Green Party

12 September 2017

The Green Party has warned the Home Office will have “blood on its hands” if it goes through with plans to deport a man threatened with beheading by the Taliban.

Reports claim the Home Office will force Samim Bigzad to board a flight to Afghanistan this morning (Tuesday 12 September) [1] despite the fact he is wanted by the Taliban.

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

“Only a cold, cruel Government would push through this deportation. The Home Office could end up blood on its hands if it sends Samim Bigzad to Afghanistan and I urge it to reconsider. After military involvement in the country for 13 years it is appalling that the Government would see to wash its hands. We have a moral duty to offer refuge to those fleeing conflict and persecution in Afghanistan.”

ENDS.

For more information contact: polly.albany-ward@greenparty.org.uk /  07590046501

Notes:

1. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/samin-bigzad-deport-home-office-afghanistan-beheading-threat-taliban-kabul-plane-flight-asylum-a7941881.html

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11 September 2017

The Green Party has responded to the Government’s announcement that the badger cull will be expanded to 11 new areas [1].

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“The badger cull is not only inhumane but ineffective. This is a black and white issue, thousands of badgers are dying a slow, painful death for absolutely no reason. There is very little evidence to support the government’s claims that the cull will prevent the spread of TB, but as the science against the badger cull gets stronger, the Government simply expands the cull every year. One of Britain’s most beloved animals is being pushed to the brink of extinction – it’s unsustainable, cruel and expensive, costing taxpayers £40 million over the last four years.

“In the Government’s announcement today it focused on the relaunch of the vaccinations programme [2], which the Green Party supports. It appears they are hoping to sneak out the expansion of the cull, which they know is unpopular and shameful. The fact the vaccinations programme is being reintroduced shows that the Government accepts there are alternatives to the cull, making it all the more pointless and barbaric.

“It’s time to end this cruel approach and fully roll out a humane vaccinations programme for both badgers and cows, and introduce rigorous TB testing and strict biosecurity measures. We must also tackle the intensification of farming which worsens the spread of TB.”

Notes:

1. https://twitter.com/PA/status/907192935862730757
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/badger-vaccination-scheme-relaunched-in-fight-against-bovine-tb

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11 September 2017

* ‘This news should be the death knell for Hinkley’ says Lucas

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party co-leader, has said that the dramatic price drop for offshore wind should be ‘the nail in the coffin’ for new nuclear. 

Lucas’ call come as the price for wind technology has fallen [1] far below that of nuclear, with a stike price as low as £57.50/MWh. Lucas said that ‘this news should be the death knell for Hinkley’.

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

“This massive price drop for offshore wind is a huge boost for the renewables industry and should be the nail in the coffin for new nuclear. While clean, green wind power has the potential to seriously cut people’s bills – the Government’s undying commitment to new nuclear risks locking us into sky high prices for years to come. Put simply, this news should be the death knell for Hinkley.

“The Government should now commit to this technology – and scale up investment in offshore wind so that it becomes the backbone of British energy. Such a move wouldn’t just add to the thousands of jobs in the sector already, but would lock us into a low-carbon, low-price energy future that would benefit consumers and businesses for years to come.”

ENDS

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643560/CFD_allocation_round_2_outcome_FINAL.pdf

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8 September 2017

The Green Party was celebrating today after it achieved two storming victories in by-elections on Thursday 7 September.

Greens won seats on Lewes District Council and Cannock Chase Council, both of them from the Conversatives and by a wide margin – achieving almost 50% of the vote in Cannock Chase and 40% of the vote in Lewes. 

Co-Leader Jonathan Bartley welcomed the results and the elections of Johnny Denis (Lewes) and Stuart Crabtree (Cannock) saying:

“That’s two new Greens making a difference in their community. Two new Greens putting in place the foundations for yet more future success.”

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8 September 2017

The UK’s three Green MEPs have responded to news that Theresa May has refused an invitation to address the European Parliament, insisting she will only talk to Parliamentary leaders behind closed doors. 

Jean Lambert, MEP for London said:

“We’re meant to be transforming into a brave, new “global Britain”. However, our Prime Minister runs scared whenever she is invited to make her case in public. Theresa May’s refusal to address the European Parliament is yet another signal that her political mandate is hanging by a thread.

“Perhaps it has slipped her mind that Members of the European Parliament will be voting on the final Brexit deal? If May doesn’t convince us that she has softened her stance on issues such as citizens’ rights, Green MEPs – and many others – will reject any agreement put to us in 2019. She would do well to involve us in discussions, rather than shutting herself away behind closed doors.”

Keith Taylor, MEP for the South East, said:

“May lives in fear of scrutiny, especially when it comes to the Tory government’s variously magical thinking and entirely contradictory aims and claims on Brexit. If we weren’t governed by democracy, it’d almost be understandable that she doesn’t want to lay out the Brexit shambles for all to see.

“The first rule of negotiations is: you’ve got to show up. If May can’t even be bothered to speak to us, how she expects to get a deal through the European Parliament is beyond me.”

Molly Scott Cato, MEP for the South West and Green Party speaker on Brexit, said:

“Theresa May might be in the habit of shutting out democratic debate in her own Parliament, but ultimately she will have to face down the European Parliament.

“Admittedly, her extreme Brexit plans and the disdain her ministers have shown towards EU negotiators means this is going to be a hard sell. But she would be wise to put some energy into trying to get MEPs on side.  Perhaps with her Party in a state of civil war over Brexit and her own position precarious in the extreme, she realizes she is in no position to lecture the European Parliament on her reckless Brexit shambles.” 

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