These are the questions we asked all the candidates. The answers we have received can be found under the name of the contested posts in the right hand column. In order to be fair we have not included any links to external websites. We initially set a word limit of 50 but had to extend that to 70. When reading the candidiates' answers please give due credit to those who stuck to the word limit. Candidates are invited to post on Green Left Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreenLeft
For membership of Green Left (Green Party members only) email ukgreenleft@gmail.com
For membership of Green Left (Green Party members only) email ukgreenleft@gmail.com
Questions to GPEx Candidates
1. A Campaigning Party vs Elections?
Within a flawed electoral system, are
we focusing on winning elections, one by one seat, above being a Campaigning
Party within the mass movement needed to fight capitalism and transform society
before the climate change emergency becomes irreversible? Are we paying lip
service to the warning from the brave climate change activists especially the
youth who recognise time is running out?
2. An accountable Party?
How can the Green Party be an effective
campaigning political party, with transparent internal democracy and
accountability, supporting local party campaigns with devolved resources? Do we
need delegate conferences to ensure policy is properly discussed at local level
before conference decides?
3. A party that understands
working-class communities?
Many people (with some progress) still
see the green movement and subsequently the GPEW as being well meaning but not
relevant to the everyday struggles of working people and working-class
communities. How can we challenge that idea?
4. Austerity and reversing public
service cuts
After over 10 years of cruel Tory
austerity which has trashed public services for millions, we must restore those
essential services which we all rely on. Not only the NHS and social care but
all the local government services like environmental health, trading standards,
pollution control, libraries, public toilets, parks etc and the Green Party has
not focused on this sufficiently for several years. Do you agree?
5. The Movement for Green Jobs and a
Green Socialist future
What do you know of the Trade Union
backed Campaign Against Climate Change, Lucas Plan, The Million Green Jobs
campaign and the Greener Jobs Alliance of trade unions? How would you work with
these campaigns and ensure all parts of the party are engaging with these
groups? Do understand and support what Just Transition means?
6. Are you an eco-socialist?
What does eco-socialism mean to you?
What links do you see between climate change and the need for social, economic
and democratic change?
7. Support native and oppressed peoples
Greens need to expand our world
solidarity by working to liberate millions of indigenous peoples in the
Americas, Asia: Kurdistan, Middle East, Tibet, and many parts of Africa etc.
Internationalism is still too weak in Green culture. How would you improve this
in the GPEW?
8.Minority rights
Do you oppose the colonialist oppression
of minorities such as Kashmiris, the Uighurs and Tibetans in China, and support
the Palestinian-led global campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
(BDS)? Palestine solidarity groups world-wide have opposed the so-called 'IHRA
definition of antisemitism' as an attack on Palestinian rights. Do you support
or oppose this definition?
9. Making campaigning for PR a Green
Party priority
It’s clear the electoral system is
holding back Green Party advance at local and parliamentary elections. How can
we campaign to convince members of the Labour Party, Trade Unions and Labour
MPs to support this left democratic change to bring elections in line with
other parts of the UK? Do you see this as a major priority for the Green Party
in the next period?
10. Oppose Nuclear Power
Green Left is supporting a motion to
the forthcoming GPEW Conference that calls on the Green Party to demand the
government abandons the Hinkley Point nuclear project and plans for the
follow-up Sizewell C nuclear project, including the regulated asset-based model
and any further development of the hazardous and expensive nuclear power
programme. The Green Party should also calls for all existing nuclear power
plants to be shut down. No power sourced from nuclear should be imported - only
renewable. Will you support this motion?
