The Green Party (could it ever win power?)
The Green Party has four MPs, with high hopes of gaining 30 to 60 at the next election, due to the ‘Polanski’ surge since the new leader was elected. Greens only have to double their membership to be on a level playing field with Reform UK.
And while Reform are top of the polls for people who vote, there is a huge swathe of people in England who don’t vote for anyone, so if Greens mop them up at the next election, the results could be very different from what polls are predicting.
Green policy is not just about saving the planet, but also about fair voting, human rights, animal welfare, and alternatives to economic growth (like the Happiness Index!)
Alas Greens are also fans of the EU, which is anything but local:
The EU violates just about every green principle going. It is the opposite of local; it is destructive to the natural world; it wipes out cultural distinctiveness. It is anti-democratic, it puts the interests of banks and corporations before the interests of its working people.
Why – when – how – did the Green movement abandon its commitment to localism and democracy, and jump into bed with a beast like this? Paul Kingsnorth
Whilst most UK politicians think that Greens could never gain power, abroad they are already serving in cabinets of coalition governments (including Finland which has the world’s cleanest air) and New Zealand (which has no nuclear power).
Greens are also in government in Austria, another nuclear-free country.
I’m as much of a patriot as Nigel Farage. I care about this country and its communities. To tackle a crisis, we need to grow communities. That’s what this country is: thoughtful, considerate and kind. Hateful, divisive politics is on the ballot paper. Let’s instead look after each other. Zack Polanski, Green Party leader
Ellie Chowns (an MP to restore political trust)
Dr Ellie Chowns MP (she’s a doctor of philosophy) is one of the four Green MPs. She lives in the area she represents and before being elected, worked for many charities to reduce road traffic and fuel poverty.
In local politics, she got £3 million investment in creating wetlands, set up car-sharing pools, provided free weekend buses and gave all residents a gift card to support local shops.
Today as an MP, she sets aside a portion of her salary to help local projects, and is fighting to save the River Wye from sewage pollution, and promotes nature-friendly farming. There are good MPs around, if you seek them out!
