At the weekend, the Green Party took a formal step forward to solidify that position, as their spring conference in Nottingham voted with a majority of 71% to amend its constitution to commit to social justice and the “transformation of society for the benefit of the many not the few”. Their constitutional amendment should help strengthen their position as the only significant party to the left of Labour.
Tonight I will be attending a meeting of Kate Hudson and Andrew Burgin’s new Left Unity project, which will debate the question: why is there no party to the left of Labour?
In the traditional sense, they have a point. The two major projects of the last decade to unite the socialist left as an alternative to New Labour – the Socialist Alliance and RESPECT – never really got past old animosities and internecine squabbling.
But the question – perhaps a little too colour blind in its search for true red – ignores the rise of the Greens as far more than a party for beardy hippy eco-activists and the most successful left of Labour party the UK has seen.
At the weekend, the Green Party took a formal step forward to solidify that position, as their spring conference in Nottingham voted with a majority of 71% to amend its constitution to commit to social justice and the “transformation of society for the benefit of the many not the few”.
The party’s constitution will now call for a move from a “system based on inequality and exploitation” to “a world based on cooperation and democracy”.
But for those who have been immersed in Green politics for any length of time, this will only be a formal recognition of a much longer struggle.
“The Green Party has never been a single issue party,” Caroline Lucas, the Greens’ first MP and former leader told me in 2009.
“We’ve always been a party of social justice, and believe that equity has to be at the heart of a sustainable society. We’ve also always made the case that the best way to protect the environment is to transform the goals and direction of the economy to make it genuinely sustainable.”
Green activist Peter Tatchell says that for more than two decades, the Greens have had a very progressive social agenda.
“Unfortunately, the media tend to cover us only when we campaign on environmental issues,” Tatchell told me.
“That is beginning to change. As a result, more and more voters recognise that we have imaginative policies for a fairer society on a wide range of issues.”
Socialists should be working closer together on their common causes to resist the Conservative onslaught on Britain’s poor, whether that involves coming together to found a party to the left of Labour to help steer the national debate, or working within Labour to push for it to provide a more radical alternative in keeping with its working class roots.
But no one should forget the positive work being done by the Greens, not just when it comes to the environment, but on equality and social justice as well.
Their constitutional amendment should help strengthen their position as the only significant party to the left of Labour.
85 Responses to “Comment: Greens solidify their reputation as the only real alternative to Labour”
Mick
Recommendation is hardly dictation. Though poor little Newsbot can’t accept that Cameron’s in power and he isn’t. He knows it but hates it, so bitches about party lines. (Bitching suspiciously absent when liking the co-ops.)
So come on… join the winning team and enjoy some victory for once! (Tease tease!)
Mick
Ah, is that a little bit of Newsbot baulking at the idea of alternative culture?
However, I wouldn’t want to eat a Newsbot. I’d come down with something. Indeed, he’s certainly indigestable still alive!
Newsbot9
Yes, keep claiming criminal actions are “alternative” culture. Typical of your excuses for your far right.
Newsbot9
Yes, keep up whining that my views have more representation than yours, even when it’s not our focus.
Of course you think your blunt bigotry and threats are funny. Your fat right are not in power.
uglyfatbloke
The UK picture is, perhaps, somewhat different, but the SNP are certainly well to the left of the Labour party in Scotland and that has n’t stopped them getting elected. In fact, they got elected under a system specifically designed to prevent them ever becoming the largest party, let alone winning an outright majority. Right now they have a polling lead of 15 points over Labour despite being 6 years in office, so being on the left clearly does not dismay the electorate they way Blair and Brown thought..