GREEN leader Natalie Bennett appealed yesterday for the support of voters “sick of business-as-usual politics” as she started her party’s formal campaign.

She said: “The Green Party represents a real alternative to the politics and economics espoused by Establishment politicians for decades.”

The Greens have enjoyed a significant boost in public support, regularly outscoring the Liberal Democrats in recent national opinion polls and seeing membership soar to more than 50,000.

The party plans to field candidates in 509 constituencies and is focusing on 12 key seats, including Bristol West and Norwich South.

“We’ll be the only party offering changes that genuinely reconfigure our economy to work for everyone, not just those at the top,” Ms Bennett said.

“We’re the only ones demanding a genuinely public NHS — free from profit-making companies. And, of course, we promise the bold steps required to tackle the looming climate crisis.”