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| Are the Greens' novel and popular ideas enough to win votes? | Are the Greens' novel and popular ideas enough to win votes? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| I'm standing in front of what I'm told is the "biggest mobile vegan sweet shop in the world". | I'm standing in front of what I'm told is the "biggest mobile vegan sweet shop in the world". |
| Kevin White is in charge, with a garish banner emblazoned with "West Midlands Vegan Fest". | |
| Mr White's colourful ensemble of products includes hummus chips and kale crisps. | Mr White's colourful ensemble of products includes hummus chips and kale crisps. |
| It's a little insight into how Green conferences are different from the other political jamborees. | |
| None of the banks or the supermarkets are here, with their suit-wearing smoothies smiling and charming. | |
| The leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Natalie Bennett, has put what she sees as a total shake up of the economy at the heart of her leadership. | The leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Natalie Bennett, has put what she sees as a total shake up of the economy at the heart of her leadership. |
| It is a socialist pitch: higher income tax for the richest; a wealth tax for the very rich; renationalising the railways; a basic or citizens income for everyone, regardless of wealth; and a substantially higher minimum wage. | It is a socialist pitch: higher income tax for the richest; a wealth tax for the very rich; renationalising the railways; a basic or citizens income for everyone, regardless of wealth; and a substantially higher minimum wage. |
| An estimate by the Citizens' Income Trust puts the cost or that idea at about £60bn a year. | An estimate by the Citizens' Income Trust puts the cost or that idea at about £60bn a year. |
| That is more than half the annual cost of the NHS, so we are talking mega money. | That is more than half the annual cost of the NHS, so we are talking mega money. |
| But the Greens are proud not to indulge in what they would see as half measures or grubby compromises. | But the Greens are proud not to indulge in what they would see as half measures or grubby compromises. |
| "We have a Labour Party which is barely distinguishable from a Tory-Lib Dem coalition," Ms Bennett told activists. | "We have a Labour Party which is barely distinguishable from a Tory-Lib Dem coalition," Ms Bennett told activists. |
| So, instead, their political tent is pitched well to the left of any other mainstream party. | So, instead, their political tent is pitched well to the left of any other mainstream party. |
| Such is the focus on left-wing ideas. Aimed at a significant redistribution of wealth, you would be excused for wondering where the green stuff is at the Green conference. | Such is the focus on left-wing ideas. Aimed at a significant redistribution of wealth, you would be excused for wondering where the green stuff is at the Green conference. |
| Badgers and hedgehogs, fracking, flooding and climate change are all talked about, but the focus is elsewhere. | Badgers and hedgehogs, fracking, flooding and climate change are all talked about, but the focus is elsewhere. |
| However, worrying about the planet and wanting a radically different economy are not mutually exclusive, the party's only member of the House of Lords told me. | However, worrying about the planet and wanting a radically different economy are not mutually exclusive, the party's only member of the House of Lords told me. |
| Far from it, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb insisted, each was needed to achieve the other. | Far from it, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb insisted, each was needed to achieve the other. |
| So how are the Greens faring? | So how are the Greens faring? |
| Well, just don't mention UKIP. | Well, just don't mention UKIP. |
| Sore point | Sore point |
| If you think black and white are about as different as you can get, try Nigel Farage's outfit and the Greens for size. | If you think black and white are about as different as you can get, try Nigel Farage's outfit and the Greens for size. |
| There is very little about UKIP that doesn't wind up the Green Party. | There is very little about UKIP that doesn't wind up the Green Party. |
| But the media attention they can command and what the Greens perceive as the consequent lack of interest in them, is a particularly sore point. | But the media attention they can command and what the Greens perceive as the consequent lack of interest in them, is a particularly sore point. |
| "Our polling figures are about a third or half of UKIP's. I'd take a third of media coverage in an instant," Ms Bennett said. | "Our polling figures are about a third or half of UKIP's. I'd take a third of media coverage in an instant," Ms Bennett said. |
| Activists have cheered some opinion polls, suggesting support for the Greens has overtaken the Liberal Democrats. | Activists have cheered some opinion polls, suggesting support for the Greens has overtaken the Liberal Democrats. |
| But more recent polls suggest the Lib Dems are back in front. | But more recent polls suggest the Lib Dems are back in front. |
| The reality is neither are troubling the scorers. | The reality is neither are troubling the scorers. |
| And with the rise of UKIP, the political arena is increasingly crowded and noisy. | And with the rise of UKIP, the political arena is increasingly crowded and noisy. |
| Green activists will hope their ideas are sufficiently novel and popular to attract attention and votes. | Green activists will hope their ideas are sufficiently novel and popular to attract attention and votes. |
| But it won't be easy. | But it won't be easy. |