*Natalie Bennett: The politics of the future does not have to look like the politics of the past
*Green Party is standing in at least 75% of seats in May 2015
*Combined membership of the UK Green parties over 40,000
The Green Party is polling on 22% and tied with the Conservatives for second place amongst 18-24 year-olds in the latest YouGov polling (1).
The polling released today further calls into question Ofcom’s initial view (2) that the Green Party is not a ‘major party’. YouGov’s research puts the Greens comfortably ahead of both the Liberal Democrats and Ukip.
Prime Minister David Cameron (3) and political commentators from across the political spectrum have called for the Greens to be included in the broadcasters’ proposed Leaders’ Debates.
Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, said:
“Polling such as this from YouGov clearly demonstrates the strength of the ‘Green surge’. The broadcasters and the regulator need to recognise that the politics of the future does not have to look like the politics of the past.
“Denying the Green Party ‘major party’ status or an invitation to the Leaders’ Debates fails both our democracy and the electorate. Attempting to exclude the Green voice from the mainstream of British politics looks more and more ridiculous by the day."
The Green Party is polling at its highest levels ahead of a General Election since 1989, a breakthrough year. Membership of the Green Party of England and Wales skyrocketed by 123% in 2014 and continues to surge in 2015. The current number of members stands at 32,515. Membership of the Scottish Greens, a sister party, more than quadrupled in 2014 and stands at almost 8,000 meaning the combined parties have a membership of over 40,000.
The Green Party is standing candidates in at least 75% of seats in May 2015. That means 50% more people will be able to vote Green in 2015 than were able to do so five years ago.
Notes:
1 Aggregating each month’s daily polls over the course of 2014, the Green party had a 22% share of the vote in December among 18-24 year-olds – tied with the Conservative party, also on 22%.
2 Ofcom said the party had not “secured sufficient support in previous elections and current opinion polls to be added to Ofcom’s major party list for the purposes of the May 2015 elections”. The consultation is currently open and a final decision will be made in March.