I'm Greener Than The Green Party
That’s right, I believe my approach to environmental politics goes further than the Green Party. That might sound bold, but here’s what I mean.
For me, what matters most is protecting the planet in ways that actually work. Real change happens when it is practical, affordable, and something people want to do, not something they feel forced into.
Electric cars didn’t take off because people were told to buy them. They became popular when they improved and when they were desirable. The same is true of solar panels and heat pumps. They are growing in popularity because they make financial sense. People recycle when it is easy, not when it requires a trip to a recycling centre.
If we want real progress, we have to make sustainable choices the easiest choices.
- Not banning air travel, but investing in cleaner fuels and innovation
- Making public transport good enough that people choose it
- Supporting practical local solutions, like solar panels on public buildings to cut costs and emissions
This is how change happens, not through pressure, but through progress.
Living My Values
This isn’t theoretical for me. It is how I live.
I don't mow my lawn in May 'No Mow May', and instead let the wildflowers grown, because it helps support local bee populations and biodiversity. But also it is a really easy thing to do and the wild flowers look fantastic.
I’ve been vegetarian since I was 16, but I don’t lead with that. What matters more is shifting behaviour at scale. It is better for many people to reduce meat consumption than for a few to go fully vegan.
Sustainable food choices need to be:
- Easy
- Affordable
- Healthy
- And most importantly, tasty
I have avoided fast fashion, worn clothes for years, and relied on public transport for most of my life. When I needed a car, I chose a small, fuel-efficient one, and I am still driving it a decade later.
Being “green” isn’t about perfection. It is about doing what you can, when you can. Especially when it makes financial and practical sense.
Being green is about making sustainable choices the easiest choices
Where It Started
I grew up in a village in Sheffield, surrounded by trees, more per person than anywhere else in Europe.
I didn’t just see nature. I knew it.
I watched the seasons change through leaves and birdsong. I learned the names of birds and joined the RSPB and RSPCA. Nature wasn’t something distant. It was part of everyday life.
That connection shaped who I am.
Practical Environmentalism
If we are serious about protecting the environment, we need to move beyond labels and focus on outcomes.
That means prioritising:
- Biodiversity and habitat restoration
- Tree planting, the right trees in the right places
- Sustainable food systems and reducing waste
- Reliable, affordable and comfortable public transport
- Renewable energy and energy-efficient homes
- A circular economy, repairing, reusing, reducing
We also have to recognise a simple truth. People cannot prioritise the environment if their basic needs are not being met.
A fairer society is essential to a greener one.
The Difference
I am not claiming to care more about the environment than others.
The difference is how I approach it. Practical, evidence-based, and focused on results.
I do not believe in preaching or making people feel guilty.
I believe in making change achievable.
Because the planet does not care what party you support.
Our planet cares about results, not words or labels.