sincerely,

Rob White
Reading Green Party
www.readinggreenparty.org.uk

8 Mandela Court, Orts Road, Reading RG1 3JG.