Fresh Air Now

The local elections in Manchester saw the launch of the Fresh Air Now party to raise awareness of the growing problem of air pollution. 29 candidates were fielded for the 31 seats with out of a low turnout one candidate getting 144 votes but most polling around 60-70 votes, on a par with the Tories in some places! Hand in hand with the campaign was a series of direct actions which did everything from closing car parks to selling bottles of fresh air. The whole thing went down well locally and put air pollution on the agenda for the election where otherwise it would have been lost in the smog.