THE Green Party has selected Ben Pantling as its candidate for Mid Dorset and North Poole.

Ben said he was ‘proud’ to be standing in the constituency as a long-term resident of Poole.

“I’m proud to be representing the Green Party as the candidate for Mid Dorset & North Poole,” he said.

“I’m looking to give everyone real hope that we can make profound changes to how politics works and how politicians behave.”

Ben is active in local sport, coaching the Poole RFC juniors, playing for the senior men’s team and playing in the Bournemouth Saturday and Sunday football leagues, while also completing three marathons.

He said he is passionate about protecting the environment to pass it on to the next generation, taking part in protests against the recent oil spill in the harbour, as well as to save the hospital’s A&E department.

Ben has also worked closely with Bournemouth-based councillors and Sandbanks-based Beach People, an ocean sports group, to ask questions to Wessex Water on sewage releases in the area.

He said the most important policies from the Green Party include removing private enterprises from the health service and re-nationalising the water and train companies.

“Nobody’s ill health should be an excuse for someone to make money,” Ben said.

“We need to fund the NHS fully, so it that it is free at point of use for everybody. Only the Green Party is being honest about the amount of money needed & that a small increase in tax on the wealthiest in society is the only way to achieve this.

“With the water companies, they have a license to print money, each one is an effective monopoly, with no customer choice or ability to change supplier.

“Profits have been taken of billions of pounds, paid to fat cat bosses and shareholders. The network infrastructure and environment has been ignored.

“Sewage being poured into our rivers, lakes, and seas is national embarrassment.”

He added: “The rise of food banks, more than doubling in the last 10 years, the increases in child poverty and the out-of-control cost of living crisis, prove the current political system is not working for the majority in society.

“Only the Green Party is facing these issues & talking about real hope & real change for our country and everyone in it.”

A full list of the candidates standing in Mid Dorset and North Poole can be found here.