Alexandra Jenner-Fust

I’m delighted to be able to offer people in Thornbury and Yate the chance to vote Green in the next election. We are the only party putting the climate first, but we’re about much more than that, with sensible policies to tackle the cost of living crisis, improve the way housing is delivered, prioritise public transport and build a fairer society for everyone.

I grew up here, in the rural Severn Vale, before going to university, travelling and working abroad and settling in London for several years. I returned to live near Thornbury in 2010 and I believe it’s a wonderful place to call home.

Through a varied career, and while bringing up my two children, I’ve gained a wide range of skills and experience, principally in the areas of communication and project management. I’ve worked in the charitable, private, and public sectors, as a researcher, journalist and editor, and now as a school secretary and as a gardener. I also currently volunteer with Homestart delivering family support.

As clerk to a board of school governors I work to support the strategic development of the school. I’m also clerk to my local Parish Meeting, I have represented the community in various matters including delivering evidence-based planning responses and attending planning enquiries. The Meeting also campaigned successfully to improve the delivery of broadband to our rural area. Work as a gardener is rewarding as I can help clients appreciate their green spaces; spending time outdoors in nature is an added bonus for me.

I am passionate about both climate action and social justice, without which we do not have a viable future or hope for a society in which everyone can flourish. I joined the Green Party last year because I have spent too much time grumbling about our current political arrangements without taking any action. Since then, I have spent time campaigning in Bristol for local council elections, and for Carla Denyer (the Green Party candidate for Bristol Central).

In my view politics should help deliver a fairer society without compromising the planet. To achieve this, we need structural change – starting with proportional representation, and to step away from point-scoring personality politics. The Green Party has a strong manifesto and all the ingredients for a brighter political future for our country and I will work hard to communicate that to the people of Thornbury and Yate, in the hope that we can create a sustainable future for everyone.