GREEN Party candidate Charlie Graham is standing for the third time to represent Bridgwater in Parliament at the upcoming general election.

Mr Graham says the election “cannot come soon enough” because the “biodiversity emergencies need urgent attention”.

He previously stood for Parliament in the 2005 and 2010 general elections and has encouraged locals to ‘vote for me, so I can vote for you’.

He said: “I am privileged to have been selected again by our members for the Bridgwater constituency.

“Now more than ever, we need to work together to address the challenges of climate change. Only the Green Party has policies that are fair for everyone.”

Read more: Major parties spring into action in Bridgwater as Rishi Sunak announces July election 

Read more: Independent Pele Barnes reacts to election announcement

Read more: Somerset's parliamentary candidates for the general election

In 2019, Green candidate Mickie Ritchie gained 3.3 per cent of the vote share in Bridgwater and West Somerset; a 1.5 per cent increase on 2015.

Now, the party's co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay are determined to increase the party’s representation at Westminster from a lone MP.

And Ms Denyer, who is standing in Bristol Central, says the Greens are aiming to stand in every seat across England and Wales for the first time. 

She said: “At last. This is the moment the country has been waiting for, the chance to vote for a different vision of what our country can be.

“We are urging voters to elect at least four Green MPs to Parliament.”

Mr Ramsay said: “We are ready.

“Across the country, people will have the chance to vote for a Green candidate offering voters hope and practical solutions to the cost-of-living crisis, supporting people into warm, affordable homes, protecting our NHS and cleaning up our toxic rivers.

“We are offering the common sense, affordable policies that will dramatically improve our quality of life.

“More Green MPs in Parliament will hold whoever forms the next government to account, and make the other parties confront the challenges our country faces.”

Mr Graham is standing against Pele Barnes (Independent), Ashley Fox (Conservative), Leigh Redman (Labour) and Claire Sully (Liberal Democrats).