Green: Jo Robb

I LIVE in Shepherds Green with my husband and two sons and am an active member of my local community.

Having trained as a lawyer, I arrived in the UK from Australia in 2001 and worked as a financial journalist and editor.

I moved to the Henley area in 2016 and, in 2019, I was elected to South Oxfordshire District Council as councillor for Woodcote and Rotherfield ward. I was re-elected in 2023 and I am proud to be part of a strong Green group pushing for a fairer and greener district.

In my time as a councillor, I have earned a reputation for being principled, hard-working and dedicated.

I led efforts to protect the dark skies of the Chilterns National Landscape, which has resulted in the council having its first ever dark skies policy.

As a member of the planning committee, I have stood up against inappropriate development in our most beautiful rural areas.

I worked to secure a commitment for fair pay for council contractors and as a member of the Oxfordshire Pension Fund Committee, I use my understanding of financial markets to push for faster divestment from risky fossil fuel assets and for investment in the green economy of the future.

I am a longstanding campaigner against sewage pollution and for better access to our rivers.

As a member of the Henley Mermaids and as South Oxfordshire’s River Thames Champion, I spearheaded efforts to get bathing water status along our stretch of the River Thames.

Three sections of the Thames in South Oxfordshire will soon benefit from bathing water status or enhanced water quality testing. I have consistently called for Thames Water to be brought back into public ownership and managed for the good of people and nature, not shareholder profit – and the Green Party is the only major party taking this stance.

I was, until recently, a volunteer with the reading charity the Shannon Trust, visiting Huntercombe Prison on a regular basis.

I am a trustee of a housing charity that provides affordable housing for local residents.

I am not a career politician. I became a councillor and am standing to be an MP because I am driven by a desire to make a positive difference and to use my voice to help create a fairer and kinder society.

Unlike the other parties, the Green Party does not operate a whip — we are free to speak up and vote for what is right.

The climate crisis is deepening and yet the major parties are either silent on it or are actively making it worse.

The Conservatives are granting new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, a cynical and reckless move which will do nothing for our energy security but will utterly erode our international credibility as a climate leader. Meanwhile, Labour has ditched its £28 billion green pledge.

We need strong Green voices in parliament to stand up for our climate, for nature and for the wellbeing of our young people and future generations.

We need to be clear that investing in climate action makes economic, social and environmental sense.

Only the Green Party has the courage and vision to call for the real change needed to reverse the devastating effects of 14 years of austerity on our public services and the NHS.

We have practical and ambitious policies to tackle the cost of living crisis, build new affordable homes in the right places, protect our NHS from creeping privatisation and clean up our rivers and seas.

A vote for the Green Party sends a strong message to Labour that they must do better.

It’s clear that the Tories are out. Here, voters can feel free to vote for what they really want.

If you want green, vote Green.

I want the best for Henley and Thame and the UK and the people who call it home. If that’s what you want too, I’ll be keen to work with you if I become your MP on July 4.