Ann Forsaith

Statement to voters

Growing up in the south of England, my view of the world changed when I came to Leeds University in 1973. I became a Secondary teacher of biology and after some moves around the country settled in the Dearne Valley for 25 years, working and bringing up my four children. Committed to building strong communities I became a Governor at three schools, organised the community and children's events at Wath Festival, and helped run a large community and arts centre, Montgomery Hall, becoming Chair there. My work as a biology teacher alerted me early to the damage we were doing to the environment and to the risks posed by global warming. At first I campaigned on this through contacting MP's and writing letters to the newspapers; but linked to a wider concern over social justice I became politically active, first with the Labour Party, and then, because of growing concerns over fracking, with the Green Party from 2014. I had taken early retirement from teaching in 2011 and then worked part time in a variety of jobs before moving back to Leeds in 2016. My campaigning around fracking continued, and I was part of the small group that worked to get Leeds City Council to declare a Climate Emergency in March 2019, aided by the Friday school strikes. In May 2019 I was elected to the council as a Green councillor in the Farnley & Wortley ward of west Leeds using that platform to advance my 'green' concerns. My work there included becoming a Governor at Greenhill Primary School, where I have been Chair of Governors since 2021. For a range of personal reasons I did not stand for re-election in 2023, but since these have now resolved themselves I am pleased to be standing as the Green Party candidate in Leeds West and Pudsey.

Election history

Westminster general elections