“It was a difficult decision for me to stand for the Greens, there’s no doubting that. 

I’ve had criticism from people, saying that they’re not a proper Marxist-Leninist party. 

I don’t care what their name is — I just want a fairer society, to save the NHS, build council houses, tax the rich and the Greens are saying it. 

I was schooled in the old Communist Party but I’m also a lifelong Greenpeace member. I have always said: “No Earth, no socialism.”

I haven’t really changed my politics but the Green Party has. 

They’ve looked at the capitalist system and realised you can’t save the environment in that system. 

There’s thousands of ordinary people marching with movements like the People’s Assembly, UK Uncut and Occupy at the moment. 

They need some leadership and they need some voice in Parliament and I believe that can be the Green Party."