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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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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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.”

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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