13 November 2018

Responding to the conclusions of the ‘Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) strategy review 2018′ [1], Keith Taylor MEP, the Green Party of England and Wales’ spokesperson on animal rights, said:

“This report makes for frustrating reading. The findings make it clear that cattle movements, land management and poor biosecurity measures are the main driving force behind the spread of bTB in England. At the same time, it highlights that the main use of the inhumane and hugely expensive badger cull is to placate farmers otherwise reluctant to take the less bloodthirsty but more effective measures.”

“It is worth pointing out, as Sir Godfray does, that the review was specifically asked not to look at the effectiveness of the current badger cull with Ministers fearful it would have exposed the fact the government has consistently been unable to muster any reliable data to demonstrate its effectiveness.”

“Ultimately, the report calls on the government to urgently adopt humane bTB controls, including vaccinations, that aren’t based on blind ideology or appeasing vested interests. It is time to end to put an end to the Tories’ mass badger extermination programme once and for all.”

On claims that the report supports the current culling programme, Mr Taylor added:

“Anyone spinning today’s findings as a vindication of the current badger cull is deliberately misleading the public and farmers. The government explicitly limited the scope of this review to ensure it couldn’t be critical of nor call for an end to the current inhumane badger cull policy. But, as veterinary surgeons exposed only yesterday, lies and misrepresentation are a common tactic used to defend the Conservatives’ cruel, expensive and ineffective cull.”

[1] https://bit.ly/2JZotSO

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12 November 2018

Responding to criticisms by a group of vets who have accused the government of “barefaced lies” over the effectiveness of badger culls in the South West, Green Party of England and Wales MEP Molly Scott Cato, who sits on the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee and is MEP for the cull zones, said: 

“The government are resorting to a shameless PR exercise of false information because the evidence from this cruel and ineffective cull doesn’t stack up.

“Massaging figures and cherry-picking evidence serves no one. It fails the farmers who are so deeply affected by bovine TB, it upsets the many people who are devoted to one of our iconic species, and of course inflicts terrible suffering on badgers themselves.

“Greens have always said that we need effective and scientifically grounded policy to deal with this terrible disease. We need to see tighter controls on cattle movement, strict biosecurity measures and the roll out of a vaccination programme for both badgers and cows.”

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2 November 2018

* Cllr Mike Eddy of Dover District Council and Deal Town Council becomes first Green councillor in Dover District after 10 years as leader of Labour opposition

* Cllr Eddy said: “I’m excited to join a party which believes in putting power in local people’s hands”

The leader of Dover Labour party Mike Eddy has joined the Green Party to become Dover District’s first elected Green councillor.    

Cllr Eddy, who has been a Labour councillor in Deal and Dover for more than 20 years and led the opposition for 10 years, made the move after being impressed by the Green Party’s commitment to making sure “local decisions are made by local people and their representatives.”  

Dover and Deal Green Party officers, Beccy Sawbridge, John Lonsdale and Sarah Gleave, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mike on board, and now look forward to making a few changes in the district.”

Green Party co-leader Sian Berry, who is an elected member of the London Assembly, joined Cllr Eddy and local Greens at Dover Seafront on Friday 2 November for the announcement, where Berry backed the local party’s commitment to securing a free flow of traffic.

Berry said the people of Dover must “have a say on their future” after local freight clearance experts warned Dover would be hit by gridlock if the type of Brexit the Prime Minister is pursuing goes ahead.

Cllr Eddy, who is councillor for Mill Hill ward in Deal, was also galvanised to make the change by the Green Party’s firm commitment to scrap Universal Credit, which has left people in Dover District facing poverty since its rollout in July this year, as well as its campaigns to tackle air pollution and protect Dover and Deal’s green spaces and biodiversity.   

Cllr Mike Eddy said:  

“I’m excited to join a party which believes in putting power in local people’s hands. Whether it’s standing up against the damage that May’s government decisions will inflict on the port and community in Dover, or fighting to scrap Universal Credit, the Green Party is committed to making sure local decisions are made by local people.  

“The decision to leave Labour after ten years as leader of the opposition was not made lightly, but it was the right one. I am a firm believer that no one has the monopoly on wisdom and look forward to working together with progressive local councillors and my new Green colleagues to make sure the people of Dover District and Deal Town are not overlooked or left behind.”  

Martin Whybrow, lone Green County Councillor, said:

“Mike is an excellent addition to our Green councillors. I am delighted to welcome him. I got to know Mike at KCC and he is hard-working, principled and knowledgeable. He did an excellent job of holding the Conservatives in power to account and working for residents. He will join 176 other Green Party councillors of principal authorities nationally, and another 220 Green town and parish councillors.”            

Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“History has been made in Dover today with Mike joining us as the first Green councillor for the district. Mike has a track record standing up for what matters to the people of Dover District and Deal Town and it’s a privilege to welcome him to our party. The local Green Party is already a growing force for good here and I have no doubt he will be a valuable addition to that work.

“Dover is on the Brexit frontline with the port and community set to feel the full force of the damaging policies the Government is pursuing, and Greens are committed to making sure people in every community in the country have a say on their future in or out of the EU and how the impact of any Brexit deal is felt in their area. The Dover and Deal Green Party will work with local people to make sure journeys to work, schools and health appointments are not subject to gridlock, that the vulnerable are not further beset by food and fuel poverty.”

Notes:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/20/port-of-dover-warning-regular-gridlock-congestion-hard-brexit-trade

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1 November 2018

Green Party of England and Wales has welcomed news that Arron Banks has been referred to the National Crime Agency (NCA) for “suspected criminal offences committed during the EU referendum”.

The Electoral Commission suspect Banks was not the true source of millions worth of loans made to Better for the Country, the company he set up to promote Brexit. The Commission believe these funds came from impermissible sources, and that he and others have concealed the true details of financial transactions.

Responding to the news, MEP for the South-West Molly Scott Cato welcomed the decision by the Electoral Commission.

She said:

“Arron Banks financial affairs have always been highly suspect. This referral to the National Crime Agency has vindicated the suspicions many of us have long had. It is clear he is not just a dodgy dealer, with alleged Russian connections, he is potentially a crook.

“He has never satisfactorily accounted for his claims of having bankrolled Leave.EU with his own money or explained where that money came from.  

“This referral also draws attention to the poor judgement of the BBC in allowing Banks airtime to rubbish the Electoral Commission. This gave him a platform to challenge breaches of electoral rules and dress these up as a political debate.

“This not only undermined the rule of law, it also threatens our democracy.”

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29 October 2018

Responding to the Budget, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said:

“This Budget laid bare just how out of touch this Government is. Philip Hammond’s pittance for schools to buy ‘little extras’ is a slap in the face for headteachers who can’t cover the basic costs of staff, building repairs and support for children with special educational needs. And once again our struggling colleges went ignored.

“His extra funding for Universal Credit, which has plunged thousands into financial difficulty across Brighton, doesn’t begin to repair the damage caused by yearly welfare payment freezes and austerity.

“And worst of all, just two weeks after the world’s top scientists warned we have 12 years to avoid complete climate breakdown, the Chancellor failed to even mention climate change.

“The only good news came for Brighton’s vibrant small businesses with the drop in business rates I’ve long campaigned for. Now he must match that support with replacement funding for local authorities, who rely on the money raised from rates.

“This Budget wrote off our children’s futures while making no tangible difference to people’s lives in Brighton. The Chancellor won’t be forgiven.”

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