26 April 2017

Caroline Lucas has responded to a decision by local Liberal Democrats not to stand in Brighton Pavilion. 

She said: 

‘Tonight’s decision by local Lib Dems is welcome, particularly after Greens stood aside in Richmond. They recognise that I will be fighting this government’s extreme Brexit every step of the way and I thank them for their support.’

‘In Brighton something amazing is happening. People are putting aside party allegiances and working together so we have the best possible chance of delivering a fairer voting system and beating the Tories at the next election. Greens will be standing for election across this country and putting across our unique vision, but in a handful of places members of local parties are taking brave decisions for the common good. It’s now up to the Lib Dem and Labour leaderships to sit down for talks about how we can make this movement for electoral alliances work. Let’s not condemn this country to five more years of Tory rule.’

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25 April 2017

Responding to a speech by Keir Starmer, outlining Labour’s approach to Brexit negotiations if the Party wins the general election in June, Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West and the Party’s speaker on EU relations, said:

“A softer and more distinctive approach from Labour is welcome; to date Labour have danced to the Tories extreme and reckless Brexit tune, voting to trigger Article 50 without fighting for any conditions and effectively handing Theresa May a blank cheque.

“Greens would go much further than Labour and offer guarantees in areas not even mentioned by Keir Starmer.  

“We would not only guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals but defend free movement, especially for the young. We want young people to continue to enjoy the rights enjoyed by their parents and grandparents – the right to travel, study and work across Europe.

“Like Labour, we would ditch the great repeal bill, but replace it with more than just an EU rights and protections bill. We will push for a Great Reform Bill, to deliver a fair and proportional election system, reform of the House of Lords and a written constitution. Greens believe that the best way to protect jobs and workers’ rights is by remaining in the single market.

“Of course jobs and the economy are critically important in the negotiations with the EU, but by prioritising these above all else, there is a danger the environment gets side-lined. With the Tories plotting a bonfire of regulations that protect our air and water quality, safeguard valuable wildlife habitats and help tackle climate change, we need a new Environmental Protection Act and a new Clean Air Act to ensure environmental protections are maintained and enhanced.

“Labour’s call for parliament to be given a truly meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal is welcome, but their reluctance to give British people the same right shows a disregard for democracy. Greens believe that the people of the UK must be given an opportunity to accept or reject the future that is on offer at the end of the two-year Article 50 process through a ratification referendum.”

Notes:

1. http://mollymep.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Green_guarentees-2.pdf  

Molly Scott Cato is Green MEP for the South West of England and Gibraltar and is one of 50 Green/EFA MEPs in the European Parliament. She sits on the Economics and Monetary Affairs Committee, PANA committee investigating tax evasion and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. Molly is parliamentary candidate for Bristol West in the June 8th general election.

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25 April 2017

Caroline Lucas, Green Party co-leader, has responded to Keir Starmer’s interview on the Today programme today [1].

She said:

“Though Labour’s position on the EU has improved since their Article 50 capitulation it still simply isn’t strong enough. It’s a different tone, but looks like the same Brexit.

“Labour’s hollow words on access to the single market simply doesn’t stack up. Either they want Britain to remain a member of the Single Market or they don’t. And Labour’s reluctance to give British people a final say on the terms of any deal shows an utter disregard for democracy. If they trust MPs to have vote on the deal, then why not give people the choice in a ratification referendum?”

Notes:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/apr/25/general-election-2017-labour-pledge-to-wipe-brexit-slate-clean-politics-live

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24 April 2017

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party co-leader, has responded to UKIP’s ‘integration agenda’ [1]. She accused the far-right party of ‘full throttled islamaphobia’ and pledged to ‘stand up to the politics of hate’. 

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

“UKIP’s ‘integration agenda’ is an assault on multiculturalism and an attack on Muslims. It’s full throttled Islamaphobia. 

“Now that the referendum has passed Nutall’s party is desperately scrabbling around for relevance and seem to have settled upon attacks on Muslims and fringe far right politics as their new home. In this election the Green Party will be standing up to the politics of hate spewing from UKIP and putting forward a vision for a multicultural, welcoming Britain which we can all be proud of.”

Notes:

[1] https://twitter.com/jessicaelgot/status/856457234875899905

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20 April 2017

*General election campaign launch in Bristol

*Co-leader Jonathan Bartley: ‘An amazing selection of candidates up and down the country will drive our boldest campaign yet’

The Green Party will set out its vision for young people during its general election campaign launch in Bristol today.

The Greens will campaign for free education, a living wage for all and investment in mental health services. The party is also calling for votes at 16 so 16 and 17-year-olds can have their say in the election [1].

The campaign will be launched at 1.15pm in Bristol by Caroline Lucas MP and Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leaders, and Molly Scott Cato, MEP for the South West and Bristol West candidate [2].

Scott Cato is expected to say:

“With this election, we are at a crossroads for Britain’s future. Today marks the beginning of the Green Party’s campaign for a bold, positive future for our country, in full opposition to the extreme Brexit and far-right agenda threatened by the Tories.

“The Green Party wants to close this gulf that’s opening up between young people and older generations, because the way that young people are being let down at the moment is a disgrace. It’s hard to think of a time when it’s been more difficult to be a young person in Britain and in this election, we risk getting a Tory government which will make it so much worse.”

Bartley is expected to say:

“We have amazing opportunities, like here in Bristol with Molly primed to join Caroline in Parliament, making the Green Party an even stronger force in politics. We’re polling even better than our result in 2015, and we’ve got such an amazing selection of candidates up and down the country ready to drive our boldest campaign yet.

“If you’re one of the millions of young people let down by this Government, saddled with debt and uncertainty, the Green Party is the home for you. We have a positive vision for the future of this country, a fairer more equal society, and a tolerant, outward looking Britain.”

Notes:

1. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/04/19/green-party-calls-for-votes-at-16-in-june-election/
2. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/04/18/green-party-we-will-make-history-in-bristol-west/

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