27 September 2021

The Green Party has criticised the Labour leadership for failing to ensure the party backed a vote to support proportional representation at its conference today [Monday 27 September]. [1]

Labour conference defeated the motion after it was sent to a card vote. This came after 150 Constituency Labour Parties submitted motions on the topic and more than 83% of members previously said they support the idea. [2]

Zack Polanski, Green Party spokesperson on Democracy and Citizen Engagement, said:

“This is a really disappointing decision by the Labour Party which shows a real lack of leadership and vision from the top of the party.

“Labour members overwhelmingly support electoral reform, yet Keir Starmer has done next to nothing to ensure that his party’s delegates voted through a motion which could have revolutionised British politics and put an end to the Tory stranglehold on our failed democratic system.

“In the conference hall, speaker after speaker argued passionately for Labour to adopt proportional representation in its next manifesto, yet it still did not pass. Without proportional representation and electoral cooperation Labour has an impossible mountain to climb and the country faces another five years of chaos with the Conservatives.

“It is clear that British voters want to move on from the failure and division caused by the two-party system, and so it is extremely worrying to see Labour fail to grasp the need for a more cooperative and collaborative form of politics which will benefit everyone.

“The Green Party has always supported a system that translates votes fairly into seats. This is the very minimum we can expect from a country that calls itself a democracy. If people want to back a party that will consistently fight for this, then they know where to come.”

Notes

[1] https://labourlist.org/2021/09/conference-rejects-motion-committing-labour-to-proportional-representation/

[2] https://labourlist.org/2021/07/exclusive-83-of-members-say-labour-should-back-proportional-representation/

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24 September 2021

Greens have welcomed the opportunity the Labour party has to pass a motion for electoral reform at their autumn conference. At least 144 Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) have submitted the Labour for a New Democracy motion [1] – the greatest number on a single issue in Labour conference history. 

Labour members overwhelmingly back reform, with 83% supporting a system of proportional representation [2], while 48% of Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) have passed pro-PR policy and 144 have sent motions asking Labour to back PR to this year’s party conference. 

Zack Polanski, Green party spokesperson on Democracy and Citizen Engagement, said:

“There’s unprecedented demand for Proportional Representation among the Labour membership and CLPs. They deserve praise for their commitment to a fairer system that promotes democracy and equality. Like British voters, they are ready to move beyond the failure, division and sterility of two-party politics.

“Membership support for electoral reform is almost as strong as it is among Green members, and the Green Party has always supported proportional representation.

“There are fears that the Labour leadership will try again to kick the debate on electoral reform into the long grass or that a few will lobby hard for a no vote. This would be a serious blow to democracy which is already at risk from Tory attempts to gerrymander and suppress voting. 

“We urge Labour to listen to its members. If it does, proportional representation will become a cornerstone of the next Labour manifesto. If this happens, Labour will deserve huge credit for enriching our democracy.

“Labour has the opportunity to embrace its future as the largest party in a coalition government rather than condemning the country to another five years of disastrous Tory rule.”

ENDS

Notes

[1] https://labourforelectoralreform.org.uk/will-this-finally-be-prs-conference/ 

[2] https://labourlist.org/2021/07/exclusive-83-of-members-say-labour-should-back-proportional-representation/  

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24 September 2021

• Urgent need to address supply chain issues, rebuild local food economies, and move towards more plant-based food for a climate emergency

After weeks of bare shelves in many shops due to the impacts of Brexit and Covid-19 there are now further threats to food supplies from an emerging energy crisis. The Green Party says urgent action is needed to build resilience into the UK’s food supply systems.

Jonathan Elmer, Green Party spokesperson for the Natural World, said:

“The complex and multifaceted food crisis means there is a risk many will go hungry this autumn. That is why the Green Party is calling for an Emergency Food Resilience Summit to address questions of food supply and food poverty.

“Covid, Brexit and now the rise in gas prices have shown the lack of resilience in our food system. Importing nearly half of our food [1] and depending on lengthy supply chains leaves us highly vulnerable.

“A resilient food system would bring producers and consumers closer together. Farmers markets and local food coops, including community-supported agriculture, can make high-quality affordable food available locally, while also ensuring that more of the value of production stays with the farmer.

“We also need a public debate over how to change our eating habits in ways that help rather than worsen the climate crisis. Greens have long called for less meat eating and more plant-based food, alongside re-localised food supply chains, to reduce the climate impact of what we eat.”

The Green party also want a Food Resilience Summit to address the problems farmers and food producers are facing as a result of the UK leaving the single market and customs union. 

Former Green MEP, Molly Scott Cato, who used to sit on the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, said:

“Greens want the government to urgently conclude a veterinary deal with the EU and move towards rejoining the customs union. This would help British farmers rebuild the huge export losses they have sustained as a result of Brexit [2].”  

Notes:

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/food-statistics-pocketbook/food-statistics-in-your-pocket-global-and-uk-supply

[2] Brexit: food and drink exports to EU suffer ‘disastrous’ decline: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/02/brexit-uk-food-drink-exports-eu-disastrous-decline

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