6 June 2019

The Green Party ‘spring’ conference will open tomorrow (Friday) in Scarborough, with a big celebration congratulating all of our new MEPs and councillors (3.45pm).

Co-leaders Sian Berry and Jonathan Bartley will be reinforcing the “yes to Europe, no to climate change” message in their speeches on Saturday, as the party celebrates spectacular European and local election results, and polling putting us on 12% in general election voting intention.

Jonathan said: “This is a tremendous exciting time to be a Green. The Green Wave, driven by the demand for action of our climate emergency and the pressing human needs causes by inequality and poverty, is pushing through Europe.

“We offer policies designed to reinvigorate our communities, the democratic process and our natural environment.

“Greens know that the politics of hope is what people need. We stand against the politics of fear, the rhetoric of division and xenophobia pushed by the far right.”

Sian added: “We acknowledge the concerns in communities up and down the country, like those in North Yorkshire, where large numbers of people voted leave in 2016.

“They are concerned about low wages and insecure employment, about filthy air and unaffordable housing, about the destruction of the natural environment that they see going on daily around them.

“Distant Westminster doesn’t speak to their concerns, is tied up in internal party wrangling and acts in the interests of big businesses rather than communities. It starves the poorest and most vulnerable of funds while enhancing the incomes of multinational companies and rich tax-dodgers.

“Transformational change is inevitable, and we offer policies that deliver for the common good, while looking after this fragile, overstretched planet.”

Other highlights:

Friday 3pm Deputy leader Amelia Womack’s speech

Friday 4.30pm Mobilising the climate emergency, a panel chaired by MEP Molly Scott Cato

Saturday Noon “Our Europe” rally with local and regional “Stop Brexit” groups

Saturday 1pm Co-leaders Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry joint speech.

Saturday 3.15pm A UK Green New Deal, from idea to reality, a panel chaired by Caroline Lucas MP

Sunday 3.15pm Ocean pollution and the future of our seas panel

Saturday and Sunday 10-11am Members will be joining the local Sea Swim group for a dip

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27 May 2019

Huge support for ‘yes to Europe, no to climate change’

European parliamentary group is third-largest

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley has this morning celebrated his party’s total vote in the European election topping 2 million.

Jonathan said: “The result of this election, with 12 per cent of the vote, a tally of more than 2 million, shows huge support for our message of ‘yes to Europe, no to climate change’.

“To beat the Tory Party in a national election for the first time is just the icing on the cake.”

Jonathan added: “The result in the UK is a reflection of what has happened across Europe. The Greens/EPA group in the European parliament is leaping to be the third-largest group, with great results from the German, French, Finnish and many other European green parties.

“The pollsters did not see approaching the 50% boost in the group to 75 seats that the voters have delivered.

“As our European parliamentary co-president Ska Keller told the BBC last night, we want to deliver on transformational climate action and the promise of social action in Europe.

“Austerity in the UK and far beyond has done great damage. The political philosophy that has allowed the wealth of the 1% to soar while many millions struggle is one of the key causes of the 2016 Brexit vote. It is causing great dissatisfaction with the politics-as-usual approach of the old parties across Europe.

“Green politics is new, different and exciting. That’s a message that particularly has captured the imagination and votes of young people across Europe and I look forward to seeing what our great team of seven MEPs can achieve in Europe.”

Notes

Greens were elected for the first time as MEPs in the Eastern, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber regions. Greens retained seats in London, the South East and the South West (where Molly Scott Cato was re-elected).

Greens topped the vote in Bristol, Norwich and Brighton and Hove and scored notable second places in Sheffield, Cambridge and Oxford.

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27 May 2019

Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, tonight said that the result of the European elections was a clear direction that the UK should call a People’s Vote now, giving voters the chance to choose between remaining in the EU and leaving under a deal agreed with the EU.

Sian said: “Giving the people the final say over the country’s direction is now clearly the only way forward, the way to draw a line under the Brexit chaos.

“The vote tally for clearly Remain parties is higher than for that of the Brexit Party and Ukip. The people have spoken.

“We are in a state of political crisis in the UK. But to understand that we need to look at the causes of the anger and frustration in Leave majority areas, Westminster austerity, our archaic Victorian voting system, and the concentration of power in London.

“We have to be tough on Brexit and the causes of Brexit.

“And we have to turn our focus to addressing the climate emergency, our social crisis that sees millions insecure and uncertain they’ll be able to feed and house themselves, the damage done to the NHS by privatisation and underfunding and the many problems in our education system.”

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27 May 2019

The Green Party is tonight celebrating a spectacular election result that has seen its number of members of the European parliament in England double, rising from three to seven.

The first Brussels Green Party representatives were elected in the Eastern, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber regions. Greens seats were retained in London, the South East and the South West, where MEP Molly Scott Cato was re-elected.

The party finished fourth in the total vote, above the Conservative Party, the first time the Greens have beaten the Tories in a national election.

Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party, said: “Following on from our spectacular local election results where we more than doubled our representation, tonight’s result is proof of the size and power of the Green Wave that is sweeping across the country.

“Our message of ‘yes to Europe, no to climate change’ clearly resonated strongly with voters, many of whom will have been casting their vote for our party for the first time.

“We topped the poll in Bristol, Norwich and Brighton and Hove, and scored brilliant seconds in Sheffield, Cambridge and Oxford.  

“We’ll be sending a wonderful team of people to Brussels who’ll be working for the transformation of our society so that it delivers the promise of a social Europe, one that cares for and supports its people, while living within the physical limits of our one fragile planet.”

Sian added: “There is clear evidence from this of strong support for the UK remaining in the European Union, but also for tackling the causes of Brexit – the massive damage done to so many communities by austerity, tax-dodging and diminution of workers’ rights.”

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22 May 2019

Astrid Johnson, 55, is a candidate in the Green Party in the North West region in tomorrow’s election.

Writing for Metro, she’s reflected on the experience of being an EU27 candidate in these elections, and how she’s felt since the 2016 referendum result.

She wrote: “I fell in love with England when I was 12 years old. I came for a language exchange, and immediately knew that I wanted to move to live here from my native Germany. I loved the easy-going politeness of the English people in comparison to the formalities of home.

“So over twenty years ago I left Germany to enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of London. In 2009, I went to the Proms, and met my now husband.

“My step daughter is 19, and she wants to go and live in Paris. But without freedom of movement from the UK’s membership of the EU, her options are likely to be much more limited than the ones I had when I was younger.”

Astrid added: “I felt immediately at home when I moved to the UK, but since 2016 I’ve felt like ‘a migrant’. This is my home, but I’m not being treated like it is.

“Applying for settled status is frightening and angering. Even the technology is not fit for purpose. Why do they tell me I have to have an Android phone? (I don’t.)

“Why should I have to ‘apply’ to stay in my own home? Why did I not have a vote in 2016?

“Those with resources, skills and money will probably find a way through eventually, but what of those without the language skills, the computer knowledge, or the resources to navigate their way through the new ’settled status’ procedure? What about their children, if they don’t have sufficient documentation?”

Astrid concluded: “I want to improve life here in Manchester and the North West, my home, to make things better for my neighbours, my community, the country in which I hope to live for the rest of my life. But I also see the EU as a way that we can make life better for people across Europe.”

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