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Dear Greens, you're my favourite party – but why aren't you winning any seats? Dear Greens, you're my favourite party – but why aren't you winning any seats?
(2 days later)
Dear Greens,Dear Greens,
On paper you are my favourite party. The Green party manifesto for the last election was by far the best – a living age, a land value tax, real action on the banks … But as the planet warms up and fracking raises the political temperatures still further, where are the Greens? As you meet in your own political hothouse of Brighton for the party's annual conference, what's going wrong?On paper you are my favourite party. The Green party manifesto for the last election was by far the best – a living age, a land value tax, real action on the banks … But as the planet warms up and fracking raises the political temperatures still further, where are the Greens? As you meet in your own political hothouse of Brighton for the party's annual conference, what's going wrong?
Last week in the Guardian John Harris wrote a major article on left unity and the need, felt by some, for a Ukip of the left. Well, maybe. But surely the rise of Ukip and its effect on the nation's political discourse holds at least as many lessons, if not more, for the Greens. A single-issue party that mixes Euroscepticism with immigration phobia, gets to the mid-20s in the polls, makes a huge breakthrough in the local elections and stands to come top in the Euros next May. If Ukip can do it with its sour agenda, why not the Greens on sustainability? Caroline Lucas is just as effective a communicator as Nigel Farage and the Greens have a stronger councilor and party base than Ukip. So what does the rise of Ukip mean for the Greens, and what can you learn from it?Last week in the Guardian John Harris wrote a major article on left unity and the need, felt by some, for a Ukip of the left. Well, maybe. But surely the rise of Ukip and its effect on the nation's political discourse holds at least as many lessons, if not more, for the Greens. A single-issue party that mixes Euroscepticism with immigration phobia, gets to the mid-20s in the polls, makes a huge breakthrough in the local elections and stands to come top in the Euros next May. If Ukip can do it with its sour agenda, why not the Greens on sustainability? Caroline Lucas is just as effective a communicator as Nigel Farage and the Greens have a stronger councilor and party base than Ukip. So what does the rise of Ukip mean for the Greens, and what can you learn from it?
What is being revealed is that the Greens don't have a strategy. Or rather you do, but is palpably not working. The strategy is, in effect, to be a nicer, more democratic and radical version of the other three bigger parties, and slowly win more seats.What is being revealed is that the Greens don't have a strategy. Or rather you do, but is palpably not working. The strategy is, in effect, to be a nicer, more democratic and radical version of the other three bigger parties, and slowly win more seats.
But you're not winning them. Brighton Pavilion and Brighton council are looking like the high-water mark of a party now going backwards and certainly not a foothold beginning a march to power. Three or four-way marginals are thin on the ground. It's virtually impossible to win more parliamentary seats. Running Brighton council has proved, to say the least, a mixed blessing, and may help defeat Lucas. And Ukip stand ready and able to obliterate you in terms of MEPs. Face it: there is no prospect of an electoral breakthrough. And all the time the green agenda is slipping down the nation's list of political priorities. It's not just you that's losing but the planet too.But you're not winning them. Brighton Pavilion and Brighton council are looking like the high-water mark of a party now going backwards and certainly not a foothold beginning a march to power. Three or four-way marginals are thin on the ground. It's virtually impossible to win more parliamentary seats. Running Brighton council has proved, to say the least, a mixed blessing, and may help defeat Lucas. And Ukip stand ready and able to obliterate you in terms of MEPs. Face it: there is no prospect of an electoral breakthrough. And all the time the green agenda is slipping down the nation's list of political priorities. It's not just you that's losing but the planet too.
The problem is that you are behaving like a "me too" political party but with no hope of winning the posts your political candidates aspire to hold. Compare that to Ukip – it feels like a movement that uses elections to further its beliefs and prejudices. Yes, it puts up candidates, but not because it thinks it is ever going to be in power – but to shift and disrupt the Tories on to its ground. And it's working. Votes and seats are a lucky by-product. There might of course be another hung parliament – but one MP is unlikely to be decisive.The problem is that you are behaving like a "me too" political party but with no hope of winning the posts your political candidates aspire to hold. Compare that to Ukip – it feels like a movement that uses elections to further its beliefs and prejudices. Yes, it puts up candidates, but not because it thinks it is ever going to be in power – but to shift and disrupt the Tories on to its ground. And it's working. Votes and seats are a lucky by-product. There might of course be another hung parliament – but one MP is unlikely to be decisive.
It's not as if important and exciting environmental projects aren't gaining traction. The growing Transition Towns movement is an inspiration. Campaigns like Leave Our Kids Alone and the Green New Deal are making real headway. Common Cause is pioneering new ways to talk about sustainability. The resistance to fracking crosses all sorts of political borders. But all came from outside the Green party.It's not as if important and exciting environmental projects aren't gaining traction. The growing Transition Towns movement is an inspiration. Campaigns like Leave Our Kids Alone and the Green New Deal are making real headway. Common Cause is pioneering new ways to talk about sustainability. The resistance to fracking crosses all sorts of political borders. But all came from outside the Green party.
You are in an amazing position, but only if you stop playing the establishment game. Liberate yourself and your imagination. Give up the pretense of being a serious opposition party. The British Social Attitudes survey shows interest in politics rising but belief in political parties declining fast. Why lash yourself to the mast of that sinking ship? In a world of peer-to-peer democracy, just about anything is possible. You can be a radical voice for sustainable, egalitarian and democratic politics. Channel your energy into witty and clever campaigns that gets to grips with the anxieties, hopes and fears of the British people.You are in an amazing position, but only if you stop playing the establishment game. Liberate yourself and your imagination. Give up the pretense of being a serious opposition party. The British Social Attitudes survey shows interest in politics rising but belief in political parties declining fast. Why lash yourself to the mast of that sinking ship? In a world of peer-to-peer democracy, just about anything is possible. You can be a radical voice for sustainable, egalitarian and democratic politics. Channel your energy into witty and clever campaigns that gets to grips with the anxieties, hopes and fears of the British people.
I know it's hard. The electoral system is against you. Resources are tight. But with average temperatures rising faster than your chances of winning more seats, you need a new plan. Ukip has shifted the national agenda way to the right without a single MP. What could you do?I know it's hard. The electoral system is against you. Resources are tight. But with average temperatures rising faster than your chances of winning more seats, you need a new plan. Ukip has shifted the national agenda way to the right without a single MP. What could you do?
Good luck with it.Good luck with it.
NealNeal
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