11 August 2017

Responding to the news that the Government is launching a consultation on its plans to introduce mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses across England [1], Keith Taylor MEP, Green Party animals spokesperson, said:

“Greens have been calling for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses for decades, our membership of the EU has never prevented the introduction of this measure. Today’s announcement is welcome a step, but long, long overdue.

“The devil is in the detail, of which there is little at the moment. To help prevent the cruellest and most pitiless treatment of UK farm animals, as a minimum, the Government needs to ensure cameras are placed in any area of a slaughterhouse where animals are handled, held and killed. The footage must also be held for a reasonable length of time and made available for independent viewing and monitoring. At the same time, urgent steps are needed to improve and monitor on farm welfare standards too.

“Ultimately, though, it’s worth remembering that no amount of legislation or regulation can ever make the slaughter business cruelty-free.”

Notes:

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40895049

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11 August 2017

The Green Party is renewing its call for the voting system to be overhauled following YouGov’s ideal parliament survey [1], which reveals voters favour having smaller parties better represented in parliament.

A survey of 5000 people found voters would want the Green Party to have an average of 33 seats, compared to the one MP it has now. The results would make the Greens the fourth largest party in parliament, ahead of UKIP with 29 seats and the SNP with 23. The results also revealed UKIP, Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative voters all want to see more Green MPs in parliament.

The Greens have long campaigned for the first past the post voting system to be replaced by proportional representation.

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“Our broken and out of date political system is clearly failing to deliver what the country really wants. True democracy isn’t a two horse race where voters feel pressured to vote tactically. Real representation isn’t possible when millions of votes count for nothing. No one should be forced to hold their noses and vote for the least worst option rather than for who they actually believe in.

“The survey results reveal the public believes a strong Green presence in parliament is important, no matter what party they support. Even UKIP voters want to see more Green MPs.

“Electoral reform is well overdue and the Green Party will always fight for a fairer, more democratic voting system that would ensure Parliament looks like the people it it supposed to represent.”

Notes:

1. https://yougov.co.uk/news/2017/08/11/what-does-ideal-house-commons-look/

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9 August 2017

A South West MEP has warned that the travel chaos experienced by thousands of air passengers to Europe this summer is a taste of what is to come post-Brexit [1]. The delays have been caused by tighter checks at some EU airports. Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West and Green Party speaker on Brexit, says this should serve as a ‘wake-up call’ for what lies ahead once we leave the EU. She said:

“We were promised that taking back control would lead to less red tape. But what we have seen this summer is the inevitability that greater control of borders will result in more not less bureaucracy and paper work.

“Once Britain leaves the EU, UK citizens will be covered by the same rules as Americans or Australians. This will mean everyone wanting to visit an EU country will likely be required to follow a process similar to applying for a visa, providing personal information including particulars about state of health, any criminal convictions and details of the purpose of travel [2].

“It is ironic that the delays experienced by the British travelling public have been so vociferously lambasted by the Brexit headbangers of the right-wing media [3]. Isn’t this exactly what they wanted? To take back control of our borders? Perhaps they naively believed that restrictions on freedom of movement would only apply to people they didn’t want to enter the UK, not UK nationals wishing to travel to the continent. Their reaction borders on the ridiculous, and this is another fine mess that Brexiteers are leading us into.”

Notes:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/29/uk-border-customs-chaos-hit-hard-brexit  

2. http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/etias-brexit-schengen-area-british-passports-online-visa-a7879876.html

3. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4748182/EU-border-checks-leave-UK-tourists-queuing-FOUR-hours.html  

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4 August 2017

The Green Party has called for an overhaul of the Gender Recognition Act to give trans people more rights ahead of Brighton and Hove Pride, which runs from August 4 to 6 [1].

The Government Equalities Office announced a review of the Gender Recognition Act on July 23 [2]. The Green Party is campaigning to allow trans youth and non-binary people to obtain legal gender recognition and to remove the medicalisation of the process.

Aimee Challenor, Green Party LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, and Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, will lead the Green bloc at the march on August 5.

Challenor said:

“LGBTIQA+ rights are under unprecedented threat around the world. We must make sure our laws reflect the world around us and make society a more accepting and welcoming place, whether that’s in public, at school or in the workplace.

 “When I was at school other kids called me names, pushed me around and threw things at me. The teachers rarely did anything about it and that hurt – it legitimised the behaviour of the bullies and made me think that I wasn’t worthy of respect.

“I’m proud to be marching this weekend and celebrating people like me who don’t ‘fit the mould’. We’re sending a clear message that it’s never acceptable to intimidate, harass or belittle someone because of who they are. It’s time for our flawed and outdated laws to be updated to recognise the rights of LGBTIQA+ people across the UK.”

Notes:

1. http://www.brighton-pride.org/
2. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/07/23/green-party-calls-for-new-trans-rights-as-government-announces-review-of-gender-recognition-act/

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4 August 2017

Responding to the report from the GMB union [1] which shows average commuter times have increased, especially for those in insecure work, Co-Leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley said:

“The Government needs to wake up to the realities of the modern world.  Commuter chaos resulting from the chronic failure of successive Governments to make the right transport choices is costing us all dear, whether it be robbing us of time with our friends and families, or diminishing productivity in the workplace.  

“The facts are clear.  The cost of motoring has steadily fallen in real terms for over 30 years while the cost of public transport has risen [2].  It is time that over dependency on congested and polluted roads ended, and investment in decent public transport was made a priority.  

“The way we think about work also needs to change. It’s time to move towards more flexible working practices that benefit everyone including moving toward a shorter working week. A healthy economy is one in which everyone sees the benefits of good jobs – not just in terms of decent pay and secure jobs, but also in working practices which will give us the decent quality of life we all deserve.”

Notes

[1] https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2017/08/03/union-reports-commuter-hell-due-to-longer-journey-times-by-roa/ 

[2] http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-02-10/223954/ 

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