The Greens have criticised Labour and the Tories for prioritising internal party conflicts over the challenges facing Britain
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s sole MP, has lashed out at Labour and the Conservatives for infighting while the country burns.
‘Britain is in crisis and people are scared about the future,’ she said in in a statement issued this afternoon.
“Never have we had a greater need for calm leadership to be shown by politicians – yet instead both the Tories and Labour are engaging in civil wars. At such a key moment for this country the political establishment is utterly failing the British people.
“We have a Government in chaos, an economy facing a crisis and people up and down the country facing serious hardship – yet the Labour Party is in utter turmoil, thanks mostly to some Shadow Cabinet Ministers trying to take their party back to 1997 but also partly because Jeremy Corbyn did fail to show the passion needed in the EU referendum.
“Instead of indulging in months of introspection and infighting, this is an opportunity to recognise that a more plural politics is in both the left’s electoral and political interests.
“And with the growing likelihood of an early General Election, the importance of progressive parties working together to prevent the formation of a Tory-UKIP-DUP government that would seek to enact an ultra-right Brexit scenario is ever more pressing.”
The Green Party has gained many new voters in recent days, according to Lucas, and will ‘stand against any austerity or slashing of environmental legislation that may come with Brexit.’
Lucas is currently standing for joint leadership of the Green Party with Jonathan Bartley, who wrote for Left Foot Forward yesterday on the need to create a more inclusive democracy following the leave vote.
5 Responses to “Caroline Lucas: Progressives must stop infighting and work together”
Genni Pavone
I voted out. I believe that with the internet era, old fashion politics has passed its sell by date as it only breeds corruption and inequality. The EU is unsavable in my opinion, it doesn’t serve the people of Europe but about 30.000 lobbies instead. Direct Democracy is our future and it can be achieved. The M5S in Italy is a clear example, Spain’s Podemos another one, their success confirms it. As a true progressive prospective leader would you consider this highly democratic model? Sincerely Genni
Craig Stephen
If, as those who have thrown in the towel claim, that Corbyn didn’t do enough then why didn’t they pull him up about it before the vote? There was plenty of time, after all. It seems these MPs need to look at themselves before criticising the party leader about the vote in their own constituences.
Willie Thompson
Excellent comment from Caroline except in one particular, namely that Corbyn wasn’t being passionate enough. Leaving aside the fact that there’s little concerning the corrupt and undemocratic EU that one could be passionate about, Corbyn could well reply that the calm reasoned case he assiduously advanced was more likely to be effective than stormy rhetoric.
Best regards
Dr Williams
Agree with everything she said apart from the bit about Corbyn
Roo Glazebrook
Yes, I wish the Green Party and Corbyn Labour would work together