Ani Townsend

🚨NEW: This time out on Bristol Unpacked, Neil Maggs asks Green councillor Ani Townsend @anist.bsky.social why the time is right to be trying a universal basic income in Bristol – and why the creative sector should benefit.

Listen now: shorturl.at/vYkmz

#Bristol #GreenParty #UniversalBasicIncome

The links between Mandelson, Wes Streeting and Peter Thiel are something people need to be aware of. Grateful to Zack for raising it on News night.

By-election latest:

A Green Party source tells me the response in Gorton today has been so positive that they're reallocating resources to Denton.

They claim ex-Labour voters say they can't vote for the party with Starmer as leader, so tactical voting doesn't come into it.

Well well well… what a surprise that such a staunch ‘defender’ of women and girls is indeed actually best chums with Epstein and apparently Andrew too.

Said no one, because we knew it was never about protecting women and girls, it was always about protecting the patriarchy.

My first canvass in Gorton & Denton.

Lidl here not quite showing the upbeat Longsight in front of us.

Doorstep responses:
- "Labour have had their day. They took us for granted"
- "Reform have to be stopped"
- "Greens get us"

Game on!

So necessary, so welcome, so late, and so insufficient from our Government.

An amazing win for @zackpolanski.bsky.social who will be backed up by @mothinali.bsky.social & @rachelmillward.bsky.social as deputies plus a fresh new GPEx

Huge things await the party, well done to everyone who stood for the various roles, all with the shared goal of climate & social justice 💚🌍🏳️‍⚧️✊💚

✳️Last couple of days to go!
Please remember to vote for GPEx as well as leadership team, and remind every member you know! Voting closes midday on Saturday, don’t leave it too late & get caught out!

Call BS on the Lies

Someone, maybe you, told me this on the day. Did you get a picture?

Twice I, stewards & antifa negotiated a climb down with liaison officers. Both times the police immediately went back on it.

Thanks! Luckily I didn’t get hurt, I was slightly out of the crowd trying to facilitate the police calming down.

Twice I, stewards & antifa negotiated a climb down with liaison officers. Both times the police immediately went back on it.

If you were there, or you witnessed events, please consider a complaint or getting in touch.

#refugeeswelcomehere #bristol #antifascist #racismisntwelcomehere

I and my Green Councillor colleagues in attendance will be making multiple strong complaints about the policing choices made today. It could have been peaceful, poor choices made it violent and traumatic.

And they funnelled an increasingly hairy protest into the middle of a Lego promotional event full of children with complete disregard for public safely.

Utterly shocked and disgusted by the violence I witnessed from officers today. Hitting people, throwing people to the ground, hiding their badge numbers, some doing so whilst wearing a union flag themselves
This was not neutral policing today
It was dangerous
It was inflammatory
It was irresponsible

“Shame on you” chant the anti fascist counter protesters trying to prevent a group of far right, racist anti migrant bullies from getting to what they think is an asylum hotel whilst Avon & Somerset Police attempt to ‘facilitate’ the march.

Thanks! Let me know if you see more!

It’s all good.
It’s the part about the Hilton being targets that I’m interested in. How certain are rumours?

Yes, this I know.
I worried that they’d taken some early action from your first message!

Can you DM your sources? Thanks!

Thanks Ruthi!

... who I'd be upset about if they won. Hoping we can have two of those talents as our next deputy leaders

In case it is of interest to anyone, here are my top four, in order of preference -

@anist.bsky.social
@rachelmillward.bsky.social
@greenantoinette.bsky.social
Ash Routh

#GreensElect 2/2

I have just voted for #DeputyLeader in the #GPEWelections - the toughest of the races! I thought (and read, and watched) a lot about how to vote, not just because it is such a big field, but because there is so much talent and experience among them. And really - there is not a single candidate...1/2

A have another far right protest tomorrow, in castle park. Counter protest starting 10.30. The hope/anticipation is that they don’t target a hotel like last year or a fortnight ago

Right now? Or tomorrow?

If you see someone sleeping rough in Bristol, and feel safe to do so, encourage them to call 0117 4070330 to speak to the Outreach team.

If someone needs urgent medical help, call 999.

St Mungo’s outreach teams are out across the city offering:
• Water 💧
• Sun cream 🧴
• Advice and support 🗣
• Access to cool indoor spaces during the day🏠

In partnership with St Mungos, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol has been activated due to hot weather.

This means that there is emergency support available for rough sleepers.

Patrick with members of Bristol Green Party amid the rally protecting the hotel

Today, I and other @bristolgreenparty.bsky.social members and councillors stood shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of others to protect a hotel housing asylum seekers, calling out the poisonous bigotry corrupting our society.
We've done it before. We'll do it again. Solidarity ✊