Green Party Conference votes to declare Israel’s actions in Gaza a ‘genocide’
Members of the Green Party of England and Wales have today voted to declare Israel’s actions in the assault on Gaza a ‘genocide’. Alongside this, members backed branding Israel an ‘apartheid’ regime.
Party members overwhelmingly voted for a motion which said the Green Party “reaffirms its commitment to international law and promoting equality and human rights of the Palestinian people.”
The motion was proposed by a number of high profile party members including Croydon Councillor Ria Patel and the party’s equality and diversity coordinator Kefentse Dennis.
In addition to branding Israel’s actions ‘genocide’, the motion reiterated the Green Party’s longstanding support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
The motion read: “We affirm our commitment to explicitly supporting BDS in our internal and external communications going forward.
“Supporting the BDS movement is essential to holding Israel accountable, to supporting Palestinians’ rights to equality and self-determination, and to demonstrating that our support, as a nation, is not performative.”
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
This article is jointly published with Bright Green
Green Party's Gaza stance won over Muslim voters - now they hope their progressive policies will keep themToday
Left Foot Forward
Green Politics News
The Green Party also reiterated its support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement
Green Politics News
The Green Party also reiterated its support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement
Members of the Green Party of England and Wales have today voted to declare Israel’s actions in the assault on Gaza a ‘genocide’. Alongside this, members backed branding Israel an ‘apartheid’ regime.
Party members overwhelmingly voted for a motion which said the Green Party “reaffirms its commitment to international law and promoting equality and human rights of the Palestinian people.”
The motion was proposed by a number of high profile party members including Croydon Councillor Ria Patel and the party’s equality and diversity coordinator Kefentse Dennis.
In addition to branding Israel’s actions ‘genocide’, the motion reiterated the Green Party’s longstanding support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
The motion read: “We affirm our commitment to explicitly supporting BDS in our internal and external communications going forward.
“Supporting the BDS movement is essential to holding Israel accountable, to supporting Palestinians’ rights to equality and self-determination, and to demonstrating that our support, as a nation, is not performative.”
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
This article is jointly published with Bright Green
The Green Party won four MPs at the general election, with lots of its new support coming from the Muslim community due to its stance on Gaza.
Serena Barker-Singh
Political correspondent @serenabarksing
SKY NEWS
Sunday 8 September 2024
Sunday 8 September 2024
The Green Party under co-leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer won four MPs at the election
The Green Party had a very good general election and they know it.
Alongside their hemp tote bags and multi-use water bottles this weekend, there was a palpable sense of renewed enthusiasm at their annual conference.
They were not shy about where some of their two million votes came from. Soaring numbers of British Muslims voted Green this election and helped the party secure four new MPs. And this weekend felt as if they wanted to build on that support.
It was no secret, even before the election, that some British Muslims had begun to lose trust in Labour over its early stance on the Israel-Gaza war.
This anti-Labour sentiment was galvanised through efficient organising by campaign groups like "The Muslim Vote" which had begun a campaign to try to funnel votes away from the major parties and towards the candidates they believed better served the Muslim community.
While there is a wide diversity of Muslim voters, and huge complexities in how different communities vote, the biggest uniting factor that focused minds around voting was undoubtedly the community's dismay at Israel's bombing of Gaza.
Looking on from afar were the Greens. The Greens were all too happy to fill Labour's space.
The Green Party had a very good general election and they know it.
Alongside their hemp tote bags and multi-use water bottles this weekend, there was a palpable sense of renewed enthusiasm at their annual conference.
They were not shy about where some of their two million votes came from. Soaring numbers of British Muslims voted Green this election and helped the party secure four new MPs. And this weekend felt as if they wanted to build on that support.
It was no secret, even before the election, that some British Muslims had begun to lose trust in Labour over its early stance on the Israel-Gaza war.
This anti-Labour sentiment was galvanised through efficient organising by campaign groups like "The Muslim Vote" which had begun a campaign to try to funnel votes away from the major parties and towards the candidates they believed better served the Muslim community.
While there is a wide diversity of Muslim voters, and huge complexities in how different communities vote, the biggest uniting factor that focused minds around voting was undoubtedly the community's dismay at Israel's bombing of Gaza.
Looking on from afar were the Greens. The Greens were all too happy to fill Labour's space.
Sir Keir Starmer with Thangam Debbonaire during a visit to Bristol Rovers FC. Pic: PA
Sky polling just ahead of the election discovered a slight "Gaza effect", which showed leader satisfaction levels for the Conservatives and Labour significantly dropping after 7 October amongst ethnic minority voters, with IPSOS suggesting they were moving towards smaller parties.
If anywhere showed that most visibly on election night, it was Bristol Central where the Greens won its biggest scalp of the night.
Thangam Debbonaire, a big beast in the Labour Party and the shadow culture secretary, lost her seat of Bristol Central - where there is a significant Somali community - to the Greens co-leader Carla Denyer.
Sir Keir Starmer even visited the constituency throughout the election, in perhaps a sign that the party knew her campaign needed heavyweight support.
Where the Greens came a strong second and third place in constituencies around places like Sheffield Central and in east London, data showed they were in areas with large Muslim populations.
Sky polling just ahead of the election discovered a slight "Gaza effect", which showed leader satisfaction levels for the Conservatives and Labour significantly dropping after 7 October amongst ethnic minority voters, with IPSOS suggesting they were moving towards smaller parties.
If anywhere showed that most visibly on election night, it was Bristol Central where the Greens won its biggest scalp of the night.
Thangam Debbonaire, a big beast in the Labour Party and the shadow culture secretary, lost her seat of Bristol Central - where there is a significant Somali community - to the Greens co-leader Carla Denyer.
Sir Keir Starmer even visited the constituency throughout the election, in perhaps a sign that the party knew her campaign needed heavyweight support.
Where the Greens came a strong second and third place in constituencies around places like Sheffield Central and in east London, data showed they were in areas with large Muslim populations.
The Green Party under co-leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer. Pic: AP
This weekend, the Greens chose their one media visit outside the conference to visit a mosque in the Tory town of Altrincham to highlight community engagement. The focus? Gaza.
In his speech, Zach Polanski, the Greens deputy leader, called the situation in Gaza a "genocide" - something Israel has repeatedly denied - and pushed Labour to stop arms sales completely to Israel, instead of just the 30 out of 350 arms export licences they suspended earlier this week.
I asked the Green's co-leader Adrian Ramsay whether this was part of a strategic play for more votes.
"I particularly wanted to make sure I was visiting the mosque, engaging with the Muslim community because we have to remember how much our Muslim communities around the country have felt targeted, felt vulnerable by the horrific events and disorder from political violence during the summer," he said.
"We do need to stand together, and we also need to stand together with our Jewish and Muslim communities who feel vulnerable because of what's happening in the Middle East"
This weekend, the Greens chose their one media visit outside the conference to visit a mosque in the Tory town of Altrincham to highlight community engagement. The focus? Gaza.
In his speech, Zach Polanski, the Greens deputy leader, called the situation in Gaza a "genocide" - something Israel has repeatedly denied - and pushed Labour to stop arms sales completely to Israel, instead of just the 30 out of 350 arms export licences they suspended earlier this week.
I asked the Green's co-leader Adrian Ramsay whether this was part of a strategic play for more votes.
"I particularly wanted to make sure I was visiting the mosque, engaging with the Muslim community because we have to remember how much our Muslim communities around the country have felt targeted, felt vulnerable by the horrific events and disorder from political violence during the summer," he said.
"We do need to stand together, and we also need to stand together with our Jewish and Muslim communities who feel vulnerable because of what's happening in the Middle East"
Fesl Reza-Khan set up the Muslim Greens
Fesl Reza-Khan, a new party member who signed up in November because of the party's stance on Gaza, co-created a Muslim Greens group to organise activists across the UK.
"A lot of us are from ethnic minority backgrounds. My parents are from South Asia, when we see something, it's instinctive," he said.
"And what I see in Gaza, I think: 'Hang on, that's happened to me, that's happened to my forefathers, that whole occupation, exploitation, colonisation'.
"That's what was instinctive and none of the parties were acknowledging it, they were actually gaslighting me, telling me, 'that's not happening, that's not what I'm seeing'.
"And I don't need to be told what I'm seeing and witnessing."
For lots of ethnic minorities, the Green Party is not a natural home.
Out of the hundreds of councillors the Greens secured in the latest local elections, fewer than a dozen are ethnic minorities. They know their image is one of the "crusty old Green member", as one insider told me.
They're keen to modernise, to capitalise on what they see as the hegemony of the major political parties, and they think this is a good way to start.
"We just needed an attentive audience, just one door to open, Gaza has been that defining moment," Mr Reza-Khan said.
"So now that people are listening, they're realising actually, the Greens are about far more than just Gaza, they're actually very, very good on so many issues, from families, to cost of living to transport."
Fesl Reza-Khan, a new party member who signed up in November because of the party's stance on Gaza, co-created a Muslim Greens group to organise activists across the UK.
"A lot of us are from ethnic minority backgrounds. My parents are from South Asia, when we see something, it's instinctive," he said.
"And what I see in Gaza, I think: 'Hang on, that's happened to me, that's happened to my forefathers, that whole occupation, exploitation, colonisation'.
"That's what was instinctive and none of the parties were acknowledging it, they were actually gaslighting me, telling me, 'that's not happening, that's not what I'm seeing'.
"And I don't need to be told what I'm seeing and witnessing."
For lots of ethnic minorities, the Green Party is not a natural home.
Out of the hundreds of councillors the Greens secured in the latest local elections, fewer than a dozen are ethnic minorities. They know their image is one of the "crusty old Green member", as one insider told me.
They're keen to modernise, to capitalise on what they see as the hegemony of the major political parties, and they think this is a good way to start.
"We just needed an attentive audience, just one door to open, Gaza has been that defining moment," Mr Reza-Khan said.
"So now that people are listening, they're realising actually, the Greens are about far more than just Gaza, they're actually very, very good on so many issues, from families, to cost of living to transport."
Green Party to demand wealth tax
The party hope with thousands more members in the party, some will stay for their stance on other progressive issues, most recently trying to set themselves against Labour on the two-child benefit cap and its changes to the winter fuel payments.
In the 2017 election, the Green party saw its support drop by more than half as some of their voters turned to more radical politics under Labour's then-leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
And if the 2024 general election taught us anything, it was that voters can be flaky.
Co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay are hoping their strong election performance is a good foundation to build into longer-lasting support and they are starting with communities they think are most disaffected with mainstream politics.
The party hope with thousands more members in the party, some will stay for their stance on other progressive issues, most recently trying to set themselves against Labour on the two-child benefit cap and its changes to the winter fuel payments.
In the 2017 election, the Green party saw its support drop by more than half as some of their voters turned to more radical politics under Labour's then-leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
And if the 2024 general election taught us anything, it was that voters can be flaky.
Co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay are hoping their strong election performance is a good foundation to build into longer-lasting support and they are starting with communities they think are most disaffected with mainstream politics.
Green Party conference votes to support immediate ban on greyhound racing
Chris Jarvis
At their autumn conference in Manchester on September 8, Green Party members voted to support an immediate ban on greyhound racing and the use of the whip in horse racing.
In backing a motion on the issue, members also supported a compulsory levy to be imposed on all betting, to be used solely for welfare improvements, and a single regulatory authority to enforce animal welfare standards.
Speaking following the decision, the Green Party’s co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “We are the first party to pledge to ban greyhound racing, a position supported by the RSPCA, Dog’s Trust, Blue Cross, and a majority of the public.
“Preventing greyhounds from being raced for the benefit of the betting industry and commercial gain would bring an end to the unnecessary deaths and suffering of these dogs.
“Approximately 200 horses die every year from horse racing. Banning the use of the whip is a basic step for animal welfare. Equally the horse racing industry needs to answer how it will stop the shocking number of deaths it’s industry causes that no one wants to see.
“These measures would also help reduce the harm caused by problem gambling.”
This article was jointly published with Left Foot Forward
Image credit: Jon Craig – Creative Commons
Chris Jarvis
8 September 2024
At their autumn conference in Manchester on September 8, Green Party members voted to support an immediate ban on greyhound racing and the use of the whip in horse racing.
In backing a motion on the issue, members also supported a compulsory levy to be imposed on all betting, to be used solely for welfare improvements, and a single regulatory authority to enforce animal welfare standards.
Speaking following the decision, the Green Party’s co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “We are the first party to pledge to ban greyhound racing, a position supported by the RSPCA, Dog’s Trust, Blue Cross, and a majority of the public.
“Preventing greyhounds from being raced for the benefit of the betting industry and commercial gain would bring an end to the unnecessary deaths and suffering of these dogs.
“Approximately 200 horses die every year from horse racing. Banning the use of the whip is a basic step for animal welfare. Equally the horse racing industry needs to answer how it will stop the shocking number of deaths it’s industry causes that no one wants to see.
“These measures would also help reduce the harm caused by problem gambling.”
This article was jointly published with Left Foot Forward
Image credit: Jon Craig – Creative Commons
Greens co-leader: UK riots were 'racist and Islamophobic'
Evening Standard
Sep 8, 2024
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has visited a mosque in Manchester and speaks to members and trustees of the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association. He said he wanted to make sure he engaged with the Muslim community during his party conference because it felt targeted and vulnerable during the recent riots. He said "We need to stand together" and termed the recent UK riots "racist and Islamophobic".
Evening Standard
Sep 8, 2024
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has visited a mosque in Manchester and speaks to members and trustees of the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association. He said he wanted to make sure he engaged with the Muslim community during his party conference because it felt targeted and vulnerable during the recent riots. He said "We need to stand together" and termed the recent UK riots "racist and Islamophobic".
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