PRESS RELEASE - Andrew Cooper selected as Green Party Candidate for Huddersfield

Councillor Andrew Cooper who has represented the Newsome Ward on Kirklees for the last 16 years has been selected as Green Party Candidate for Huddersfield in May’s General Election. Andrew has been re-elected 4 times in Newsome with significant majorities over the Labour Party.

Andrew was born in Barnsley, brought up in Huddersfield and has worked for York, Calderdale and Kirklees Councils. For the last 8 years he has worked in the private sector developing energy saving schemes to help householders insulate their homes, improve their heating and install solar panels. He is married with 2 children and lives in Brockholes near Holmfirth.

Andrew said,

“It is a privilege to be standing as a prospective MP in the town I grew up in. As a local Councillor I spend a lot of time trying to find ways to improve the Town and to fight for a better deal for local people. The time is right now for a credible MP for Huddersfield who is Independent of the almost identical establishment Westminster parties. The real alternative is a party like the Greens with a strong commitment to social justice and protection of our local and global environment not a right wing Mark 2 Conservative Party like UKIP.

 
The Green Party is a very progressive party which has a strong emphasis on protecting those people in the greatest need. It is the lack of a real social conscience in politics and politicians these days which really concerns me and why I feel the Green Party is right place for people who are concerned about addressing poverty and social justice.”

Andrew has a long track record of many achievements for the people of Huddersfield which include: 

•             Proposing the UK’s first universally free insulation scheme, Kirklees Warm Zone that saw tens of thousands of homes insulated across Huddersfield.

•             Leading the campaign to replace ‘Welcome to Kirklees’ with ‘Welcome to Huddersfield’ signs.

•             Initiating the 2000 house solar panel programme which will see Council Tenants in Kirklees benefit from solar electricity saving them up to 2 weeks rent worth of electricity savings. This will be at no cost to the Council Tax payer and not impact on Kirklees Council budgets.

•             Organising a free Christmas Bus Service in the Newsome Ward for the past 23 years