By Press Release
Cameron Palin East Cowes town councillor and Green Party parliamentary candidate
My journey into politics started around five years ago at the age of 14, when Ryde Arena closed down. There was a huge community-led campaign, fighting to bring the facility back into public use, something generations, old and young alike, got involved in.
The ice rink was a major part not just of the Ryde community, but the wider Island too. It wasn’t just a place to participate and watch sports, it was a well-used social space. During that campaign I met all the 2017 parliamentary candidates, local councillors and the then Secretary of State for housing, communities and local government, Sajid Javid. At just 14, this opened up my mind and made me realise these were the individuals we needed to influence and who fundamentally have the power to bring about change, here on the Island and across the country.
The insight I gained from the Ryde Arena campaign inspired me to support those who want to make the Island and the planet a better place. Ryde Arena wasn’t the only issue I was involved with at this time. I was affected by the Floating Bridge fiasco as well, as an East Cowes resident I was impacted daily by its constant breakdowns and problems. Once again behind all this was politics, the then Conservative administration failed to step up to address the problems and issues, some of which we still face today.
Both these campaigns led me to question my political identity and consider which party would truly match my morals, beliefs and ideas. For me it was the Green Party, a party that puts social and environmental justice at the forefront. Some people claim we aren’t a serious alternative and are simply a single-issue party. I’d challenge that! I got involved because I wanted to fight for my local community and community assets that we all care so much about. I’ve campaigned against oil and gas drilling here on the Island, fought for greater investment in the Island through levelling up funding; to save public services like the Law Centre; for safer roads and I’ve supported those fighting for a pay rise during this cost-of-living crisis.
In November 2020, I was co-opted on to East Cowes Town Council aged just 18. I was not only the youngest councillor on the Island, but the youngest in the UK. In May 2021 I was elected to the town council with 473 votes: missing out on the county council seat by just four votes.
Over the last two years I have supported the delivery of projects in the town and represented the town at numerous events and meetings across the Island. The work we do as town councillors enables us to really get to know our local community and what we need to do to support them.
A question people often ask me is, “Why did you get involved in politics?”. The answer is that I want to help deliver the change that our community needs and wants. That is why I put myself forward to be the Green Party parliamentary candidate for East Isle of Wight and I’m delighted I was selected, as there is so much potential across the East, particularly in East Cowes, Ryde and the Bay, which needs to be unlocked and supported.
I’m looking forward to this next adventure, I am not going to stop fighting for our Island as I know we have so much to offer and I’d love the privilege to fight for you in Westminster.