Green Party condemns Conservative MP’s comments on homosexuality

28 April 2017

The Green Party has responded to allegations Conservative MP Andrew Turner told college students that homosexuality is ‘wrong’ and ‘dangerous to society’ [1].

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“There’s no place for these prehistoric pronouncements in our politics. It’s astounding that in this day and age we’re hearing reports of an MP spreading such hatred, particularly in a college which should be a place of learning and respect.

“The Isle of Wight deserves so much better from its elected representative. Green Party candidate Vix Lowthion [2] will stand up for a fairer, more inclusive society and champion the rights of all, including the LGBTIQA+ community. Vote Green to kick this bigotry out of Parliament.

“This has come on the same day the Green Party launched its LGBTIQA+ manifesto [3] with promises to protect LGBTIQA+ refugees, provide decent HIV protection and promote rights for intersex and trans people.” 

Notes:

1. https://onthewight.com/isle-of-wight-mp-homosexuality-wrong-dangerous-to-society-andrew-turner-students/

2. Vix Lowthion is the Green Party’s education spokesperson and general election candidate in the Isle of Wight, where she is a teacher.

3. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/04/28/greens-to-launch-lgbtiqa-manifesto-in-church/

 

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Greens to launch LGBTIQA+ manifesto in church

28 April 2017

* Greens commit to making LGBTIQA+ refugees welcome, decent HIV prevention, and rights for all gender identities

* Launch in church sets clear distance between Greens and Lib Dems

* Jonathan Bartley: “While other political parties struggle to say what they believe, Greens are clear – we will always stand up for LGBTIQA+ people”

The Green Party will commit to supporting LGBTIQA+ asylum seekers at the launch of its LGBTIQA+ manifesto tomorrow (Friday 28 April).

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader, and Aimee Challenor, LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, will also set out the party’s commitment to ensuring HIV prevention drug PrEP is provided by the NHS, and putting trans and intersex recognition and rights in law.

Setting clear distance between themselves and the Lib Dems, Bartley and Challenor will launch the manifesto in The Trinity United Reform Church in Camden.

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

“The Green Party has a proud history of leading the way when it comes to LGBTIQA+ rights. While other political parties struggle to say what they believe, Greens are clear – we will always stand up for LGBTIQA+ people.

“We believe in a fairer world, a more equal economy, human rights protected by law, recognition and representation for all gender identities and education and health services which care for and include everyone.”

Aimee Challenor, Green Party LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, who is the only openly trans spokesperson of a UK Political Party, is expected to say:

“Let’s be clear, LGBTIQA+ rights are under threat. From Gay and Bi men being tortured and killed in Chechnya, to Donald Trump weakening protections in the US and the UK’s threat to repeal the Human Rights Act, 2017 has already been a concerning year for everyone who cares about LGBTIQA+ people.

“The Green Party is proud to stand against the erosion of LGBITQA+ rights and launch a manifesto which proudly fights for bodily autonomy for intersex people, legal recognition for trans and non-binary people, for PrEP for all that need it, and for greater protection for LGBTIQA+ asylum seekers – and more.”

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Green Party agrees electoral alliance with Women’s Equality Party

27 April 2017

The Green Party has agreed an electoral alliance with the Women’s Equality Party in the Yorkshire seat of Shipley, in a bid to unseat the sitting Conservative MP, Philip Davies.

The Women’s Equality Party has agreed not to stand in five seats being contested by the Greens: Brighton Pavilion, Bristol West, Bath, Isle of Wight and Sheffield. In all these the Green Party is fielding a female candidate.

In return, local Green Party members have voted not to field a candidate in Shipley, where the Women’s Equality Party leader Sophie Walker is standing as a candidate in a bid to oust Mr Davies.

Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party co-leader, said:

“I’m delighted to endorse Sophie in Shipley. Under the Conservative government – the one Mr Davies has supported – we have seen the biggest rise in inequality since Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister. Sophie and I are both committed to tackling that – from reversing the cuts that have left women behind and ending the gender pay gap, to increasing women’s representation in parliament and in business. Sophie has pledged to stand on an agenda that many Green Party members and supporters will agree with and I look forward to her playing an active role in my campaigns to undo the privatisation of our NHS and for a fairer voter system.”

Bradford Green Party is calling on the local Liberal Democrats and Labour to follow its bold lead and unite behind Sophie Walker as the single progressive candidate. The local party’s move has been applauded by the party nationally.

Lucas said:

“This was far-sighted and bold decision by our local members. On election day we’ll be urging people to vote for us because ours is the only policy platform which offers the bold changes so desperately needed to transform this country for the better. But to beat the Tories we need to be realistic about what’s needed to form a progressive Government. That’s why, in just a handful of places, our members will be taking brave decisions for the common good, as they have in Shipley.

“With an electoral system that benefits the Tories and locks out progressives, it’s easy to imagine that predictions of the Conservatives winning the General Election, and winning big, will prove accurate, and that there’s nothing we can do to change things. That isn’t true and an agreement reached between the Green Party and the Women’s Equality Party, together with other agreements being discussed locally, is a first step towards rewriting the future and fixing our failed politics. This could prove to be an historic moment and one that changes not just the course of this election but every future election too.”

Sophie Walker, Women’s Equality Party leader, said:

“I am glad to endorse Caroline Lucas for Brighton Pavilion. The Women’s Equality Party and the Greens share a desire to build a caring, tolerant and sustainable country that values women and works to create equal opportunities for all. Caroline’s commitment to challenging the Government on its austerity agenda, which has affected women disproportionately, to ending the gender pay gap and to ensuring equal representation of women across political and working life means many of our members and supporters in Brighton will, like me, get behind her campaign for re-election.”

The Green Party has renewed its call for the Liberal Democrat and Labour leaderships to sit down for talks about how to make the movement for electoral alliances work.

The Green Party’s five leading candidates are: Caroline Lucas, Brighton Pavilion; Molly Scott Cato, Bristol West; Natalie Bennett, Sheffield Central; Vix Lowthion, Isle of Wight and Eleanor Field, Bath.

Sarah Cope, the Green Party’s Women’s Spokesperson, said:

“The Green Party has long been feminist party, with policies including improved maternity services, quotas for women on boards and abortion rights, to name just three. Our women’s sub-group, Green Party Women, established almost a decade ago, has backed campaigns and worked wth organisations to advance women’s equality in the UK.

“In working with the Women’s Equality Party, we are leading the way in showcasing a progressive, cooperative form of politics. Even where we may have policy differences, we can find shared ground and work for the common good.”

Matt Edwards, Bradford District Green Party campaign coordinator, said:

“We have been convinced that Sophie is a candidate that the other progressive parties in Shipley should unite behind. People have been crying out for a new kind of politics where the left leaning parties work together to achieve their common goals, rather than attack each other over their differences.”

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Corbyn and May 'running scared' of TV debates, says Lucas

26 April 2017

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party co-leader, has accused both the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition of ‘running scared’ of national television debates after Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesperson said that the Labour leader wouldn’t take part without Theresa May’s involvement. 

Caroline Lucas said:

“Both the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition are running scared of the TV debates. Our democracy deserves better than this. Theresa May should commit to doing the TV debates, and Jeremy Corbyn shouldn’t be afraid to ‘empty chair’ the Prime Minister and debate with the other parties. A failure by both Corbyn and May to appear in the television debates would be a dereliction of their duty as party leaders.”

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Green Party pledges to scrap tuition fees and bring back maintenance grants

26 April 2017

*Green Party launches three student policies

*Pledges to scrap tuition fees, bring back maintenance grants and protect students and universities after Brexit

*Co-leader Jonathan Bartley: “Students need a liferaft in the Brexit storm”

The Green Party will announce three policies aimed at students at an event in Sheffield today.

Co-leader Jonathan Bartley and deputy leader Amelia Womack will make a series of commitments to students during a visit to the University of Sheffield [1]. They will be joined by students, members of the Young Greens and Natalie Bennett, candidate for Sheffield Central.

The Green Party will pledge to:

*Scrap tuition fees

*Reinstate maintenance grants

*Continue the Erasmus programme and match EU funding for universities with a UK equivalent after Brexit

Ahead of the announcement, Bartley said:

“The Green Party is the only party standing up for students and putting young people at the heart of its campaign. Education is a right not a commodity to be bought and sold, and we need a level playing field so everyone has the chance to go to university or college. 

“Students need a liferaft in the Brexit storm. They are being ignored in the Brexit negotiations, despite having the most to lose. Funding for our universities is under unprecedented threat. The Green Party will not let young people miss out on opportunities to study, travel and work across Europe because of a decision that they so emphatically voted against.   

“Building a better future for young people is an absolute priority and today we are committing to policies that will help us work towards an open, fairer society where everyone has the chance to succeed.”

Notes:

1.  The policy launch is at 12 noon, April 26 outside the Information Commons, University of Sheffield, 44 Leavygreave Road, Sheffield S3 7RD.

2. Green Party tax plans will be unveiled in the manifesto in May. The scrapping of tuition fees will be paid for through progressive taxation including a rise in corporation tax for large companies. Corporation tax has been cut sharply since 2010, with the main rate dropping from 28% to a proposed 17%, which will cost £12bn by 2020-21. 

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