A parliamentary candidate who delivered one of the strongest Green party results at this month’s general election has entered the race to become the party’s candidate at next year’s mayoral election.
Tom Chance, a joint co-ordinator of the London Green Party and the party’s housing spokesperson, came third in Lewisham West and Penge with 8.5% of the vote – up from 2.1% at the 2010 general election.
As Mayor, Mr Chance says he’d establish a pan-London housing co-operative to help council tenants take control of their estate regeneration, seize empty investor flats and rent them out on secure tenancies and invest at least £80 million over four years in fitting solar panels on schools, homes and workplaces.
Mr Chance, who is also standing to be selected as a London Assembly candidate, said: “Greens working with campaigns and community groups can take London back from the speculators leaving flats empty and the developers building unaffordable homes.
“We can give a voice to every tenant facing rent hikes or eviction, every council estate facing demolition, and every first time buyer fed up with being priced out by buy-to-let landlords.”
The Greens will select their candidates via a ballot of party members. Nominations open on the 1st June, and the successful candidates will be announced on the 2nd September.
Mr Chance faces competition for the mayoral nomination from Sian Berry who was the party’s candidate in 2008.
