16 May 2018

The Green Party has called for the UK’s drugs laws to be overhauled in response to news that the number of young people arrested for drug dealing is rising.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the party, called for an impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act after news that the number of under 18s arrested for possession with intent to supply and supplying drugs rose by 28% between 2013 and 2017, from 1,639 to 2,097 [1].

Bartley said:

“The rising number of children and teenagers arrested for drug dealing is further evidence of why we need to overhaul our failing drugs laws. County lines arrests risk criminalising children who are likely to be victims of grooming, trafficking and more – while the criminal underworld continues to profit from the exploitation of young people.

 “We urgently need an impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Actto ensure drugs policy focuses on the evidence around reducing drug related harms – that’s how we can protect rather than criminalise children and young people who need help.”

Notes:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/12/rise-in-drug-arrests-among-teenagers-prompts-county-lines-concerns

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4 May 2018

• Jonathan Bartley becomes only party leader in England to serve as elected councillor
• Greens win record numbers of councillors and seats on record number of local authorities
• Bartley one of four new Greens elected to Lambeth council bringing total to five
• Greens now main opposition in Lambeth

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, has been elected to Lambeth council to become the only leader of a political party in England to serve as a local councillor.

Greens are now the official opposition on Lambeth council after Bartley was elected as councillor for St Leonards ward in Streatham. Bartley is one of four new Greens elected to Lambeth council alongside Scott Ainslie who held his seat, making a total of five Greens.

The wins comes despite intense efforts by Lambeth Labour to wipe Green representation from the council. [1]

The gains in Lambeth add to a record breaking local elections for the Greens who have won their highest number of councillors ever at 173, on the highest number of local authorities ever at 68. 

The Green Party has made net gains of eight councillors, and net gains of councils with Green representation of five. Greens are the main opposition on Lambeth, Islington, Solihull, Mid Suffolk and Norwich. 

Greens now have 11 councillors in London after gaining four seats and holding one seat in Lambeth, gaining four seats in Richmond, holding Sian Berry’s seat in Camden and holding Caroline Russell’s seat in Islington.

Bartley stood for election in Lambeth on a platform of protecting estates, libraries and police numbers.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party and Lambeth councillor, said:

“It’s a privilege to be the only party leader in England elected to serve as a local councillor. In the Green Party we believe in the power of local – and leading by example.

“From Sheffield to Solihull to here in Lambeth where Greens are elected they win for local communities and we are adding to our numbers as a result.

“These wins in Lambeth come despite a Lambeth Labour Party which targeted the council’s one Green councillor in a bid to wipe all opposition from the council.

“Greens have cracked open Lambeth Labour’s one party state and I look forward to getting to work holding them to account and standing up for the community here.

“It’s been a great local elections for the Green Party. Thanks to the hard work of our candidates, members and campaigners we have established ourselves as England’s fourth party and an electoral force to be reckoned with.

Notes:

1. https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2018/04/13/a-local-labour-party-is-spreading-lies-about-the-greens-who-needs-the-tories/ 

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4 May 2018

* Caroline Lucas MP: Significant step forward with just a fraction of the resources of the bigger parties.

* Jonathan Bartley: These results have cemented us as a rising force in British politics

The Green Party is celebrating what it’s calling a ‘good night’ in the local elections. 

Following the results of Thursday’s vote, the party have established themselves as the fourth largest party in England. The Party has, as of 9:30am so far won 9 seats off the Conservative Party and 2 off the Labour Party.

The Party have, at the time of writing, made a number of gains in areas as diverse as Richmond upon Thames, Sheffield and Trafford. The party also won its first ever seat in Peterborough and have kept Sian Berry’s seat in Camden despite an intense effort to take it by Labour.

Party co-leaders Caroline Lucas MP and Jonathan Bartley are pleases with the results, despite a polarisation of politics and media attention on the two biggest parties. 

Caroline Lucas said – ““The Green Party has taken a significant step forward with just a fraction of the resources of the bigger parties. We are now established as one of the four major English parties – and an electoral force right across the nation.

“From Richmond and the Midlands to Greater Manchester we’ve had some great results and we’ve still got more to come.”

Jonathan Bartley said – “We’ve had a great story to tell this election and the voters have responded. These results tonight have cemented us as a rising force in British politics and as one of the major four parties in England.

“I want to give a massive thank you to all of the activists who turned out for us week in, week out to deliver this fantastic result. Watch this space, there’s more Green wins to come.”

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1 May 2018

The Green Party will launch a raft of measures to tackle air pollution and protect children from its worst effects ahead of the local elections on May 3. [1]

The plans will be launched alongside the party’s Clean Air Bill, to challenge the Government’s failure to clean up Britain’s dirty air after three court rulings found its plans so bad they are illegal.

The Green Party will pledge councillors elected on May 3 will fight for:

• School Streets: Closing the streets in front of schools to traffic at the opening and closing times to make the school environment safer and less polluted
• Walking and cycling to school:Safe routes so every child who is able to walk or cycle to school has the opportunity to do so.
• Increased Government spending on walking and cycling:The Green Party will press the Government to quadruple spending per person annually on walking and cycling from £6.50 to £30.

Greens will warn that children are playing in poisoned playgrounds, with a quarter of primary schools in London in areas with illegally dirty air in 2010. [2] Air pollution is linked to stunted lung growth in children and teenagers, [3] with air pollution inside cars 9 to 12 times higher than air outside. [4]

The Green Party also hopes the measures will help young people aged five to 18 get the recommended hour of moderate physical activity a day – something 23% of boys and 31% of girls don’t get. [5]

The pledges will be launched alongside the party’s Clean Air Bill, which was introduced to the House of Lords by Green peer Jenny Jones.

The Bill will declare clean air as a human right, set up a Citizens’ Commission to support people taking legal action to enforce that right, and ensure the ‘polluter pays principle’ underpins all regulations and charges.

Almost two thirds of people believe Britain needs a new Clean Air Act. [6]

Jenny Jones, Green peer in the House of Lords, is expected to say:

“When I started talking about air pollution as a London Assembly member in 2000, no one was interested in the health impacts and radical solutions. Well now I’m in a position to deliver those solutions.

“I’m going to put a Clean Air Bill before Parliament and hope to get widespread support. Air pollution is now known as an issue that everyone has to care about.”

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, is expected to say:

“Closing the streets in front of schools is a common sense policy. From London to Edinburgh, anywhere this has been implemented it has seen fewer cars on the road and more children walking and cycling safely to school. That means parents don’t feel forced to drive their kids around out of fear for their safely.

“Not only does this help children get the exercise they need, which is better for a child’s heart, but they’ll also be breathing in less pollution, which is better for a child’s lungs. This Green bill is a win/win for our children’s health.”

Notes:

[1] Photo opportunity in one of London’s School Streets with Green co-leader Jonathan Bartley, Green peer Jenny Jones, and Green campaigners.

[2] https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvfru/433/433.pdf (paragraph 8)

[3] http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa040610

[4] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/12/children-risk-air-pollution-cars-former-uk-chief-scientist-warns

[5]https://www.cycling.scot/mediaLibrary/other/english/2432.pdf

[6] https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/14/65-percent-british-public-want-clean-air-act-pollution-harmful-uk-survey

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1 May 2018

The Green Party has warned that Labour’s immigration policy raises “serious concerns which need addressing”, saying the party’s policies fall short of the progressive, humane system Britain needs.

The warning comes after Diane Abbott dismissed an amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been in the UK for ten years while appearing on Question Time last week (Thursday 26 April) [1], followed by Barry Gardiner saying he supports deportation targets on Daily Politics yesterday (Monday 30 April) [2].

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, called on progressive parties to stand together for:

• An overarching inquiry into Home Office policy making
• An end to deportation targets
• An end to the detention system
• A moratorium on charter flight removals
• An end of dehumanising language around migrants

Jonathan Bartley said:

“Scratch the surface of Labour’s immigration policy and there are serious concerns which need addressing. It has been disappointing to watch Diane Abbott’s dismissal of an amnesty for long term illegal immigrants, followed by Barry Gardiner’s support for deportation targets.

“At a time when it is more important than ever to hold the Government and the Home office to account, Labour falls short of the progressive, humane immigration policy we need. The official opposition should be standing up for those who have built their lives in Britain and contributed here, and calling for deportation targets to end for good.

“At this critical moment in the Home Office’s history progressive parties must fight together for an overarching inquiry into Home Office policy making, to shut down the cruel detention system, a moratorium on charter flight removals, and an end of dehumanising language around migrants.”

Notes:

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-43920554/question-time-should-there-be-amnesty-for-illegal-immigrants

2. https://twitter.com/daily_politics/status/990918048633700352

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