First Green councillor in Reading

In case you hadn't heard, the Green Party has broken through in Reading and got our first councillor in Park Ward (me) -- also the first unitary authority councillor in Berkshire.

The Green Party team has worked really hard over the years, helping residents with bread-and-butter issues like getting streetlights repaired, pram crossings installed and fly tipping cleared. We have also campaigned on the bigger issues such as against cuts to the police, opposing development on local playing fields and to reopen the Jolly Anglers pub. It has been a long time in coming, but I am really pleased with this win.

Don't worry though, now that I have been elected, I won't disappear. I will continue to be visible, easy to get hold of and out in all weathers knocking on doors talking to people, so I can represent residents in the best possible way. We will carry on campaigning on our election priorities of: more decent affordable housing, tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and better public transport walking and cycling facilities. And I will stick to my values of fairness, integrity and the environment.

Thanks to everyone who voted Green, thanks to the growing team who pulled out all the stops with this campaign and last but by no means least thanks to my partner Sam for supporting me.

Now that we have done the double -- first Green councillor in Reading and first Green MP (Caroline Lucas in Brighton) -- there has never been a better time to join the Green Party.