Andy Chase

Parliamentary Candidate for York Central

Green Parliamentary Candidate Andy Chase is 37 and will be standing at a General Election for the first time. He contested the city's Micklegate ward in the local elections of May 2007, and doubled his vote from 2003, coming within 1% of taking a seat from Labour, also gaining twice as many votes as the Conservatives and three times as many as the Lib Dems. Had he been elected, he would have joined York's two Green councillors in neighbouring Fishergate. He has been a long-standing local campaigner on many issues.

• He spoke at the public inquiry against the "Coppergate II" scheme against building a shopping mall around Clifford's Tower and was a member of the local campaign group;
• He has campaigned for greater social justice, most recently calling on the government to reverse the "10p tax" hike against the low paid;
• He has taken action to support local facilities, such as community halls, in his local area;
• He has been involved in local residents' groups for many years;
• He opposed the war in Iraq and has protested against the programme to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system, which will cost £75bn, more than the annual budget of the NHS;
• He has been active on planning issues, opposing the demolition of Victorian buildings in the city for yet more flats, and commenting on important planning documents for the city's future development;
• He opposed the closure of post offices in the city and collected petition signatures door-to-door. Micklegate Post Office was eventually saved - one of only two offices reprieved from closure in North Yorkshire;
• He has campaigned and organized meetings on sustainable transport, and wants to see the city transformed into a green, pleasant space where people can walk and cycle in safety, with clean, efficient public transport and the city's heritage enhanced. He actively opposes the dualling of York's northern Outer Ring Road.

Andy said, "The reason I'm standing for the York Central seat is because, as well as being a wonderful historic city, it's where I live. I believe that the city needs an independently-minded MP, who is prepared to stand up and be counted over issues like Post Office closures. I believe I can be that MP. York's two Green councillors have been excellent for the city and a Green MP would be able to replicate their excellent work in parliament."

Andy currently works as an administrator for a national charity and lives just outside the city walls. In his spare time, he enjoys looking after his cat, Dorcas, as well as playing the piano and singing with a local choir.

"I was originally inspired to join the Greens because they were the only party that combined practical local policies and social justice with genuine commitment to deal with global warming and the other enormous challenges that we face. A Green future will mean a fairer and better society with a higher quality of life for everyone."

On the basis of the local election results from 2007, Andy is the closest challenger to York MP Hugh Bayley, gaining 20% of the vote to Labour's 33%. Andy said, "Our campaign will be based on our record of action, not promises. If people vote as they did in the local elections, we have a real chance to make an impact in York Central."