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Elliot Tong

@elliottonguk.bsky.social

450 followers 66 following 400 posts

Cambridgeshire County Council Green Group Leader and City Councillor for Abbey Ward | Historical Materialist | Guy | Daily Updates on my Work and some Extras

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · Mar 28

If you need to get in contact with me about Council business, please reach out via my email address on the Council website!

Disclaimer: Promoted by Daniel Laycock on behalf of the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Green Party, both at 603 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8PA

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 18h

The Cambridge Young Greens no longer have to convince people that we’re the country’s leading left-wing political party - people KNOW that we’re the country’s leading left-wing political party ✊ I had a fantastic time at Freshers’ Fair, where people were excited to get involved 💚

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 1d

I had a busy weekend at Autumn Conference while dealing with a bunch of personal turmoil AND sickness, but that didn’t stop me attending the other evening’s Housing Advisory Board meeting only an hour after getting home 🏠 Standing up for residents will always be my priority ✊

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 2d

‪Going forward, I’ll continue thinking about how best to campaign for isolated communities around Cambridge to benefit from East West Rail - we can’t allow the project to be ruined by corporate interests!‬

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 2d

I’m happy the Greens now formally support East West Rail, but I will personally be far bolder. Electrifying the line ‘as quickly as possible’ must mean any new line being electrified at the point of construction and we can’t leave planning the route to the Tories and Labour 🚂

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 3d

I’ve had a fantastic time in Bournemouth with the @cambsgreenparty.bsky.social for the @greenparty.org.uk’s Autumn Conference 💚 I was particularly happy to see us cement ourselves as THE leading left-wing party by confirming our commitment to creating a society without private landlords 💚

Photo: Me with some of the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Greens 💚

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 4d

Some members of the @cambsgreenparty.bsky.social have had a great time campaigning outside the @greenparty.org.uk’s Autumn Conference this morning 💚

Photo: Seb, Darren, and I outside the conference hall 💚

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 4d

It’s been a long journey, but I’m now back in the UK, heading to Bournemouth for the @greenparty.org.uk’s Autumn Conference - I’m so excited 💚 Photo: Representative picture of me on a train 🚂

Photo: Representative picture of me on a train 🚂

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 6d

After a fun time enjoying nature in Greece, I’m packing my bags so that I can be in Bournemouth tomorrow - I can’t wait to be at Autumn Conference 💚 On the way, I’ll be catching up with some emails! Video: Setting sail for Turtle Island 🐢

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 7d

Last week, I again challenged the Police and Crime Commissioner over their generous use of statistics to back up their supposed achievements, as well as their inability to show that using stop-and-search has had results; I suspect the police are just harassing random people 🙄

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 8d

While Kathryn and I were out for a walk in Abbey the other day, Kathryn pointed out some rubbish that had been fly tipped by the side of the road. We promptly reported it 💚

Photo: Kathryn and I standing next to the rubbish that has been dumped 🗑️

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 9d

I’ve had a fun time reading the newest issue of the Local Government Association’s first magazine in Greece, where I’m having a little getaway ☀️ It’s the 708th instalment - ‘first’ is just the name of the magazine 📚

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 10d

In the meantime, I will prepare for a meeting of the Housing Advisory Board next week, where I will continue to speak up for local residents, who should all have access to a warm, comfortable home ✊

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 10d

However, it is time that this is made official. I am excited to support the motion that aims to achieve this coming to conference this weekend 🥳 I also hope to attend tomorrow’s workshop to show my support - tune in as well, if you’re able to!

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 10d

Functionally, Green Party policy has always sought the abolition of landlords - after all, our proposals aimed at dramatically increasing the supply of council housing undermine the economic conditions that allow landlords to exist, the manufactured scarcity of affordable homes.

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 10d

There are good landlords and there are bad landlords, but I would prefer it if there weren’t landlords at all 🏡 I sympathise that in our tough economy people have to make money somehow, but landlords use their lucky position to profit off of others’ inability to afford a home.

Photo: Me with the sun setting in the background 🌅

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

I do think that the East West Rail Company have prioritised the interests of wealthier academics, but this is the fault of the company, not any individual 😀 I think improved collaboration will bring about a solution that will make everyone happy, including academics that aren't so well off!

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

I want to make sure that all new rail infrastructure benefits the real people that are struggling right now, including people that work at places like the Biomedical Campus, first and foremost 😀

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

I totally agree that far from every academic is middle class - I know many that have been forced out of the city by the high cost of living - however, the southern approach prioritises the wellbeing of people that can afford to live in the expensive new builds that will spring up along the route.

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

At the end of the day, change has to come from the grassroots, where I will continue fighting for all of the public, not just the privileged, to have access to rail transport ✊

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

My main reason for submitting something was out of a personal sense of self respect, so I am still very glad I did so. I will always stand up for regular people, even if technicalities get in the way 💚

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

Sadly, the amendment that I put in on this subject was sadly struck down by Standing Orders Committee - thank you everybody for the support nonetheless 💚

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

The Greens need to fight for rail transport to benefit everybody, not just the wealthy 🚂 I know of too many people that have been pushed out of Cambridge by the high cost of rent that are now isolated due to a lack of public transport…

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

I will also say that we need to make sure that marginalised communities, including Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, aren’t disadvantaged by the route chosen 💚 How best to achieve this is something that I am actively researching.

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Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

I am glad that the East West Rail motion coming to Autumn Conference 2025 doesn’t exclude the option of making changes here, although I would have preferred these to be noted in the text itself.

Elliot Tong @elliottonguk.bsky.social · 11d

Trains are important 🚂 East West Rail looks great, but is let down by the proposed southern approach to Cambridge, which puts the convenience of middle-class academics visiting the Biomedical Campus above the wellbeing of poorly-connected towns/villages to the north of the city.

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