1. What impact do you think the Green Party’s eco-socialist policies have had on the party’s growth and how can that be sustained?
Green Party policies are those of plain common sense. We believe in a just, sustainable world where society lives in equilibrium with the natural world that vitally sustains us - and our policies reflect that. Increasingly, people are realizing that if you want Green, you must vote Green. As many Green members who are out campaigning locally and nationally will no doubt know, it’s two-party politics and the first-past-the-post voting system that deters many would-be Greens. By continuing to develop and promote sound policy that directly targets the crises we are facing and creates positive cross-sectoral outcomes, we steadily bring more people with us. The success of Greens in Scotland, Germany, Australia and Colombia - to name just a few - demonstrate the rise of the Green-wave.
As International Coordinators, we will connect the GPEW with the wider international Green community, where we can learn and share from Green successes around the world.
2. The recent Tory by-election defeats suggest the electorate are making their own decisions on strategic voting. How can the Green Party intervene to turn that to its advantage?
Let’s be clear: the system is rigged against us. We believe the Green philosophy is built on collaboration, creativity and positivity. Local Green parties know best where Green partnerships and attitudes lie, and where they can be used to our advantage to disrupt this rigged game. There is not one approach to this, but instead a nuanced, iterative, localized process where we work together and tap into the growing discontent with the status quo and the shambles that is the governing party.
By being consistent with our positive messaging and continuing to engage with communities, we show the electorate clear ways forward and steer disenfranchisement away from the rotten narratives of the right, and towards a society of opportunity and stability.
3. What would be your priorities for campaigns outside election periods that would raise our profile in communities, engage our members and attract new ones? How could that be financed?
We are very well-connected with our European and international Green sister parties and their activity. In connecting GPEW members with this vibrant work, we can build our resource and knowledge base, and appeal to those people who want to make an international impact.
Specifically, we will:
· ➢ Use our network to build up relationships with Green Parties across the world and raise influence nationally and collectively through cross-national projects
· ➢ Organise and lead delegations to European Green Party Council meetings, Global Green Congresses, Councillor meetings, and other key events
· ➢ Connect GPEW members to the range of international projects on going, and find news to innovate and support the development of new collaborations
· ➢ Work with Westminster Foundation for Democracy to use the development fund to organise capacity-building projects with Green Parties outside of the EU
· ➢ Encourage and develop Green Party members to become involved in international initiatives connected to Green politics, including twinning links, policy and campaigns
· ➢ Enhance the position of GPEW and our values on the international Green stage and become key drivers of capacity building of the Greenwave
· ➢ Uphold our Committee responsibilities, work with integrity and give advice and support on international issues
4. How can the Party improve the way it communicates its policies to the BAME and white working class?
Frank has actively campaigned in Doncaster, not necessarily a natural Green stomping ground,
and Elise, also on the Equalities & Diversity Committee, represented an ethnically and socially diverse Oxford City ward for 15 years (yes, there is poverty in Oxford!). There, as in many places, tireless, committed Greens (big up Donny and Oxford Greens!) are on the streets - listening, talking, engaging - and scrutinizing the local Council, working to hold them to account - and people see this, and although they may vote (or not) a certain way, the way they talk is often Green.
There is a broad disenfranchisement in the UK right now, from the fallout of the Brexit fantasy, decades of poor policy by the governing party with certain communities either directly oppressed, or just plain ignored. People are fed up, and they want change. By being open-hearted, non-judgemental and persistent, and continuously listening, talking and engaging, we bring people with us. We need to craft narratives that illustrate our actions, and show the Green Party for what it is: a safe place for everybody who wants a better world.
We are proud to be part of a political movement whose members put social and environmental justice at the heart of their interactions with wider society and continue to show people what it means to be Green.
5. Should the Green Party review its policy on NATO in the light of the current conflict in Ukraine and what would be your approach?
Policies should always be under review, and the evolving situation from the Russian invasion has revealed significant weaknesses in foreign policy, our regional energy vulnerabilities, global food production, security and democracy. NATO policy is best reviewed in conjunction with our European Green family and perhaps wider. Collaborative and coordinated approaches, built on consensus, are the right way to do politics.
And although NATO policy is important here, we should also be looking at the
wider ramifications and subsequent policies too.
6. The 24 hours news cycle means that contributions from our spokespeople have to be rapid if they are to be given media space. How can we manage that whilst maintaining democratic accountability?
We need to ensure our spokespeople are adequately supported, but we understand this is a challenge because the party doesn’t have sufficient funds to provide that support. We need a targeted fundraising campaign to support our spokespeople, including media and social media training where appropriate. And we not only need to be constantly reminding the media who are spokespeople are, but also providing stories for the media from our spokespeople.
7. Given that some Government policies such as privatisation and reducing rights are a thread crossing different sectors how can spokespeople cooperate on our overall messaging to ensure this is addressed?
We need to ensure that, wherever possible, when a high profile Green (eg MP, Baronesses, Leaders) feature in media releases and/or in Party social media, the relevant spokesperson is also quoted, further raising their profiles and highlighting to voters that we are more than just senior elected Greens.
8. How would you raise the international relevance and profile of the GPEW?
First and foremost, quite simply, being in the room. We are already involved in many different international activities with the Global Greens and EGP. We want to bring more GPEW members into this arena. Then next, we want to spearhead and take the lead on projects – demonstrating our values of fairness, justice, collaboration and openness. Alongside this, we conduct ourselves with professionalism and positivity, understanding that we must be the change we want to see.
9. The Green Party has recently encountered difficulties in maintaining a respectful and comradely debate on issues where there has been sharp disagreement. What would be your approach to improving the atmosphere in which these debates take place?
We must not forget core Green values of understanding, collaboration and consensus-building and our discourse must be founded on that. It’s ok to disagree, but we must always express this fairly and without prejudice, being conscious of the impact of our words and attitudes on others. Society is about change, and we must be aware that we both reflect and impact that change. Attitudes and words can change too. Empathy and deep listening, along with finding ways to reconcile and move on, are vital. This spirit of discourse must be instilled in our debates. Community, solidarity, understanding and consensus are true Green values, and what we see reflected throughout our international Green movement.
We also need to reflect on the recent Diverse Matters report and ensure that lessons are learned about how best to deal with any conflict amongst members, especially where protected characteristics are concerned. This means rolling out detailed equalities and conflict resolution training amongst members. Elise is already working on this through her membership of the Equalities & Diversity Committee and has suggested the Party look at the educational training run by the TUC as a starting point.
10. How can we ensure a level playing field in internal elections when some candidates have the advantage of access to a national platform and networks?
More opportunities for partnerships and running on a double platform enables less experienced/connected members to work with more experienced members, just as we have. Frank is well-connected internationally, and has been building that for some time. Elise, along with her own international work, has been involved in internal GPEW activities and networks for many years. Together, our experiences complement each other well and we learn a lot from each other. It’s a great partnership already, and we want your vote so we can get cracking.
We might therefore argue that it's important to have some kind of national platforms and networks in order to be successful in a GPEX position, and that running for elections is part of a longer process of development.
Perhaps the question should be, how do we provide opportunities for people to develop their networks and access to national platforms so that they can run effectively and more fairly?
And with that, we want to offer the GPEW membership opportunities to work internationally, building up skills, experiences and networks, so that at some point, some of you out there will be running for International Coordinator
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