Greens rally against hate in Burnley today

21 May 2019

Green Party candidate for the North West region Gina Dowding, also a Lancashire County Councillor, will today be speaking at a rally in Burnley for a community preparing to resist messages of hatred and xenophobia.

Reports suggest that Stephen Yaxley Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson, is coming to Burnley, and is likely to be in the ward of Green councillor Andy Fewings.

Andy is organising a rally in conjunction with local anti-racism organisations offering solidarity and support to the community and a strong anti-hate message.

He has invited Gina Dowding, lead candidate for the North West and a Lancashire County Councillor, to address it. 

Gina said: “We have seen this carrier of the message of hate going from place to place across the North West, from Liverpool to Oldham, Warrington to Preston, seeking to fan the flames of bigotry.

“Now he is trying Burnley. But this town has already demonstrated that it is united against the poisonous fiction that people can’t stand together. 

“The BNP has died in the town and shows no signs of making a comeback. Instead the Greens are rising, and following the local elections this month are now the second-largest group on the Council.”

Gina added: “The Green Party stands for everything that he doesn’t. We stand for hope not hate, for unity not division, for finding solutions to problems not blaming others for them.

“The Green Party, from local councils through to Brussels, offers positive leadership that looks to a brighter future, celebrating diversity.”

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Lewes Liberal Democrats hand power to Tories

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Zoe Nicholson, leader of the Green group of councillors on Lewes District Council, tonight expressed frustration and anger at the actions of Liberal Democrats in refusing to join an agreed co-ooperative alliance for the council, which included Labour and independent councillors.

 

She said: “The Liberal Democrats actively obstructed the proposed move to put people, planet and place ahead of party politics, leaving control with the Tory Party administration.

 

“Over the past two weeks Greens took the leadership and put people first and party second. We developed an agreement that met every one of the Liberal Democrat Group’s request for equality in decision making, to implement their manifesto and that of the other groups. We agreed to them taking over the leadership in a year. Every one of their ideas and needs we built into the agreement.

 

“Throughout the local election they told voters that they were the party that was ready to govern, the only choice was between them and Conservatives, but it seems that they really aren’t ready to step up. People will feel very let down.

 

“I would like to thank our Independent and Labour colleagues who have been so supportive of the alliance that we developed together. It takes courage and conviction to step forward to lead. I have had so many messages of support for this approach, we will continue to do what is right for our local communities.” 

 

Alexandra Phillips, Green party candidate for the South East in the European election on Thursday, said: “I am sure many Liberal Democrat voters in Lewes, and potential voters in the European elections across our region and beyond, will be disgusted by the actions of the Liberal Democrats in Lewes. 

 

“The people of Lewes were looking for a change. That’s how they voted. Instead they’ve found that voting Lib Dem delivers more of the same, old, disastrous politics of obfuscation and narrow party interest.”



Lewes Liberal Democrats hand power to Tories

Lib Dems back away from deal for anti-Tory alliance

They actively obstructed a plan to put people, planet and place ahead of party politics, says Green leader

Zoe Nicholson, leader of the Green group of councillors on Lewes District Council, tonight expressed frustration and anger at the actions of Liberal Democrats in refusing to join an agreed co-ooperative alliance for the council, which included Labour and independent councillors.

She said: “The Liberal Democrats actively obstructed the proposed move to put people, planet and place ahead of party politics, leaving control with the Tory Party administration.

“Over the past two weeks Greens took the leadership and put people first and party second. We developed an agreement that met every one of the Liberal Democrat Group’s request for equality in decision making, to implement their manifesto and that of the other groups. We agreed to them taking over the leadership in a year. Every one of their ideas and needs we built into the agreement.

“Throughout the local election they told voters that they were the party that was ready to govern, the only choice was between them and Conservatives, but it seems that they really aren’t ready to step up. People will feel very let down.

“I would like to thank our Independent and Labour colleagues who have been so supportive of the alliance that we developed together. It takes courage and conviction to step forward to lead. I have had so many messages of support for this approach, we will continue to do what is right for our local communities.”

Alexandra Phillips, Green party candidate for the South East in the European election on Thursday, said: “I am sure many Liberal Democrat voters in Lewes, and potential voters in the European elections across our region and beyond, will be disgusted by the actions of the Liberal Democrats in Lewes.

“The people of Lewes were looking for a change. That’s how they voted. Instead they’ve found that voting Lib Dem delivers more of the same, old, disastrous politics of obfuscation and narrow party interest.”

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Robert Macfarlane backs vote for the Green Party in European election

18 May 2019

Highly successful nature writer Robert Macfarlane has tweeted his support for the Green Party in the European election.

He wrote:

He had earlier released the following statement showing his support

“If you want to see an end to air pollution and an end to fossil-fuel dependency; if you want to see the recovery of biodiversity and the growth of a Green New Deal; if you believe that social justice and environmental justice are closely aligned, then I’m with you. I’ll be voting Green on Thursday May 23rd – join me! It’s time.”

Macfarlane is famous for his works that explore the human place in nature and his latest book Underland is described as a work of huge range and power, and a remarkable new chapter in Macfarlane’s long-term exploration of landscape and the human heart.

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Green Party action at St Pancras today: Call for affordable, convenient European train travel

18 May 2019

Let the train take the strain, says Green Party deputy leader

Young Green action coordinated with German compatriots

Green Party deputy leader Amelia Womack will today (Saturday 18th of May) join London Young Greens to demand that train travel from London across Europe be made more convenient and cheaper.

They will be protesting outside St Pancras station, calling for improvements in rail travel, rather than cutbacks. This follows the recent announcement that sales of relatively cheap “through” tickets to German, Austrian and Swiss destinations will end. (1)

Amelia said: “Huge numbers of young people don’t want to fly but want to take advantage of the free movement now available to them as citizens of the European Union. It is possible to travel by train to and from most destinations in Europe, as Nobel Prize-nominee Swede Greta Thunberg showed on her recent visit to Britain.

“I know this personally, having been to the South of Italy, Berlin and many other European destinations by train.

“But the price makes it prohibitive for many, particularly young people. That flying is so much cheaper in pound terms, even though it is costing us the Earth, is a massive policy failure of their elders. Aviation is massively subsidised through lack of fuel tax and VAT.

“That costs the Treasury billions, and helps push people into the air, when for many journeys rail would be a far more convenient and pleasant way to travel.”

Amelia added: “The Young Green event is being held in coordination with a similar German Young Greens event, reflecting the way in which as part of the European Greens, we work cooperatively across the continent.”

Greens across Europe are also campaigning for the restoration of sleeper trains, to make longer journeys more practical and convenient, a campaign that has met with success in Sweden. (2)

For further information contact the Green Party press office, press@greenparty.org.uk, 0203-6919401. To cover the protest on the day, contact Matthew Hull, 0785 615783.

Notes
1 https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/eurostar-train-rail-brussels-germany-austria-switzerland-through-ticket-a8902431.html
2 https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2019/04/europe-night-train-sweden-eco-travel-sleeper-car-fossil-free/586228/

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