Robert Smith has been selected as the Green candidate to contest the Crewe and Nantwich by-election on the 22nd of May. Robert is 23 and works in a Town Planning department, with particular expertise in transport.
Robert is formerly the North West regional co-ordinator for the Young Greens and is standing for Parliament for the first time. He says:
"Younger voters are disillusioned with politics and its understandable why. Labour have called a by-election before the former MP has been buried, the Conservatives have a millionaire standing and the Liberal Democrats have been criticised for replacing their originally selected candidate, who must not have suited their party leadership.
"It is vital that at every election people get an opportunity to vote for the only genuine Green party. Only Green votes will lead to action on social and environmental issues. I want to run a positive campaign and focus on the transport issues around Crewe and Nantwich.
"Privatisation of rail has failed to deliver the local services that people need. Only the Greens have got the political courage to recognise this policy has failed, and to argue that public run services will be better for local people and better for the environment."
For enquiries about Robert's campaign, please contact Peter Cranie on 07875 492072
]]>Green Euro-MPs abstained on a vote to adopt a report on lobbying transparency in the European Parliament today, because important proposals to strengthen the rules were rejected by the plenary. Commenting on the result of the vote, UK Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas:
"The vote on new rules for lobbyists in the European Parliament today showed just how powerful and effective the lobbyists really are. Although the adopted proposal is a step in the right direction, requiring all lobbyists to register for the first time, it is far from guaranteeing full transparency.
"A coalition of conservatives (EPP-ED) and liberals (ALDE) tried systematically to weaken the report and succumbed to intensive lobbying by lawyers and the Vatican.
"The report effectively weakens the definition of a lobbyist, which will allow for unfortunate exemptions from the rules. Lawyers are exempted, which is absurd, given the available evidence on their lobbying power. Lawyers play an increasingly important role in influencing policy in Brussels and they promote themselves as such on their own websites.
"In addition, religious organisations will not fall under the lobbying rules, though they clearly attempt to influence the decision-making process regarding issues that affect their interest."
The Greens also strongly regret that Parliament failed to fix a deadline for the register being operational before the end of the Parliament and Commission terms in June 2009. This opens up the possibility of the Parliament dragging its feet on the implementation of the rules for lobbyists.
Dr Lucas concluded: "After abstaining on this vote, the Greens will do everything to strengthen the proposal in the working group, which will now be set up with the other institutions. Of particular importance is the strengthening of the financial disclosure requirements in order to bring to light the specific interests that lobbyists actually represent."
]]>The European Commission has once again failed to show leadership on GMOs, according to UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas, after it again shied away from making crucial decisions this morning on the fate of a number of applications by GM companies.
Dr Lucas MEP said: "The constant indecision and the shirking of responsibility on GM crops within the European Commission is embarrassing. The Commission has failed to take its role in risk-management seriously by once again delaying the decision to ban insect resistant bt-maize variants 1507 and bt11.
"Instead of enacting the ban proposed by Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, the Commission compromised and decided to send back the files to the EFSA, which has already proven its incapacity to judge long-term effects.
"I welcome the fact that the Commission has so far refused to authorise the genetically modified starch potato Amflora, produced by BASF. However, yet again, by sending back the application to EFSA the main problem has not been solved.
"EFSA has already ignored an argument against the use of Amflora by the European Medicines Agency. The existing conflict can only be solved if the Commission assumes a clear position and takes the precautionary principle seriously, thus taking into account the fact that no conclusive long-term studies yet exist, and so banning the crop altogether.
"The Commission can no longer hide behind EFSA and delay important decisions on GMOs. Sending back these files for reconsideration is a farce and weakens the standing of the Commission itself."
Dr Lucas concluded: "The reform of EFSA is long overdue. It is obvious that EFSA has failed to do a proper risk-analysis of GM products and various member states are asking for a total reassessment. The Commission has to eliminate the weaknesses of EFSA in order to ensure that it does not weaken the credibility of the Commission."
]]>Dr Richard Lawson, Woodspring Parliamentary candidate and a Somerset GP, this week succeeded in having a significant human rights policy adopted by the gathering of world Green Parties in São Paulo, Brazil. Dr Lawson attended the 4 day Congress of 80 Green Parties from all continents as the GPEW representative.
The disparate, multicultural and multinational conference delegates at São Paulo came together under the 'Global Greens' banner, and among other negotiations succeeded in drawing up a document addressing the most serious problems faced by the peoples of the world. Delegated by the GPEW, Dr Lawson promoted the uniquely Green policy of an "Index of Human Rights in the UN", which aims to reduce human rights abuses such as torture and repression on a constant and world wide basis.
The proposal's core policy seeks to convert sovereign country's existing human rights reports into a ranked global index. By compiling this list, the position of any country, and their commitment to human rights, can be seen at a quick glance and easily accessible not only for politicians and journalists, but also for families planning their foreign holidays.
The idea arose from the Observer Index of Human Rights, published by that newspaper in the mid 1990s, and Dr. Lawson has been pursuing it over the last 5 years, Dr Lawson has discussed this idea with the GPEW and the international committee, the European Green Party and now the Global Greens. It has also been adopted by the UK United Nations Association and several other Non Governmental Organisations. The UK Government's Foreign and Commonwealth office has also expressed interest in aspects of the proposal.
Of the São Paulo conference Dr. Lawson commented:
"The Congress was an uplifting experience, with some 6-700 delegates from over 80 countries demonstrating extraordinary unity and commons purpose.
"At times it was also sobering, as speakers showed evidence of the grave impacts that global warming is having on their lives and environment right now. I am delighted that the Index has been adopted by the Global Greens, because now the campaign to get it adopted by the United Nations itself can start in earnest."
Green Party International coordinator Dr. Joseph Healy added:
"The proceedings of the Congress are accessible on the global greens website (1).
"In addition, I welcome the fact that the European Green Party has agreed to host the next 'Global Greens' congress in Europe in 4 years time, and I hope that GPEW will play a prominent role in that.
ENDS
Notes for editors
Dr Lawson is a GP in Congresbury, North Somerset, a past speaker for the national Green party, and an elected district councillor on Woodspring (now North Somerset) 1986 - 1992. He is prospective parliamentary candidate for the Woodspring constituency, and 4th on the Green List for the European Parliamentary elections in June 1990.
While at the São Paulo conference, Dr. Lawson gave an interview to a Taiwan TV company on the impact of biofuels.
]]>Responding to the report 'Hard Work, Hidden Lives', released today by the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment, Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, said:
"The finding that more than two million people in Britain are forced to endure 'intolerably poor working lives', while being subjected to daily exploitation and abuse from employers, is appalling. Employment practices which take advantage of vulnerable workers have been found to be commonplace, despite a raft of regulations to protect people from mistreatment.
"It comes as no surprise that people in certain industries suffer disproportionately, with those in hotel and catering, hairdressing and beauty and construction and security being most at risk. People in these industries are frequently paid below minimum income for the hours they work, as they are often employed on a casual basis and are less likely to be in a trade union.
"There is a clear need for greater inspection to ensure that workers are being given reasonable paid holiday, decent wages and that their work allows them to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When unscrupulous employers provide poorer work conditions they can undercut responsible employers and this leads to lower standards across industry sectors. This must not go on.
"The legal framework is failing to protect some of those most at risk of exploitation, including young people, foreign workers and agency workers who have no other prospects for employment. Anti-poverty targets will be undermined unless the Government gets to grips with this widespread problem."
To view a summary or download the TUC report 'Hard Work, Hidden Lives', go to www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk
]]>The Green MEP for the South East has urged the European Commission to oppose an application to grow two new GM crops in the EU when a key vote takes place tomorrow in Brussels, highlighting the fact that there are still major doubts over the safety and sustainability of such crops.
In a letter to Commissioner Peter Mandelson, Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, a long time campaigner against the use of genetically modified crops, warned that the application for two GMOs - a pesticide-producing maize plant and a potato that contains an antibiotic resistant gene - should be rejected.
Dr Lucas said: "I have particular concerns about the two varieties which will be considered by the Commission tomorrow. Each produces its own pesticide, yet under current practices the crops will only have been tested for 90 days for health effects - as opposed to the two year testing requirement for standard pesticides.
"In addition, the GM potato contains a gene that makes cells resistant to antibiotics. We have already seen some of the problems associated with the widespread use of antibiotics and resulting resistance. If this gene were to be released into the environment, it could create serious problems in treating a range of diseases.
"The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has admitted that it lacks the methods for carrying out long term assessments of the health and environmental impacts of GMOs. It is also relying on incomplete data submitted by the agro-chemical industry. In the absence of adequate data, it would be deeply irresponsible of the Commission to give the go ahead to these new maize and potato varieties."
She continued: ""Every country and region should have the right to completely prohibit the import, growing and sale of genetically modified organisms. More than 170 EU regions and 4,500 other zones have now declared themselves GMO-free, yet the Commission continues to authorise new GM varieties, forcing countries to permit their cultivation. This is undemocratic and utterly unacceptable. It rides rough shod over the 70% of EU citizens who are opposed to GM crops and food stuffs.
"I call on Commissioner Mandelson and his fellow Commissioners to put the wishes of Europeans above those of the agro-chemical industry by rejecting the request for permission to grow these new GM crops."
]]>Defying a Labour/Tory squeeze that cost the Liberal Democrats two of their five seats, and wiped out UKIP, Green Assembly Members Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson have been re-elected to City Hall, and Green Mayoral candidate Siân Berry has moved the Greens up from 2004's seventh place to fourth.
Darren and Jenny increased their vote for the proportional Londonwide Assembly constituency by 43,000 to hold a share of over 8%, amid a rising turnout. They came third on this vote across three of constituencies - West Central, North East and Greenwich and Lewisham - and the Greens also took third place in the first-past-the-post constituency vote in West Central London, with journalist Julia Stephenson winning over 10% to beat the Liberal Democrat candidate into fourth.
In the Mayoral race, Siân Berry increased the Greens' first-preference vote share by over 20,000 votes, taking fourth place. Taking first and second preferences together, Siân added over 140,000 new Green voters, improving on 2004's total by more than half.
Results:
Mayor election
Siân Berry takes 4th place for Greens for first time
1st preferences: 77,374
2nd preferences: 331, 727
Londonwide constituency
Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson elected
Votes: 203,465
Share: 8.29%
Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas has today praised the Norwich Greens for their "impressive" and "inspirational" achievement in becoming the official opposition on Norwich Council in the local elections.
The Greens have beaten Labour on local election vote share across the Norwich South Parliamentary constituency by approximately 3000 votes, and for the first time, the Norwich Greens also won more votes than Labour across the entire city, establishing Green councillor Adrian Ramsay as the main challenger to former Home Secretary Charles Clarke at the next General Election.
The Green Party increased its council seats from 10 to 13 in Norwich, leapfrogging the Liberal Democrats and positioning itself just 2 seats away from the ruling Labour Party. Elsewhere in the country, Greens gained important breakthroughs in Cambridge, Stroud and Solihull, while the Greens in Liverpool formed an unprecedented 'group status'. Sheffield and Camden Greens both gained one seat to make full Green wards in Central and Highgate respectively.
Speaking of the strong Green Party showing in Norwich, and of the other breakthroughs, Dr. Lucas said:
"The Norwich Greens have grown into a hugely impressive presence; building a strong local party through hard work, whilst supporting local communities and offering the Norwich electorate a radically different vision of political will and hope. Cllr Adrian Ramsay is a real inspiration, and has the full backing of the party as he challenges Charles Clarke for the Norwich South Parliamentary seat at the next General Election.
"Elsewhere in the country, the Greens have made crucial breakthroughs in areas where there were previously no Green representatives. The seats in Solihull and Cambridge show that, with determination and by offering a Green alternative to the grey parties, the Green Party can grow outside of its strong bases around the country. By gaining seats in Liverpool and Sheffield, we have shown that the Greens have a great deal to offer voters in the inner cities, as well as suburban and rural parts of the UK.
"And that really matters, because Greens, when we get elected, deliver what we promise. There is real commitment to putting social and environmental justice at the top of the political agenda. Whether we're talking about affordable housing, or whether we're talking about renewable energy and energy efficiency, these are measures that Greens are already implementing in local authority council chambers up and down the country, and it is certainly what we will continue to implement when we are elected to Westminster."
ENDS
Notes for editors
The Green Party have increased their number of council seats to 116, with 9 gains and 4 losses.
For a more detailed look at the Green Party's 2008 election results, please go to votegreenparty.org.uk --
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