One of the many pleasures of this job is the opportunity to travel to see local parties, meeting so many of our members and see how our wonderful local parties do things differently. I was therefore pleased to be invited to join Waltham Forest and Redbridge Green Party for their January meeting.
While an unusually formal way of doing things, it was a great way to ensure not only that we stayed on topic - not always easy as I think we can all attest! - but that a wide variety of opinions could be aired.
Although I was pleased that members were almost unanimously in favour of forming alliances it's always important that individuals feel free to express their views, and crucial that no-one feels unduly pressured to fall into line. "Vote for what you believe in" is at the core of our values, and this is never more true than when it comes to how we work together as a party.
As with all local parties, when and if Waltham Forest and Redbridge Greens are ever faced with the decision of whether to enter into a progressive alliance or work with those with whom we share common ground, it will only ever be up to the members and never imposed upon them from above.