1 June 2018

The Green Party of England and Wales today criticised Westminster plans to scrap the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon [1] which would take place the same day they sign off on the Wyfla nuclear plant on Anglesey.

Deputy Leader Amelia Womack, who last ran in the 2016 Welsh Assembly Election, argued that the prioritisation of nuclear power over tidal was further evidence that the Government had no strategy for moving Wales to a clean, renewable future.

Womack also noted that the inconsistencies in the costs quoted from Hitachi [2], combined with the cost of the Anglesey project in comparison to cheaper offshore wind projects [3], were proof that the nuclear project lacks both financial and environmental sustainability.

Womack said: “Wales’ energy production has been a defining part of our history, this tidal power lagoon would be a defining part of our clean energy future. This project would have produced cheap, locally sourced energy, created jobs in the community and made South Wales a nationwide leader in green technology.

“Instead the Conservatives are ploughing money into a nuclear energy plant that is neither environmentally sustainable nor financially sound. This is further proof that the Conservatives don’t have the best interests of Wales at heart.”

[1] https://www.ft.com/content/c6454bac-64c1-11e8-90c2-9563a0613e56

[2] https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2018/05/22/wylfa-hitachi-nuclear-deal-delays/

[3] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cheap-power-at-nuclear-plant-blown-away-by-wind-3bzc2h5qm

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30 May 2018

Caroline Lucas, the current Green Party co-leader, has announced that she will not seek nominations to re-run for the position. Lucas, who has co-led the party for the last two years, says she is showing the ‘power of letting go’. The Green Party currently has a record number of councillors – and has clearly overtaken UKIP to become the fourth party of England and Wales. [1] 

Lucas’ time as leader included the General Election – seeing her take part in the televised leaders’ debates, which a number of commentator’s said she won [2]. Along with her co-leader Jonathan Bartley, she then went on to spearhead the Greens’ local election campaign this year – seeing the party win seats across the country and breaking through onto an additional 6 councils.

Under the current co-leadership the Green Party has pioneered a number of bold policies, and continued to offer an alternative to the establishment parties. Lucas and Bartley have championed a shorter working week [3], trials of a Basic Income [4] and reform of Britain’s outdated and ineffective drugs laws [5]. She’s also cemented her position as a leading constructive critic of the Government’s environmental programme – which she says is little more than a ‘green veneer’ [6].

Nominations for the Green Party leadership open on Friday – and the election will run over the summer. The new leadership team will be announced in September.

Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“I’m really proud of the party’s progress under our co-leadership. We have more councillors in more communities than ever before, we’ve put forward our boldest ever policies and we’ve challenged and weakened this callous Tory government. We’ve also started an internal party review that is already paying dividends – and will make the party more inclusive in its makeup and an even more successful electoral force.

“I won’t be seeking nominations to be a candidate in this year’s leadership election when the process starts on Friday – but instead will be focusing even more on work in Parliament and in Brighton. I believe that Jonathan and I have shown the power of working together, and that it’s now time for me to show the power of letting go.”

Note: Matthew Butcher will be leaving Caroline’s Office on 26th June. 

[1] https://www.greenparty.org.uk/local-elections-2018/election-results.html

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/may/31/general-election-2017-may-corbyn-bbc-debate-campaign-personal-politics-live

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/04/three-day-weekend-injustices-modern-working-life

[4] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/22/greens-to-unveil-plans-for-universal-basic-income-in-manifesto-launch

[5] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/green-party-conference-bournemouth-caroline-lucas-drugs-law-policy-prisons-a8235416.html

[6] https://www.carolinelucas.com/latest/caroline-behind-the-governments-green-veneer-we-see-continued-failure-on-green-energy

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28 May 2018

• Nominations open Friday 1 June – Friday 29 June 2018
• Members to vote between 30 July and 31 August 2018

The Green Party will launch its 2018 leadership and executive elections this Friday (June 1) when nominations open.

Nominations will be open until 29 June for the positions of leader and deputy leader, as well as almost every position of the Green Party executive [1]. Members will then have one month to vote for between 30 July and 31 August, with results announced shortly after.

The Green Party’s constitution requires candidates for leader or deputy leader to have been a member of the party for the three complete years before the close of nominations, and for a nomination to be supported by signatures from a minimum of twenty party members.

Members will vote by single transferable vote, with ballots issued by them via email and, where required, paper copies.

A Green Party spokesperson said:

“The Green Party is proud to be a democratic party with members and supporters at its heart. Green Party members are central to all decision making, and in the next few months will decide who leads the party into the future.”

Notes:

1.

Green Party Executive posts currently confirmed to be elected for a two year term:
•    Leader
•    Deputy Leader
•    Chair
•    Campaigns Co-Ordinator
•    Elections Co-Ordinator
•    External Communications Co-Ordinator
•    International Co-Ordinator
•    Management Co-Ordinator
•    Trade Union Liaison Officer
Casual vacancies currently confirmed to be elected for a one year term:
•    Finance Co-Ordinator
•    Equality and Diversity Co-Ordinator
•    Policy Co-Ordinator

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24 May 2018

Adoo-Kissi-Debrah campaign for:

• Clean air for happy, healthy lives
• A final say over Europe – with the option to remain in
• Schools we can be proud of – supporting young people and their mental health

The Green Party today announced clean air campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah as their candidate for the upcoming Lewisham East by-election.

Adoo-Kissi-Debrah became a local clean air campaigner following the death of her daughter in 2013 from a rare and severe form of asthma. This led her to set up the Ella Roberta Family Foundation[1], which works to increase awareness of asthma in schools and local community groups.

Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is standing on a platform of tackling air pollution, giving people a say on Brexit and improving Lewisham’s schools.

Nearly 9,500 people die early every year in London because of air pollution [2], and Adoo-Kissi-Debrah has committed to fighting for clean air and respiratory conditions to be prioritised at a national level if elected as Lewisham East’s MP.

As Lewisham East voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah will campaign for the British people to have a final say on Europe.

Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who is a secondary school teacher in Lewisham, will also fight for schools that local people can be proud of. She wants more funding for young people’s mental health support, and to implement a joined up, holistic approach to the issue which helps young people and their families manage their conditions while giving them the confidence to go flourish.

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said:

“I am standing in the Lewisham East by-election for the Green Party because I know Lewisham residents now want to see real change, and a stronger, healthier Lewisham. They are sick of party-political infighting and want to see the real problems they have being championed in Parliament.

“I am here to cut through the grand-standing and ideology and deliver for Lewisham. People in Lewisham want to see their lives improve.”

Notes:

[1] http://ellaroberta.org

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/15/nearly-9500-people-die-each-year-in-london-because-of-air-pollution-study

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