12 September 2018

Responding to the Government’s Agriculture Bill, published today, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas MP said:
“This Agriculture Bill has been injected with warm words about protecting our environment – but its failure to commit to long-term funding and strong enforcement powers means it reads more like a wish-list than a plan of action.

“While it’s good to see an end to subsidies for wealthy landowners and ideas for encouraging farmers to improve our environment, promised payments for ‘improving productivity’ could end up accelerating industrial agriculture’s destruction of nature.

“We need a robust and independent system for determining what farmers are paid for to ensure public money doesn’t reward tokenistic gestures – such as having a wind turbine while continuing to drench fields in pesticides. This new system should be designed to dismantle the industrial agriculture that is destroying nature and wildlife, and encourage smaller-scale, sustainable farms with the highest animal welfare standards.

“With Michael Gove having already backed down on his promise to ban live animal exports, it’s clear we can’t rely on his word.”

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12 September 2018

Speaking today in reaction to Michael Gove’s decision to back off banning live animal exports, despite Vote Leave’s claims during the referendum [1], Green Party of England and Wales Animal Rights Spokesperson Keith Taylor said:

“Time and again, leading Brexit campaigners like Michael Gove have shown that their promises are hollow. Reneging on the pledge to ban the cruel practice of live exports might not be surprising, but that doesn’t make it acceptable.

“It has become blindingly clear that Gove, Johnson and their Brexiteer colleagues cannot be trusted. Greens will continue fighting alongside campaigners in the UK and across Europe for an immediate end to this barbaric industry.”

[1] https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-michael-gove-looks-like-13231152

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11 September 2018

Ahead of the publication of the Government’s Agriculture Bill, expected tomorrow, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas MP said:

“This Agriculture Bill is an opportunity for the Government to back up its green veneer with much-needed substance.

“Industrial agriculture has decimated nature and wildlife for decades with toxic pesticides and aggressive farming techniques, while taxpayers have subsidised wealthy landowners and small-scale sustainable farmers have struggled.

“The Government could use this Bill to reverse this decline of the UK’s countryside. It must include a clear commitment to sustaining current levels of funding for farmers and refocusing that support on measures that restore biodiversity, bolster flood protections, improve animal welfare, revitalise soil, and help tackle climate change.”

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7 September 2018

* Greens launch Political Programme setting out vision for future

* Party’s plan for “radical system overhaul” focuses on People’s Vote on Brexit, action on climate change and overhaul of world of work

* Jonathan Bartley: “We are the only party with the bright ideas needed to face the future”

The Green Party has put forward its bold alternative to the “vapid centrism” which has dominated politics in recent decades.

The party today launched its Political Programme [1] as part of its election planning, outlining Green plans for the “radical system overhaul” needed to equip Britain to face the future.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, criticised centrism for “disillusioning a generation of voters” as he put forward his party’s alternative to “old school, moderate politics”.

The Political Programme includes plans to:

* Return democracy to the British public with a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal

* Tackle climate change with an end to fracking and investment in a renewable revolution

* Overhaul the world of work with a four day week and a Universal Basic Income

The announcement comes three days after it was announced Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry won the Green leadership race [2]. They will take office on September 15 when Bartley’s current co-leader, Caroline Lucas, will step back after deciding not to re-stand [3].

Bartley and Berry have promised to set the Green Party on path to become Britain’s third political party.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“I’m excited to put forward the Green alternative to old school, moderate politics. Vapid centrism has failed the big challenges of our time and disillusioned a generation of voters in the process.

“People deserve politics with passion, and politicians who are brave enough to stand up for what they believe in. That’s why we’re building a fierce Green resistance to fight for what Britain really needs: radical system overhaul.

“From championing a People’s Vote on Brexit to proposing bold policies like a four day working week we are the only party who can be trusted to always put forward the bright ideas needed to face the future.”

Notes:

1. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/images/national-site/political-programme-web.pdf

2. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2018/09/04/green-party-announces-jonathan-bartley-and-sian-berry-as-new-leaders/

3. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2018/06/04/caroline-lucas-not-re-standing-for-green-party-leadership/

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4 September 2018

 * Green members vote Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry new co-leaders

* Amelia Womack re-elected for third term as deputy

* Jonathan Bartley: “We are more determined than ever to become the third political party in Britain”

* Sian Berry: “The Green Party is the opposite of vapid, old school centrist politics”

Green Party members have voted Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry new co-leaders of the party after an internal election this summer.

Bartley and Berry have launched their leadership by pledging to take the party on the course to become the “third political party in Britain” and get a Green in every council chamber.

The pair said their party will stand as “the opposite of vapid, old school centrist politics” and promised to put forward “bright Green ideas” to answer the big challenges of our time – from Brexit to climate breakdown and the housing crisis, to automation and the broken world of work.

They also promised “fiercer Green resistance” on the frontline of the fight against the destruction of projects from fracking to HS2, and the harm of practices like deportation and indefinite detention.

Bartley has led the opposition on Lambeth council since being elected a Streatham councillor in May this year. Berry was elected Green London Assembly member in 2016, when she also came third in the London mayoral race. She has been a Camden councillor since 2014. They were elected by the Green Party membership after an internal election over the summer.

Amelia Womack was re-elected deputy leader of the party for a third term and will continue work on women’s rights, including the campaign to make misogyny a hate crime, as well as work on sustainable communities and the environment.

New co-leaders Bartley and Berry won with 6,239 of a total 8,379 votes cast. Contenders Shahrar Ali and Leslie Rowe received 1,466 and 495 votes respectively. New deputy leader Womack won with 3,981 of 7,369 total votes cast.

Jonathan Bartley said:

“We’re proud to lead a party with a track record on the right side of history and are ready to mobilise a fiercer Green resistance than ever before.

“In council chambers across the country Greens are leading a political revolt against the status quo. We are more determined than ever to take the party to the next level. We want to take the Green Party on a course to become the third political party in Britain, building on this year’s local election success to get a Green on every council in England and Wales.

“But the Green Party knows politics isn’t confined to council chambers or the halls of Westminster. When faced with the environmental destruction of fracking or the spiralling costs of HS2, or the inhumanity of indefinite detention and forced removals of refugees and migrants, we are not afraid to join protestors putting their bodies on the line for what is right.”

Sian Berry said:

“We’re excited to take on leading a buoyant Green Party at this crucial time for our country and party. With Brexit on the horizon and our planet burning, the last thing people need is the stale centrism of the past, which brought us austerity and privatisation – and totally failed to tackle climate breakdown or give people real security and quality of life.

“The Green Party is the opposite of vapid, old school centrist politics, and we are ready to shout louder than ever before about the bright Green ideas needed to face the huge challenges in the world today.

“We will be championing a People’s Vote on Brexit, tackling climate breakdown, ensuring everyone has the right to a safe warm home, and fulfilling work that translates to more time off with our families, not more unemployment as automation grows. We are the only party who can be trusted to stand up for citizens in our nations of England and Wales, instead of the interests of big business or millionaires.”

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