Green Party
1. Who is the leader of your party and can you tell us more about them? (200 words)
The Green Party leader is Caroline Lucas, who is standing to be an MP in the Brighton Pavillion constituency this election. The party emerged from the Ecology party in the 1970s, and has not had a figurehead leader until recently (instead having ‘speakers’). Caroline is awesome. She joined the party in 1986 and held various positions, and became leader in 2008. She has been heavily involved in many different campaigns, most notably – but not exclusively – environmental. She served on Oxfordshire county council from 1993-7, and was elected as an MEP in 1999, and re-elected in 2004 and 2009.
2. What are your party’s major policies? (300 words)
The Greens outline a ‘green alternative’ to traditional politics, emphasising fairness. They launched their election manifesto in Brighton yesterday (15/4).They are by no means solely focused on the environment. Their main policies are:
* banking system: community banks and credit unions to provide realistic loans for those who need them + High Pay Commission to prevent failing bankers receiving reward nonetheless.
* health: opposing cuts, closures and most significantly privatisation of health services. Focus on providing free local services (abolish prescription charges, free eye tests etc).#
* transport: trains > public ownership to reduce fares. Divert road-investment into public transport. 160,000 new jobs from this.
* housing: get the 300,000 empty private properties re-occupied, build a new generation of quality council houses
* jobs and living wage: immediate £44 bn investment in training, renewables, public transport, social housing and waste management = new, sustainable jobs. Living wage scheme which would see minimum wage at £8.10/hr.
More information can be found here:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies.html
3. Why should the public vote for your party? (100 words)
You should vote for the Green Party if you are dissatisfied with the current system. They are the only party offering sufficiently radical action on climate change – the greatest problem facing humanity. But they have so many other fantastic policies to create a more equitable society. It’s not pie in the sky – the ‘new green deal’ is a realistic economic alternative to the unsustainable status quo. Admittedly, because we lack proportional representation the Greens are unlikely to win many seats. If you live in Brighton Pavilion, Lewisham Deptford or Norwich South constituency, absolutely vote Green because they have a strong chance of getting their first MPs here. However, there’s something to be said for voting for them regardless – it will boost them for the future.
Article written by a council member at Warwick University.
