THE GREEN Party’s co-leader, Jonathan Bartley, has renewed calls for ‘progressive’ parties on the Isle of Wight to work together to defeat the Conservatives in June’s General Election.
Mr Bartley made his plea during a visit to Ryde on Friday, May 5 to congratulate newly elected Green councillor, Michael Lilley, on his win in the Ryde East ward. 
Mr Bartley said it was ‘very disappointing’ that nationally Labour and the Lib Dems had rejected calls for closer co-operation between the parties to contest the Island seat.
He said: “Under the first past the post system, when the stakes are so high, it is absolutely crucial to work together. We actually wrote to Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron but the signals coming down from the top to local parties are not positive and that is very disappointing.
“But what is happening on the ground locally is that parties are talking to one another. I would say that on the Isle of Wight, let’s have an open and honest conversation in the interests of the country and the interests of the Isle of Wight.”
Mr Bartley’s comments came after the Greens celebrated becoming the second party on the Island, coming second to the Tories on vote share in the local council elections.
The party’s total vote of 5,607 was a massive increase from 2013 when the party stood in one ward and received 297 votes. 
Labour gained a total of 4,134 votes with the Lib Dems in third with 2,783. The combined Green, Labour, Lib Dem and Independent vote was more than 50 per cent on a 40 per cent turn out.
Mr Bartley added: “It’s clear the Greens are challenging the Tory reign on the Isle of Wight and are set to run our boldest ever General Election campaign in the coming weeks.” 
Last week, Julian Critchley, Isle of Wight Labour's parliamentary candidate, shut down the suggestion that Labour should withdraw from the race and make way for the Green Party. 
He said: “I respect Green activists and supporters, and I like many Green policies; as they themselves will agree, there are many similarities between Labour and Green positions. 
“So of course I regret that the Green Party chooses to fight Labour all over the country, rather than joining with us to try and put those policies into action in government. But that is their right.”