Green Party

14 June 2017

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Grenfell Tower and to the families and friends of all those affected. We send our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the emergency services who once again have responded so quickly and effectively, and shown how much they are needed. 

“The priority right now must be to look after everyone affected. We do not yet know the full details of what has happened but a full investigation must take place as soon as possible. It is clear that residents had previously expressed clear concerns about safety. Their questions must be answered.”

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

12 June 2017

The Green Party has responded to Theresa May’s appointment of Michael Gove as Environment Secretary.

Caroline Lucas MP, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“It is hard to think of many politicians as ill equipped for the role of environment secretary as Michael Gove. His record of voting against measures to halt climate change and his attempt to wipe the subject from our children’s curriculum show him entirely unfit to lead our country in tackling one of the greatest threats we face. And as we enter Brexit negotiations, Gove’s past suggestion we scrap vital EU environmental protections becomes ever more concerning.

“This appointment is further evidence of both Theresa May’s complete disregard for the environment and her desperation to hold together a Government in chaos.”

Notes:

1. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11858/michael_gove/surrey_heath/votes#environment

2. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/jul/05/michael-gove-climate-change-geography-curriculum  

3. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-regulations-michael-gove-environment-drugs-a7649041.html

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

10 June 2017

Amelia Womack, deputy leader of the Green Party, has warned that a coalition between the Conservatives and the DUP is bad news for women everywhere.

The DUP has 10 MPs and received fewer than 300,000 votes. Womack’s party returned just one MP – Caroline Lucas in Brighton Pavilion – this week despite getting more than 500,000 votes.

Womack said:

“The Tory-DUP coalition of cruelty is bad news for women. We may have seen a record number of women gain seats in the Parliament this week, but the 10 MPs of the anti-abortion, anti-equal marriage DUP look set to have a disproportionate influence which should concern us all.

“The DUP’s obstruction to legal abortion in Northern Ireland has left many women in dire circumstances, forced to travel to England where they are not entitled to NHS-funded terminations or face prosecution for seeking help at home.

“It is deeply concerning that a party responsible for so much pain could be in a position to exert so much influence. Women’s rights are under threat and we must work together to stop a lurch to the right under a Tory-DUP alliance.”

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

8 June 2017

Caroline Lucas said:

“This exit poll is remarkable. If true then the Tory’s mandate is seriously in question. Any Green MPs elected tonight will do all they can to keep the Tories from Number 10, and back a Labour-led Government on a case by case basis.

“In the coming hours we will see if the Greens’ leadership on progressive alliance has come to fruition, but early suggestions from seats such as Brighton Kemptown suggest that our actions have had a truly meaningful consequence. Whatever happens we’re proud that we have worked with others in a handful of seats for the best chance of beating the Tories.”

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

7 June 2017

*Co-leader Jonathan Bartley: “Sacrificing our human rights in the name of fighting terrorism is exactly what terrorists want”

The Green Party has condemned Theresa May’s comments on human rights laws [1] and accused her of playing into terrorists’ hands by threatening civil liberties.

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, will today speak at the party’s final rally ahead of the election [2] and call May’s threat to human rights a disgrace.

Bartley said:

“Sacrificing our human rights in the name of fighting terrorism is exactly what terrorists want. May is exploiting people’s fear to do away with hard-won protections that don’t suit her regressive agenda. There is no shortage of laws designed to clamp down on terrorism and responsibility for the failure to use these lies with the Government. There’s no point building more and more walls if we end up boxing ourselves in.

“If May throws away our freedoms she is letting the terrorists win. Proposing to tear up human rights laws is a knee jerk reaction and could be dangerously counterproductive. We can tackle terrorism without impinging on human rights but we need an honest conversation about the causes of terrorism and to ask some hard questions about the impact of UK foreign policy and police cuts.

“I’m calling on people across the UK to vote with their hearts for the kind of country they want. The Green Party stands for a confident and caring country, and we’ll always stand up for human rights and fight for an inclusive, tolerant society with a positive vision for the future.”

Notes

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40181444
2. Jonathan Bartley will join Molly Scott Cato, Bristol West candidate, and Green Party activists for a rally at 2pm in front of the party’s mobile billboard at College Green, Bristol BS1 5TA.

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)