Something Caroline Lucas had to say recently about Nick Clegg's reneging on Lib Dem policy on electoral reform:
'Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP today condemned Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg for reneging on his "absolute precondition" of making electoral reform a centrepiece of any hung parliament deal.
Only a week ago, Clegg gave his assurance to an electorate crying out for the kind of change that will rejuvenate the political process. Electoral reform would be "a first step which any government of any composition needs to introduce to start restoring public trust in the political system ... Electoral reform is an absolute precondition for renewal in this country."[1]
The Greens say this commitment to progressive reform of British democracy led in part to the poll boost that has seen the Lib Dems regularly placed higher than a moribund Labour Party.
Now, with what the Greens say is "breathtaking disregard for the voters who have been calling for an honest approach to politics," Mr Clegg "has allowed himself to be swayed by the promise of power and has backtracked on his pledge to stay tough in the event of a Lib Dem-Conservative government.
Speaking on Monday 4 May to the Financial Times, Clegg said: "I've never talked about preconditions. What I've said is it's unavoidable. Of course it's a vital element to the renewal of politics that we need in broad terms. That's all I've said."[2]
The party of change - or of changing its mind?
Responding to what the Greens see as Nick Clegg's "astonishing flip-flop," Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP said: "The Liberal Democrats have made a huge noise about being the party of change but when it comes down to it all they really are is the party of changing their minds."
"It's common knowledge that the Tories don't want electoral reform. Any coalition negotiations that don't set out electoral reform as a deal breaker will lead to five more years of the same old system and it's the voters who will suffer," added Lucas, who has been tipped by pollsters YouGov and ICM to win the Brighton Pavilion seat in tomorrow's election.
"Green Party MPs will not compromise on the issues that are essential to giving every voter a voice, whatever their party of preference," concluded Ms Lucas.
Green Party members have been consistent advocates of wide-ranging electoral and constitutional reform for years and it is again a central element of this year's election manifesto.[3]
Notes
[1] Press Association report as published in the Independent newspaper on Monday 26 April 2010
[2] As reported by the Financial Times in their interview with Nick Clegg on Monday 4 May 2010
[3] The Green Party is committed to introducing PR for parliamentary elections. The Greens would also introduce fixed parliamentary terms and a fully elected House of Lords'.
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Tuesday 18 May 2010
Wednesday 12 May 2010
Message from Caroline Lucas
Caroline Lucas MP, leader of the Green Party, last night wished outgoing prime minister Gordon Brown well - and once again drew attention to the urgent need for electoral reform.
In a statement issued yesterday evening the newly-elected Green MP for Brighton Pavilion said:
"Tonight, Gordon Brown has laid down the burdens of the office of Prime Minister with good grace and I wish him well for the future. David Cameron now takes up those responsibilities and faces four challenges.
"First, bringing in comprehensive political reform, including letting the public choose how politicians are elected, that will help restore people's faith in politics. If the Lib Dems have failed to secure a genuine commitment on this, this is the biggest betrayal of the British electorate in a generation.
"Second, dealing with the crisis in our public finances while protecting those in the greatest need.
"Third, replacing rhetoric with real action on climate change.
"Fourthly, and finally, for Britain to become a force for good in the world, and to bring our military involvement in Afghanistan to an end.
"We do not underestimate the difficulties ahead. We will support where we can; and always provide a principled and progressive alternative."
In a statement issued yesterday evening the newly-elected Green MP for Brighton Pavilion said:
"Tonight, Gordon Brown has laid down the burdens of the office of Prime Minister with good grace and I wish him well for the future. David Cameron now takes up those responsibilities and faces four challenges.
"First, bringing in comprehensive political reform, including letting the public choose how politicians are elected, that will help restore people's faith in politics. If the Lib Dems have failed to secure a genuine commitment on this, this is the biggest betrayal of the British electorate in a generation.
"Second, dealing with the crisis in our public finances while protecting those in the greatest need.
"Third, replacing rhetoric with real action on climate change.
"Fourthly, and finally, for Britain to become a force for good in the world, and to bring our military involvement in Afghanistan to an end.
"We do not underestimate the difficulties ahead. We will support where we can; and always provide a principled and progressive alternative."
Monday 10 May 2010
Elections how we got on - disappointment and hope
Local Election results in wards in Halton that the Greens were contesting:
Birchfield - Jane Fitzpatrick - Green - 122, Lab - 1539, Con - 1190, Lib Dems - 546 (Labour gain from Con)
Farnworth - Peter Stead - Green - 193 (120)*, Lab 1532 (391), Con - 1392 (992), Lib Dems - 563 (185) (Labour gain from Con)
Grange - Jim Craig Green - 118, Lab - 1375, Lib Dem - 764, Con - 418
Halton View - Derek Mellor - Green - 622 (528), Lab - 2121 (658), Con - 538 (213)
Hough Green - Miriam Hodgson - Green -114 (107), Labour - 2002 (630), Con - 601 (403), Lib Dem - 411 (148)
Kingsway - Linda Mellor - Green - 793 (92) Lib Dem - 907 (87), Con 480 (217)
(* Figures in brackets 2008 election results)
Overall a disappointing result and in hindsight (and I suppose its always easy to say this sort of thing after the event but...) the results of the election were inevitable given our lack of resources here compared with the other parties and other significant factors eg general and local elections held on the same day. This tends to favour the main parties but particularly the Labour Party in areas like Merseyside. With the Labour Party seen increasingly as the underdog in a very competitive and different general election than recent ones, possibly had the effect of galvanising Labour voters even more.
The disappointment felt has been hightened by our perception that we were in with a good chance in Halton View because of the result in 2008.
Our candidate in Kingsway ward did extremely well considering this special general election and its affects on votes cast. Although Labour were not standing the Lib Dems had the advantage in the fact that they were a main party, had the resources and they had been on a roll following the televised debates - well done Linda!
In the general election our candidate Jim Craig obtained more than the national average Green % of the vote for a first time general election candidate (and even more than some longstanding candidates.
For the Greens the sort of disappointing results we’ve had up and down the country have been balanced by what the Independent newspaper described as a “...shining moment” for the Green Party (and the country) as Caroline Lucas was elected as the country’s first Green MP.
The Commons now has a much needed true Green voice and a female leader of a political party.
As Caroline remarked in her post election address the Greens in parliament will be promoting the politics of hope rather than fear.
Thank you for voting Green in last weeks general and local elections.
Birchfield - Jane Fitzpatrick - Green - 122, Lab - 1539, Con - 1190, Lib Dems - 546 (Labour gain from Con)
Farnworth - Peter Stead - Green - 193 (120)*, Lab 1532 (391), Con - 1392 (992), Lib Dems - 563 (185) (Labour gain from Con)
Grange - Jim Craig Green - 118, Lab - 1375, Lib Dem - 764, Con - 418
Halton View - Derek Mellor - Green - 622 (528), Lab - 2121 (658), Con - 538 (213)
Hough Green - Miriam Hodgson - Green -114 (107), Labour - 2002 (630), Con - 601 (403), Lib Dem - 411 (148)
Kingsway - Linda Mellor - Green - 793 (92) Lib Dem - 907 (87), Con 480 (217)
(* Figures in brackets 2008 election results)
Overall a disappointing result and in hindsight (and I suppose its always easy to say this sort of thing after the event but...) the results of the election were inevitable given our lack of resources here compared with the other parties and other significant factors eg general and local elections held on the same day. This tends to favour the main parties but particularly the Labour Party in areas like Merseyside. With the Labour Party seen increasingly as the underdog in a very competitive and different general election than recent ones, possibly had the effect of galvanising Labour voters even more.
The disappointment felt has been hightened by our perception that we were in with a good chance in Halton View because of the result in 2008.
Our candidate in Kingsway ward did extremely well considering this special general election and its affects on votes cast. Although Labour were not standing the Lib Dems had the advantage in the fact that they were a main party, had the resources and they had been on a roll following the televised debates - well done Linda!
In the general election our candidate Jim Craig obtained more than the national average Green % of the vote for a first time general election candidate (and even more than some longstanding candidates.
For the Greens the sort of disappointing results we’ve had up and down the country have been balanced by what the Independent newspaper described as a “...shining moment” for the Green Party (and the country) as Caroline Lucas was elected as the country’s first Green MP.
The Commons now has a much needed true Green voice and a female leader of a political party.
As Caroline remarked in her post election address the Greens in parliament will be promoting the politics of hope rather than fear.
Thank you for voting Green in last weeks general and local elections.
Tuesday 4 May 2010
Battle Lines - two sword blades length
I didn't know this until recently that the government and opposiion benches facing each other in the House of Commons are separated by two sword blade lengths. Lines are drawn in red to indicate the distances. This harks back apparantly to the times when gentleman, inhabiting Parliament, wore swords and it was considered reasonable to keep govenment members and opposition members at least two sword blades length away from each other.
It's an indication that from earliest times the chamber has been adversarial, combatant and very much a male domain with no quarter given. And political parties need sufficient majorities to ensure that they rule. Any movement away from this seems to create all sorts of anxieties about system collapse and inability to get things done from the we know best all the time parties. And hung parliaments therefore are really not good to be hanging around for any length of time or are they?
Ok its a crude analysis. Parties do perhaps work together more behind the scenes in the Commons but not to the same extent that balanced (Alex Salmond's term for hung which I think is better) parliaments do. The SNP have run a minority government relatively successfully for the last three years. They have wheeled and dealed themselves around the Scottish Parliament offering collaboration and compromise to all parties. They've carried through legislation by offering concessions to the other parties including minority parties like the Greens (they got concessions on energy efficiency projects) and the Lib Dems (on student funding).
An article today in The Guardian (Saverin Carrell) suggests that it has worked because the Scottish parliament is designed to promote collaboration unlike the confrontation which the Westminster model exudes.
It uses proportional representation so that in a country with four major parties and a number of minority parties it's not very likely that there will be a government with an overall majority. It has bipartisan committees to work out legislation a fixed budget and fixed term parliaments.
We need change, electoral reform, more working together - lets get rid of those red lines of demarcation in the House of Commons - lets go for balance.
It's an indication that from earliest times the chamber has been adversarial, combatant and very much a male domain with no quarter given. And political parties need sufficient majorities to ensure that they rule. Any movement away from this seems to create all sorts of anxieties about system collapse and inability to get things done from the we know best all the time parties. And hung parliaments therefore are really not good to be hanging around for any length of time or are they?
Ok its a crude analysis. Parties do perhaps work together more behind the scenes in the Commons but not to the same extent that balanced (Alex Salmond's term for hung which I think is better) parliaments do. The SNP have run a minority government relatively successfully for the last three years. They have wheeled and dealed themselves around the Scottish Parliament offering collaboration and compromise to all parties. They've carried through legislation by offering concessions to the other parties including minority parties like the Greens (they got concessions on energy efficiency projects) and the Lib Dems (on student funding).
An article today in The Guardian (Saverin Carrell) suggests that it has worked because the Scottish parliament is designed to promote collaboration unlike the confrontation which the Westminster model exudes.
It uses proportional representation so that in a country with four major parties and a number of minority parties it's not very likely that there will be a government with an overall majority. It has bipartisan committees to work out legislation a fixed budget and fixed term parliaments.
We need change, electoral reform, more working together - lets get rid of those red lines of demarcation in the House of Commons - lets go for balance.
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