My view is that Alex has explained her decision very clearly – it was a considered one, based on what she thought were the best tactics for the Green Group in the long term: “For me it was down to a question of ethics, integrity, consistency of message and bringing our membership with us…I believe it is important for me to keep faith with the voters: if I’ve told them that I’m against the Council Tax Freeze, then I feel that I have a duty to keep that promise and to vote accordingly.” (this quote is from a more detailed explanation of how Alex reached her decision here: http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2012/03/why-i-voted-against-the-brighton-budget/ ). Also, crucially, she did not believe that voting against the amended budget would lead to the Green Group having to stand down.

I want to be confident that the new leader and deputy leader will honour their/our promises when the going gets tough. For that reason, amongst many others, I’ve voted for Peter and Alex as my first choices.

It’s a classic of the form:
Fog on the Channel – continent isolated.

I totally disagree on the Brighton budget. If when push comes to shove we act like any old liberal party, then we’re no different to the rest. But we must be different.

“The latter is particularly frustrating, just as it was at the time, because [Alex] is an excellent speaker, a first-class organiser, and incredibly hard-working.”

She is. Which is why it baffles me that you would not vote for the person who understands exactly what needs to be done for our party. The role of Deputy Leader is not about understanding the nuances of a budget proposal. It’s about supporting local parties, raising money and speaking up for the grassroots. That’s what I want from a Deputy Leader. So I’m voting for Alex.