This would be a worrying headline if the BNP was using any form of sophistication or intelligence. In fact, they have come off as desperate and attempting to use Christianity and the teaching of Jesus (a prophet in Islamic teaching) for their own ends.
Lancaster Unity has the story in detail. Over on Democracy Forum, the BNP posters have been frantically pedalling backwards over this "photoshopped" advert. However some excellent detective work by one of the moderators (post 39), has indeed established that the BNP have done this themselves.
This is an insult to the teachings of Jesus, whether you are religious or not. All men are brothers, not just those with a white skin. If the BNP can't see that simple fact, or recognise that international religions have worshippers of all nationalities and heritage, then it is entirely possible their poll ratings will run backwards in this campaign if this is the best they can do.
PS - Apparently the BNP van was driving up and down in South Liverpool today. You can bet that high visibility from the BNP will drive up turnout in an anti-racist city like Liverpool.
30 March 2009
A Question for Greenpeace
How many green energy efficiency schemes will be needed to offset the expansion of Manchester and Liverpool airport in the last ten years? [Hat tip to Cllr Andy Cooper in Kirklees for this posting]
It is really great that the Lib Dems are backing energy efficiency, but for Greenpeace to do joint launches with Nick Clegg... hmmm. As Cllr Sarah Jennings recently commented here in Liverpool, the Liberal Democrats are a political party, not a franchise.
Liverpool and Sheffield are two of the flagship Lib Dem run councils in Britain, where local Lib Dems have had real power, so what does their record look like. Sheffield isn't good. Considering this is Nick Clegg's backyard, it isn't very tidy environmentally.
Let's take a quick look at Liverpool now...
In 2007 our Lib Dem council leader urged local business people to use flights rather than the train to get to London
In 2009 he still fails to see the contradiction between opposing Heathrow but supporting regional airport expansion.
The Lib Dems in Liverpool remain committed to a doubling of airport traffic in Liverpool by 2024 (second amendment by Green councillors defeated on changes to the Sustainable Communities Strategy)
It is a pity Greenpeace feel a need to invite Nick Clegg along, but it is a clear indication that we as Greens must get people into Westminster before green NGOs make a switch away from red, yellow and blue politics. Given that the Green New Deal was launched by Caroline Lucas and others, it always takes the other parties a while to catch up.
It is really great that the Lib Dems are backing energy efficiency, but for Greenpeace to do joint launches with Nick Clegg... hmmm. As Cllr Sarah Jennings recently commented here in Liverpool, the Liberal Democrats are a political party, not a franchise.
Liverpool and Sheffield are two of the flagship Lib Dem run councils in Britain, where local Lib Dems have had real power, so what does their record look like. Sheffield isn't good. Considering this is Nick Clegg's backyard, it isn't very tidy environmentally.
Let's take a quick look at Liverpool now...
In 2007 our Lib Dem council leader urged local business people to use flights rather than the train to get to London
In 2009 he still fails to see the contradiction between opposing Heathrow but supporting regional airport expansion.
The Lib Dems in Liverpool remain committed to a doubling of airport traffic in Liverpool by 2024 (second amendment by Green councillors defeated on changes to the Sustainable Communities Strategy)
It is a pity Greenpeace feel a need to invite Nick Clegg along, but it is a clear indication that we as Greens must get people into Westminster before green NGOs make a switch away from red, yellow and blue politics. Given that the Green New Deal was launched by Caroline Lucas and others, it always takes the other parties a while to catch up.
26 March 2009
Euro Lib Dem - Clear Error of Judgement
In response to a move by the Green and Socialist groups in the European Parliament, to change the rules so that Jean Marie Le Pen does not become the "father of the house" figure after the next Euro Elections, Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South West, said:
"There is no reason to treat Mr Le Pen differently from others, even if we hate his politics"
But the statement that followed on from Le Pen shows exactly why he, and other neo-fascist groups, including the BNP in Britain, should be treated differently. Le Pen responded to a point about his remarks regarding the holocaust being a "detail of history" by saying:
"I merely said that the gas chambers were a detail of the history of the world war, which is an obvious fact"
Le Pen and other far right political leaders do not accept the holocaust happened. No amount of semantics can hide that fact. It is one of the reasons that we simply can't treat them as just another politician. If we tolerate such views as fitting in the mainstream of politics, what else should we be prepared to accept?
Mr Watson got this wrong. I hope he has the sense to change his position and get the ALDE group to back the Green and Socialist moves. I think he has done a disservice to the vast majority of Liberal Democrat voters and members who would not accept that Le Pen is simply another politician.
"There is no reason to treat Mr Le Pen differently from others, even if we hate his politics"
But the statement that followed on from Le Pen shows exactly why he, and other neo-fascist groups, including the BNP in Britain, should be treated differently. Le Pen responded to a point about his remarks regarding the holocaust being a "detail of history" by saying:
"I merely said that the gas chambers were a detail of the history of the world war, which is an obvious fact"
Le Pen and other far right political leaders do not accept the holocaust happened. No amount of semantics can hide that fact. It is one of the reasons that we simply can't treat them as just another politician. If we tolerate such views as fitting in the mainstream of politics, what else should we be prepared to accept?
Mr Watson got this wrong. I hope he has the sense to change his position and get the ALDE group to back the Green and Socialist moves. I think he has done a disservice to the vast majority of Liberal Democrat voters and members who would not accept that Le Pen is simply another politician.
25 March 2009
Espanol
El jueves 4 de junio, los ciudadanos europeos que viven en Inglaterra podrán votar en las Elecciones Europeas. En la región del Noroeste de Inglaterra, un sistema de elección proporcional es usado para calcular qué partidos políticos tendrán a sus diputados como elegidos.
Los partidos Laborista, Liberal democrático y los Conservadores (Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives) tienen garantizados sus escaños bajo el sistema utilizado ya que son los partidos más numerosos. Para que un cuarto partido pueda obtener un escaño necesita sobre un 7 a un 9% de votos.
En esta región, los Verdes y el partido neo-fascista, el BNP, compiten para ser el 4º partido con más votos. Si los Verdes ganaran más votos que el BNP, evitaría que el BNP ganara un escaño. Si el BNP obtuviera más votos que los Verdes, entonces seguramente obtendrían un escaño.
Si tú eres un estudiante extranjero viviendo y estudiando en el Noroeste de Inglaterra, vota, por favor, en las elecciones europeas aquí. Tu voto podría ser crucial para impedir que el líder de la extrema derecha ganara un escaño europeo.
Por favor, mira a algunos de los ejemplos del historial del BNP. En los últimos 5 años:
- Concejales del BNP han estado abusando del sistema de prestaciones
http://www.
- Candidatos del BNP han sido racistas con otros europeos que viven en Inglaterra
- Han actuado para intimidar a defensores anti-fascistas
Desafortunadamente, el BNP está financiado por sus seguidores de la extrema derecha, y muchas de las personas que les votan están enojadas con todos los partidos políticos y no saben o no creen los hechos sobre sus actividades criminales.
Puedes registrarte para votar por correo visitando la página www.aboutmyvote.co.uk y votando aquí, puedes ayudarnos a evitar que un partido neo-fascista y racista gane escaños en el Parlamento Europeo.
Si recibes esta información por email, por favor, reenvía el email a cualquier familiar o amigo que esté viviendo en Inglaterra. El BNP es una amenaza menor en otras regiones, pero cabe la posibilidad de que gane un escaño en otro lugar si no votan muchas personas.
Otros partidos más pequeños como “Respect Coalition” están instando a los votantes en el Noroeste de Inglaterra a que voten a los Verdes para parar al BNP. El apoyo combinado de los Verdes y estos otros partidos anti-racistas fue de un 6.8% en las últimas elecciones Europeas. El apoyo al BNP fue de un 6.4%.
Por favor, vota a los Verdes para parar al BNP. Si te registras para votar por correo, recibirás las papeletas de votación sobre el 21 de mayo o, si esperas hasta el 4 de junio, podrás votar en tu centro electoral.
En nombre de la gran mayoría de los ingleses que se oponen al racismo y que dan la bienvenida a ciudadanos europeos a nuestro país, me gustaría daros las gracias.
Searchlight Cymru: contra el racismo en Gales
Fuente: www.searchlightcymru...
Los concejales del BNP han sido elegidos bajo la promesa de ser diferentes. Criticando a “la vieja banda”, el BNP se ha beneficiado de ser considerado un “partido nuevo”, y de velar por los intereses de los ciudadanos locales.
Deutsche
Am Donnerstag den 4. Juni können Bürger der EU die in England leben an den Eurowahlen teilnehemen. Im nordwesten von England wird ein proportionales system für die Wahl benutzt, um zu berechnen welche Representanten der politischen Parteien gewählt werden.
‘Labour’, ‘Liberal Democrats’ und die ‘Conservatives’ haben garantierte Sitze in dem verwendeten System, da sie die grössten Parteien sind. Damit eine vierte Partei einen Sitz erringt, muss sie 7 bis 9 % der Stimmen erhalten.
In dieser Region wetteifern die ‘Greens’ (equivalent der Grünen) und die neo-faschistische partei der ’BNP’ (equivalent der NPD) die viert grösste Partei zu werden. Falls die ‚Greens’ mehr Stimmen als die ‚BNP’ gewinnen, wird das mit aller wahrscheinlichkeit verhindern, dass die ‚BNP’ einen Sitzt gewinnt. Falls die ‚BNP’ mehr Stimmen als die ‚Greens’ gewinnen, werden sie mit aller wahrscheinlichkeit einen Sitz erringen.
Falls sie ein Fremdsprachiger Student sind und im nordwesten von England leben und studieren, bitte nehmen sie hier an den europäischen wahlen teil. Ihre Stimme can bestimmend sein, um dem Vorsitzenden der extrem rechten Partei ‚BNP’ einen europäischen Sitzt zu verweigern.
Bitte schauen sie sich nur einige Beispiele der Geschichte der ‚BNP’ an. In den vergangenen fünf Jahren:
· ‘BNP’ vertreter habe das Sozial system missbraucht http://www.searchlightcymru.
· ‘BNP’ kandidaten waren rassistsch gegenüber Europär anderer Länder die in England leben.
http://www.
· Die ‘BNP’ haben anti-faschistische Aktivisten eingeschüchtert http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/
Bedauerlicherweise wird die ‘BNP’ sehr gut finanziell von ihren extrem rechten Vertretern unterstützt, und viele ihrer Wähler sind verärgert über alle politischen Parteien, und wissen oder glauben nicht an die kriminellen aktivitäten der ‚BNP’.
Sie können sich als Briefwähler registrieren lassen unter www.aboutmyvote.co.uk und indem sie hier wählen. Sie können uns helfen einer rassistischen und neo-faschisten Partei einen Sitzt im europäischen Parlament zu verweigern.
Falls sie diese Information als email erhalten haben, bitten wir sie, diese an ihre Familie und Freunde weiterzuleiten.
Andere kleine Parteien, wie z.B. the ‚Respect Coalition’, drängen Wähler im nordwesten Englands die ‚Greens’ zu wählen um die ‚BNP’ zu stoppen. Die vereinte Wählerschaft der ‚Greens’ und andere anti-rassistischer Parteien belief sich auf 6.8% in der letzten europäischen Wahl. Die ‚BNP’ wurde von 6.4% unterstüzt.
Bitte wählen sie die Green um die ‘BNP’ zu stoppen. Falls sie registriert sind für die Briefwahl, werden sie ihren Stimmzettel um den 21. Mai erhalten oder sie können bis zum vierten Juni warten, um in ihrem nächsten Wahllokal ihre Stimme abzugeben.
Im Auftrag der grossen Mehrheit englische Bürger die rassismus ablehenen und andere EU Bürger in ihrem Land wilkommen heissen, möchte ich mich bedanken.
Searchlight Cymru: against racism and fascism in Wales
Quelle: www.searchlightcymru ...
´BNP´ Abgeordnete sind gewählt worden, da sie versprachen anders zu sein. Während die ´BNP´an den alteingesessenen Parteien kritik übt, kam ihr der Status einer ´neuen´ Partei zu gute, als auch der Eindruck sie kümmere sich um die belange der Mensche in ihrer Region.
Verteilen
21 March 2009
Hello From Conference
I'm writing today after a busy first day of Spring Conference for the Green Party. My opening speech is now up here. I'll have to get a couple of edits done, as my actual speech took into account that interest rates are now even less than 1%.
Local coverage has been good already. The BBC are carrying an excellent speech by Caroline Lucas. I've done interviews with Wave FM and Radio Lancashire so far and the Blackpool Gazette has gone with our lead story. Today for me is about tourism and how we attempt to revive our seaside towns. There is an update on our tourism policy and a fringe session running. I hope we get a few local residents in with us to contribute to the debate.
I'll be trying to work out what impact we've had on the local economy by the end of Conference, depending on how many delegates attend over the four days. Plenary is about to start. More later I hope.
Local coverage has been good already. The BBC are carrying an excellent speech by Caroline Lucas. I've done interviews with Wave FM and Radio Lancashire so far and the Blackpool Gazette has gone with our lead story. Today for me is about tourism and how we attempt to revive our seaside towns. There is an update on our tourism policy and a fringe session running. I hope we get a few local residents in with us to contribute to the debate.
I'll be trying to work out what impact we've had on the local economy by the end of Conference, depending on how many delegates attend over the four days. Plenary is about to start. More later I hope.
19 March 2009
No2EU
Yesterday saw the launch of No2EU. It has an eclectic bunch of supporters, including people like committed anti-fascist campaigner, Alec McFadden and Liverpool Liberal councillor Steve Radford. However, it is essentially a Socialist Party and Trade Union dominated list of supporters.
For those of us in the Greens, it shows the difficult relationship we will continue to have with "the left". Respect in the North West have endorsed the Green Party in this region, so that votes are not wasted in the race to beat the BNP. They deserve credit for an innovative and progressive approach this time round. They decided on this approach democratically, which is pretty important in a democracy.
No2EU is using the strapline "Yes to Democracy", but how will they select their lists? Will there be a democratic ballot? Do they have any members? How do you democratically select people to head the lists in each reason without members, a definite structure or much time left before nominations have to be submitted? Matt Sellwood reveals his frustration with it all here (and credit to Matt, he was right about them standing).
That said, I don't think we are particularly concerned about this development. Yes, some socialists are going to back No2EU in the North West that otherwise may have tactically voted Green, but not all of them.
I'd estimate potential support for No2EU in our region at 2 to 3%, but a lot of that will come at the expense of UKIP, and maybe some at the expense of the BNP. In the last Euro Elections, the Liberal Party used a clever "No to the Euro" slogan on its ballot paper description here in the North West. The result was that without a freepost, party election broadcast or much campaigning, they doubled their vote from 2.3% to 4.6%.
"No2EU" on the ballot paper will probably achieve the same vote, unless they somehow manage to muster a ground campaign. In reality it will be a paper exercise and a serious of press releases. A shame really. The RMT could have had a tactical influence using its funding in a serious and constructive way. However, an EU Election wouldn't be complete without an entirely new, and last minute initiative from "the left".
For those of us in the Greens, it shows the difficult relationship we will continue to have with "the left". Respect in the North West have endorsed the Green Party in this region, so that votes are not wasted in the race to beat the BNP. They deserve credit for an innovative and progressive approach this time round. They decided on this approach democratically, which is pretty important in a democracy.
No2EU is using the strapline "Yes to Democracy", but how will they select their lists? Will there be a democratic ballot? Do they have any members? How do you democratically select people to head the lists in each reason without members, a definite structure or much time left before nominations have to be submitted? Matt Sellwood reveals his frustration with it all here (and credit to Matt, he was right about them standing).
That said, I don't think we are particularly concerned about this development. Yes, some socialists are going to back No2EU in the North West that otherwise may have tactically voted Green, but not all of them.
I'd estimate potential support for No2EU in our region at 2 to 3%, but a lot of that will come at the expense of UKIP, and maybe some at the expense of the BNP. In the last Euro Elections, the Liberal Party used a clever "No to the Euro" slogan on its ballot paper description here in the North West. The result was that without a freepost, party election broadcast or much campaigning, they doubled their vote from 2.3% to 4.6%.
"No2EU" on the ballot paper will probably achieve the same vote, unless they somehow manage to muster a ground campaign. In reality it will be a paper exercise and a serious of press releases. A shame really. The RMT could have had a tactical influence using its funding in a serious and constructive way. However, an EU Election wouldn't be complete without an entirely new, and last minute initiative from "the left".
18 March 2009
A Small Far Away Country
Yesterday I attended a Conference in London as part of my (paid) work and I sat alongside delegates from a wide range of charities. The Conference (on cost effective E-Communications) was really good but I wanted to share something I got out of the day.
The delegates on my table were from Mission Aviation Fellowship, a Christian organisation operating light aircraft in developing countries so that remote areas are able to receive vital help. One of their delegates shared the effects of a coup in a remote and largely unreported country in the developing world.
It could mean someone might die and at it often means that communications are out of action for days, weeks or months. In all that time, their ability to work is severely restricted.
So don't forget Madagascar. It won't ever get the coverage of Israel, Cuba, Afghanistan or even China, but the reality is that we simply ignore large parts of the world. Even when we do care and really do want to make a difference, it simply isn't always possible to tackle every issue, every time.
I'd welcome views on how elected or unelected people could or should cope with a potentially limitless internationalist workload, or do we necessarily just have to ignore a lot of what is wrong in the world just to enable the small positive changes we are able to make?
The delegates on my table were from Mission Aviation Fellowship, a Christian organisation operating light aircraft in developing countries so that remote areas are able to receive vital help. One of their delegates shared the effects of a coup in a remote and largely unreported country in the developing world.
It could mean someone might die and at it often means that communications are out of action for days, weeks or months. In all that time, their ability to work is severely restricted.
So don't forget Madagascar. It won't ever get the coverage of Israel, Cuba, Afghanistan or even China, but the reality is that we simply ignore large parts of the world. Even when we do care and really do want to make a difference, it simply isn't always possible to tackle every issue, every time.
I'd welcome views on how elected or unelected people could or should cope with a potentially limitless internationalist workload, or do we necessarily just have to ignore a lot of what is wrong in the world just to enable the small positive changes we are able to make?
13 March 2009
Italiano
Il 4 giugno tutti i cittadini europei residenti sul suolo inglese possono votare per le prossime Elezioni Europee. Nella regione del North West of England e' in vigore un sistema di voto proporzionale per determinare quali partiti avranno rappresentanti eletti.
I Laburisti, Liberal-Democratici e Conservatori hanno seggi garantiti dall'attuale sistema essendo i principali partiti politici. Per il quarto partito sono necessari dal 7 al 9% dei voti per ottenere un seggio.
Nella nostra regione, i Verdi e il partito neo-fascista, chiamato BNP, sono in competizione per la quarta posizione. Se i Verdi ottenessero piu' voti del BNP, quasi sicuramente il BNP non avrebbe alcun rappresentante eletto. Al contrario, se il BNP ottenesse piu' voti dei Verdi, l'elezione di un loro rappresentante sarebbe quasi certa.
Se sei un cittadino europeo che vive o studia nel North West of England, vota qui per le prossime Elezioni Europee. Il tuo voto potrebbe essere fondamentale per evitare che il leader del partito di estrema destra BNP abbia un seggio nel Parlamento Europeo.
Ti preghiamo ti dare un'occhiata ad alcuni fatti riguardanti il BNP. Negli ultimi cinque anni:
- assessori del BNP hanno abusato di benefici sociali http://www.searchlightcymru.
- candidati del BNP hanno compiuto atti di razzismo nei confronti di altri cittadini europei che vivono in Gran Bretagna
http://www.
- il BNP ha compiuto azioni mirate a intimidire campagne anti-fasciste http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/
Purtroppo il BNP gode di buoni finanziamenti da parte dei suoi sostenitori di estrema destra e molte persone che votano per loro sono insofferenti verso i partiti politici in genere e non conoscono o non credono ai fatti riguardanti le loro azioni criminali.
E' possibile registrarsi per il voto postale al sito www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. Esprimendo qui il tuo voto puoi aiutarci a impedire che un partito razzista e neo-fascista ottenga una rappresentanza nel Parlamento Europeo.
Se hai ricevuto questa lettera per email, ti preghiamo di inoltrarla a parenti e amici che vivono in Inghilterra. In altre regioni il BNP non e' altrettanto forte, e' tuttavia possibile che riesca ad ottenere seggi se non abbastanza persone si recano a votare.
Altri piccoli partiti come la Respect Coalition stanno incoraggiando i propri elettori a sostenere i Verdi per fermare il BNP nel North West of England. Il totale dei voti a favore dei Verdi e degli altri partiti anti-razzisti era del 6.8% alle ultime Elezioni Europee. Quello del BNP era del 6.4%.
Ti chiediamo di votare i Verdi per fermare il BNP. Se ti registri per il voto postale, riceverai la tua scheda elettorale attorno il 21 maggio, oppure, se vuoi aspettare fino al 4 giugno, puoi votare direttamente nel seggio della tua zona.
Ti ringrazio a nome della grande maggioranza dei cittadini inglesi che si oppongono al razzismo e che accolgono come benvenuti i cittadini europei nella loro patria.
język polski
Czwartego czerwca wszyscy Europejczycy mieszkający w Anglii mogą wziąć udział w głosowaniu do Parlamentu Europejskiego. W regionie North West wybory odbywają się zgodnie z ordynacją proporcjonalną, co oznacza, że głos oddany na partię decyduje o przydzieleniu mandatów kandydatom.
Nie ulega wątpliwości, że Brytyjska Partia Narodowa ma silne finansowe wsparcie od skrajnie prawicowych zwolenników, natomiast ludzie, którzy na nią głosują ignorują jej kryminalne zarzuty będąc rozczarowanymi innymi partiami.
Według tego systemu Partia Pracy (Labour Party), Liberalni Demokraci (Liberal Democrats), Partia Konserwatywna (Conservatives) mają zagwarantowaną obecność w Parlamencie jako największe partie. Natomiast aby móc sie stać kolejną frakcją należy zdobyć 7-9% głosów.
W tym regionie partiami, które będą konkurować o te głosy są Zieloni (Green Party) i neofaszystowska Brytyjska Partia Narodowa (BNP). Jeśli Zieloni zdobędą silniejsze poparcie niż BNP, z pewnością zapobiegnie to uzyskaniu mandatu Narodowcom, natomiast w przeciwnym razie to oni zasiądą w Parlamencie.
Więc jeśli jesteś Europejczykiem, jeśli pracujesz lub uczysz się w Anglii, weź udział w czerwcowych wyborach tu na miejscu. To od Twojego głosu może zależeć czy lider skrajnej neofaszystowskiej prawicy zasiądzie w Parlamencie Europejskim.
Oto przykłady praktyki politycznej BNP:
- Councillors wywodzący się z BNP są niekompetentni i mijają się z prawem http://www.searchlightcymru.
org.uk/index.php?page=BNP_ councillors - Kandydaci BNP prezentują postawę rasistowską wobec cudzoziemców mieszkających w Wielkiej Brytanii http://www.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ news/s/1097063_bnp_man_fined_ over_racist_abuse - Brytyjska Partia Narodowa stosuje politykę zastraszania przeciw organizacjom anty-faszystowskim http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/
news/4099454.BNP_TARGET_UNION_ MAN/
Nie ulega wątpliwości, że Brytyjska Partia Narodowa ma silne finansowe wsparcie od skrajnie prawicowych zwolenników, natomiast ludzie, którzy na nią głosują ignorują jej kryminalne zarzuty będąc rozczarowanymi innymi partiami.
Jeśli nie jest ci obojętne kto zasiądzie w Parlamencie Europejskim i nie chcesz by neofaszyści mieli wpływ na Europę zarejestruj się aby móc wziąć udział w głosowaniu. Głosować możesz listownie po zarejestrowaniu na stronie www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
Jeśli otrzymałeś/aś tę informcję pocztą elektroniczną, prześlij ją do swoich znajomych i krewnych mieszkających w Anglii. Pamiętaj, że to właśnie w North West wygrana Narodowców jest najbardziej możliwa, ale może sie zdarzyć w każdym innym regionie, jeśli ludzie nie pójdą do urn.
Dlatego dodatkowo jesteśmy wspierani przez inne partie jak Respect Coallition, która popiera nas przeciwko Narodowcom. W poprzednich wyborach europejskich sumaryczne poparcie dla partii anty-rasistowskich wynosiło 6.8%, natomiast dla Narodowców 6.4%. Dlatego potrzebne jest nam Twoje wsparcie.
Jeśli zarejestrujesz się by móc zagłosować listownie materiały do głosowania powinny zostać nadesłane około 21-ego maja, lub, jeśli się wstrzymasz do 4-ego czerwca, będziesz mógł/mogła zagłosować w lokalnym punkcie wyborczym.
W imieniu większości Brytyjczyków, którzy odrzucają rasizm i są otwarci dla wszystkich obywateli Unii, pragnę podziękować za uwagę.
12 March 2009
Polling Update
Populus with its "how would you vote in a General Election?" question. Always bear in mind that the prompt is for Labour, Lib Dem, Conservative or another party.
Conservatives 42%
Labour 30%
Lib Dems 19%
Greens 3%
UKIP 1%
BNP 1%
And the North England section breakdown for others is:
Greens 4%
UKIP 2%
BNP 2%
As usual, I'll add the usual disclaimer. All of the "other" parties, including the Greens, poll better at the Euros than we poll in response to General Election questions.
Conservatives 42%
Labour 30%
Lib Dems 19%
Greens 3%
UKIP 1%
BNP 1%
And the North England section breakdown for others is:
Greens 4%
UKIP 2%
BNP 2%
As usual, I'll add the usual disclaimer. All of the "other" parties, including the Greens, poll better at the Euros than we poll in response to General Election questions.
11 March 2009
Reality Set to Bite
Whoever wins the next General Election, and at the moment that looks certain to be the Tories, will be faced by some cruel financial reality.
Writing today, both Nick Robinson at the BBC and Daniel Finkelstein at the Times are pointing out the hard realities of Britain’s finances. We have overspent. We are now continuing to overspend, because the government judges that unless we do, the economic consequences will be disastrous, as opposed to dire.
What went wrong? In 1997 Labour inherited a steady economy and an overwhelming political mandate in First Past the Post terms. The recession of the early 1990s had been blamed on the Tories, who also suffered a huge political blow as Sterling crashed out of the ERM. Determined not to “rock the boat”, Labour stuck to Tory spending plans.
Raising taxes had in the 1990s become unacceptable. Neither Labour or the Tories would contemplate it. It had become an ideological totem to free market laissez-faire and to politics that deals only with marginal seats. A decade on, the idea of honest discussion about the levels of taxation needed in the economy is missing from the political debate.
The 2010 General Election will be a good one to lose (a bit like 1992). The party that does form the next government will be forced to make huge cuts in spending and to raise taxation in order to balance the government accounts, and that is in the optimistic scenario, relying on this recession ending and some resumption of economic growth.
If the Conservatives are re-elected, I doubt they could in any way raise taxes, which means that spending cuts are going to be seen that are absolutely unprecedented. It is a truly terrifying prospect. What they should do of course is raise taxes on luxury items, raise taxes on high incomes and close tax loopholes and tax havens. But this would be highly unpalatable to the donors, supporters and voters of the Conservatives.
Actually, what Britain needs at this point in time is a centre-left government that would be willing to do these things and to be honest with the British people about the financial mess we are in. But given that Labour are the ones that got us into this mess in the first place by showing incredible political timidity not just in their first, but also in their second term, on taxation, they are not a credible option.
That leaves working people in Britain and those who have come to depend on tax credits and benefits in a really tough place. Under a Tory government, I fear that it will be working people and those on benefits who bear the brunt of government spending cuts. There will be discontent on the streets not seen since the 1970s and early 1980s.
What do I think might prevent such a catastrophe? If the election delivers a hung parliament, perhaps, just maybe, for a short period of time, deliver some form of unity government that will swallow the bitter political pill of necessary tax rises, before a new election moves things along.
As Greens, we can make credible policy suggestions – such as spending money on creating jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives – instead of wasting money we can’t afford on Trident renewal. Realistically at the next General Election, 2 or 3 seats would be an immense political breakthrough for us. We are not going to be forming a government but it is vital that our progressive voice and vision gets into Westminster.
With the national government bankrupt to a large extent, it is time for the Greens to step up and deliver more widely the solutions we’ve already put into place at a local government level. Each local authority has the capacity to turn into a jobs creator and deliver warmer homes and lower bills. A Green led initiative has done this in Kirklees.
And with a harsh cost cutting Westminster government, it is important that in the European Parliament we get as many Greens elected as possible, to help cut out the financial and bureaucratic wastage, and to do what we can at a European level to help working British people who are going to be living in a debt hangover economy for the next decade.
Politics is sometimes about making hard choices in order to do the right thing. Labour ducked the need to raise taxes when it first came to power and when it was re-elected. They are unworthy of power now. The devil is on the way out, and we are going to find ourselves plunged into a deep blue sea in a little over a year.
Writing today, both Nick Robinson at the BBC and Daniel Finkelstein at the Times are pointing out the hard realities of Britain’s finances. We have overspent. We are now continuing to overspend, because the government judges that unless we do, the economic consequences will be disastrous, as opposed to dire.
What went wrong? In 1997 Labour inherited a steady economy and an overwhelming political mandate in First Past the Post terms. The recession of the early 1990s had been blamed on the Tories, who also suffered a huge political blow as Sterling crashed out of the ERM. Determined not to “rock the boat”, Labour stuck to Tory spending plans.
Raising taxes had in the 1990s become unacceptable. Neither Labour or the Tories would contemplate it. It had become an ideological totem to free market laissez-faire and to politics that deals only with marginal seats. A decade on, the idea of honest discussion about the levels of taxation needed in the economy is missing from the political debate.
The 2010 General Election will be a good one to lose (a bit like 1992). The party that does form the next government will be forced to make huge cuts in spending and to raise taxation in order to balance the government accounts, and that is in the optimistic scenario, relying on this recession ending and some resumption of economic growth.
If the Conservatives are re-elected, I doubt they could in any way raise taxes, which means that spending cuts are going to be seen that are absolutely unprecedented. It is a truly terrifying prospect. What they should do of course is raise taxes on luxury items, raise taxes on high incomes and close tax loopholes and tax havens. But this would be highly unpalatable to the donors, supporters and voters of the Conservatives.
Actually, what Britain needs at this point in time is a centre-left government that would be willing to do these things and to be honest with the British people about the financial mess we are in. But given that Labour are the ones that got us into this mess in the first place by showing incredible political timidity not just in their first, but also in their second term, on taxation, they are not a credible option.
That leaves working people in Britain and those who have come to depend on tax credits and benefits in a really tough place. Under a Tory government, I fear that it will be working people and those on benefits who bear the brunt of government spending cuts. There will be discontent on the streets not seen since the 1970s and early 1980s.
What do I think might prevent such a catastrophe? If the election delivers a hung parliament, perhaps, just maybe, for a short period of time, deliver some form of unity government that will swallow the bitter political pill of necessary tax rises, before a new election moves things along.
As Greens, we can make credible policy suggestions – such as spending money on creating jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives – instead of wasting money we can’t afford on Trident renewal. Realistically at the next General Election, 2 or 3 seats would be an immense political breakthrough for us. We are not going to be forming a government but it is vital that our progressive voice and vision gets into Westminster.
With the national government bankrupt to a large extent, it is time for the Greens to step up and deliver more widely the solutions we’ve already put into place at a local government level. Each local authority has the capacity to turn into a jobs creator and deliver warmer homes and lower bills. A Green led initiative has done this in Kirklees.
And with a harsh cost cutting Westminster government, it is important that in the European Parliament we get as many Greens elected as possible, to help cut out the financial and bureaucratic wastage, and to do what we can at a European level to help working British people who are going to be living in a debt hangover economy for the next decade.
Politics is sometimes about making hard choices in order to do the right thing. Labour ducked the need to raise taxes when it first came to power and when it was re-elected. They are unworthy of power now. The devil is on the way out, and we are going to find ourselves plunged into a deep blue sea in a little over a year.
10 March 2009
Falling Right off the Edge
So far, so good. We've got a huge right of sensible line up in the Euro Elections already. In the North West, we've already got the BNP, UKIP and the English Democrats, the latter party claiming not to be left or right, but just in favour of an English Parliament. It seems like the BNP are in for a tough time trying to get much of the anti-European protest vote.
Newly added into the mix in the last few days, we have the UK First Party (UKF) who have confirmed they will be standing in the South East, with Petrina Holdsworth, a former UKIP chairman, now standing against Nigel Farage at the Euro elections. They have drawn a hostile reaction from the existing UKIP bloggers.
Today we've got Libertas launching in London. They backed the "no" campaign in the Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland. Declan Ganley is opposed to an EU President, the Lisbon Treaty but is in favour of greater accountability within the EU. Reformist, rather than rejectionist. Next up we've got the "Jury Team" who will back independents to get elected, because party politics doesn't work. Political Betting suggests that pretty much everyone (other than the Greens) might see a loss in their potential support to Libertas.
Michael White, writing in the Guardian, sums it up very well:
The real question is: why start a party, why announce you are hoping to field a full set of 72 "independent" candidates for the European elections on 4 June (next year's general election too) when you must know you're almost certain to get nowhere, thereby disillusioning any volunteers you attract in the process?
It seems like the left are not immune from this. Tommy Sheridan to head the NO2EU list in Scotland? Bob Crow to head NO2EU in London? We've been here before. The Campaign Against Tube Privatisation was launched 3 months before the 2000 London Assembly elections and gained less than 1% of the vote.
It must be the start of the European Election campaign. I'd almost welcome a return of Robert Kilroy-Silk. His splitting tendencies were mild compared to the latest outbreak of disharmony.
Newly added into the mix in the last few days, we have the UK First Party (UKF) who have confirmed they will be standing in the South East, with Petrina Holdsworth, a former UKIP chairman, now standing against Nigel Farage at the Euro elections. They have drawn a hostile reaction from the existing UKIP bloggers.
Today we've got Libertas launching in London. They backed the "no" campaign in the Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland. Declan Ganley is opposed to an EU President, the Lisbon Treaty but is in favour of greater accountability within the EU. Reformist, rather than rejectionist. Next up we've got the "Jury Team" who will back independents to get elected, because party politics doesn't work. Political Betting suggests that pretty much everyone (other than the Greens) might see a loss in their potential support to Libertas.
Michael White, writing in the Guardian, sums it up very well:
The real question is: why start a party, why announce you are hoping to field a full set of 72 "independent" candidates for the European elections on 4 June (next year's general election too) when you must know you're almost certain to get nowhere, thereby disillusioning any volunteers you attract in the process?
It seems like the left are not immune from this. Tommy Sheridan to head the NO2EU list in Scotland? Bob Crow to head NO2EU in London? We've been here before. The Campaign Against Tube Privatisation was launched 3 months before the 2000 London Assembly elections and gained less than 1% of the vote.
It must be the start of the European Election campaign. I'd almost welcome a return of Robert Kilroy-Silk. His splitting tendencies were mild compared to the latest outbreak of disharmony.
9 March 2009
Peace, Progress and Persecution
I'm shocked and appalled at the actions of the Real IRA in Northern Ireland. Two young soldiers have died because just a few fanatics and extremists want to carry on with a military struggle that has no popular support. While it took a long time to come out, the statement by Sinn Fein shows just how far forward things have come in Northern Ireland. Like everyone else, I hope the police quickly catch these gunmen. Northern Irish Greens comment here.
Thousands of miles away, in another conflict zone, the Viva Palestina convoy has finally crossed the border into Gaza, carrying humanitarian aid. The organisers deserve immense credit. Media reporting from the beginning has been critical, but in terms of a symbolic gesture to the people living in Gaza, this reminds us of the huge task of reconstruction needed. The mainstream media have moved on from Gaza, but as Caroline Lucas comments, there is a long way to get to a sustainable peace.
The international problems we face are immense. The international injustice in our world is widespread - Uzbekistan, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia - the list is very long... It would take forever to blog on what we need to address.
On Saturday night, my wife and I watched Persepolis. If you haven't seen it already, please take the time to watch it. It reminds us why we should always fight to protect our human rights and never take them for granted.
Thousands of miles away, in another conflict zone, the Viva Palestina convoy has finally crossed the border into Gaza, carrying humanitarian aid. The organisers deserve immense credit. Media reporting from the beginning has been critical, but in terms of a symbolic gesture to the people living in Gaza, this reminds us of the huge task of reconstruction needed. The mainstream media have moved on from Gaza, but as Caroline Lucas comments, there is a long way to get to a sustainable peace.
The international problems we face are immense. The international injustice in our world is widespread - Uzbekistan, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia - the list is very long... It would take forever to blog on what we need to address.
On Saturday night, my wife and I watched Persepolis. If you haven't seen it already, please take the time to watch it. It reminds us why we should always fight to protect our human rights and never take them for granted.
7 March 2009
Nappies, Leaflets and Fundraising
At this time on a Saturday night, I'm hardly going to come up with anything profound, so that is pretty much a summary of my political day.
Leaflet folding was interrupted by my baby boy requiring a change this morning and some nappy washing. My feet are sore after doing a stint of leafleting around one of our Liverpool target wards, Greenbank, and I'm trying to work out the best way of raising a bit more money for the Euros.
For those of you that have sponsored me to lose weight, the current update is that I'm at 15st 8 and "falling more slowly". More sponsorship, a £ for lb, is very welcome. That is a very low exchange rate, so please feel free to appreciate the lb against the £.
Leaflet folding was interrupted by my baby boy requiring a change this morning and some nappy washing. My feet are sore after doing a stint of leafleting around one of our Liverpool target wards, Greenbank, and I'm trying to work out the best way of raising a bit more money for the Euros.
For those of you that have sponsored me to lose weight, the current update is that I'm at 15st 8 and "falling more slowly". More sponsorship, a £ for lb, is very welcome. That is a very low exchange rate, so please feel free to appreciate the lb against the £.
6 March 2009
Carlisle Byelection Results
There were two results from Carlisle council byelections last night:
It is never nice to finish last but this was an encouraging start to the newly formed Carlisle Green Party's campaigning. We got 5.2% in Carlisle in the 2004 Euro Elections and despite a false two party squeeze in Castle (the Lib Dems put out an eve of poll saying it was a two horse race between them and the BNP), these results are respectable for us.
The BNP once again put a huge amount of effort into two council byelections. This is obviously one of the key planks of their Euro Election effort - big byelection results to try and boost their Euro credentials. UKIP seem to be taking the opposite approach, having abandoned contesting any council byelection after getting derisory results for the last few years.
On principle, we try and contest every byelection, because we want to give all voters the opportunity to vote Green. We don't expend significant effort or regional resources on seats we don't expect to win from a standing start. The crucial election for us this year is the Euros and with the BNP able to draw on considerably more finance than us, we need to make our election spending count.
I'd like to say thank you to the Carlisle team for a really strong local effort in Castle. It is a big improvement on the 28 votes we previously gained there in a previous Castle ward byelection. 10% is also a crucial level of vote share for us. It does demonstrate that where we do campaign, even under byelection circumstances where we are not claiming we are in a two horse race, support is there for the Greens.
Belah Ward
Conservatives - 702 votes (46.43%)
Labour - 307 votes (20.30%)
Independent - 221 votes (14.62%)
BNP - 142 votes (9.39%)
Lib Dems - 79 votes (5.22%)
Greens - 61 votes (4.03%)
Castle Ward
Lib Dems - 465 votes (36.02%)
Labour - 304 votes (23.55%)
BNP - 255 votes (19.75%)
Conservatives - 143 votes (11.08%)
Greens - 124 votes (9.60%)
It is never nice to finish last but this was an encouraging start to the newly formed Carlisle Green Party's campaigning. We got 5.2% in Carlisle in the 2004 Euro Elections and despite a false two party squeeze in Castle (the Lib Dems put out an eve of poll saying it was a two horse race between them and the BNP), these results are respectable for us.
The BNP once again put a huge amount of effort into two council byelections. This is obviously one of the key planks of their Euro Election effort - big byelection results to try and boost their Euro credentials. UKIP seem to be taking the opposite approach, having abandoned contesting any council byelection after getting derisory results for the last few years.
On principle, we try and contest every byelection, because we want to give all voters the opportunity to vote Green. We don't expend significant effort or regional resources on seats we don't expect to win from a standing start. The crucial election for us this year is the Euros and with the BNP able to draw on considerably more finance than us, we need to make our election spending count.
I'd like to say thank you to the Carlisle team for a really strong local effort in Castle. It is a big improvement on the 28 votes we previously gained there in a previous Castle ward byelection. 10% is also a crucial level of vote share for us. It does demonstrate that where we do campaign, even under byelection circumstances where we are not claiming we are in a two horse race, support is there for the Greens.
4 March 2009
Miners Strike - the lessons from history
25 years ago the nation was brutally divided. MacGregor and Thatcher lined up against Scargill. In an ideological struggle, the Conservative government broke the power of the NUM, having prepared carefully for the strike. Divisions in the mining community also meant that a once proud and unbeatable union was broken. As expected, tens of thousands of jobs were lost in the decade that followed.
I must declare an interest here. My great-grandfather was a miner, blacklisted for the best part of two decades for taking part in the 1926 General Strike. My grandfather was a miner, who lost his knee and the use of one hand in a cave in his early 40s. My uncle then had to go down the pit to earn money for the family. My father was the first in three generations not to go down the pit.
It is the impact on the once proud mining communities, in terms of social and economic deprivation, that remain with us today. The fact that an ideological war was waged, not to get the best outcome for the British people, but to break the power of the unions meant that entire communities in Scotland, England and Wales had the heart ripped out of them. Most still haven't recovered.
At that time there was little concern over CO2 emissions or the environmental impact from coal. This wasn't an environmental crusade but an ideological one. There are lessons here for the Greens as we continue to grow in political strength.
We are clear that large scale private car production will no longer happen in a greener Britain and that we will decommission nuclear power if we were to come to power. These are examples of clear changes in a Green Economy, but we must avoid the kind of transition that destroys communities and leaves scars that will take generations to heal.
I believe we need to look carefully on how we manage such a transition. At the moment, with market demand plunging, car production is on its knees. Thousands of jobs and the livelihoods of thousands of families is at stake. That is when innovative Green thinking, such as the proposal by Liverpool's Green councillors that short term protection for employment can be secured by purchases for car club schemes by local authorities.
In the medium term, car production could shift to build a massive fleet of coaches, providing much more flexible city to city travel on clearer motorways. The sceptics, that don't believe it is possible, should look back and see how quickly US car manufacturers switched their production to other areas upon entry to World War II. In the long term, there may a smaller demand for electric vehicles, recharged by renewable energy, used in car clubs or as pool cars at work.
Workers in the nuclear industry must already know that jobs will remain long after the last nuclear power station closes. We have stockpiles of high level, intermediate and low level radioactive waste to deal with. An entire industry is needed to work out how to deal with this, and the reality is that British taxpayers, who are already picking up a tab of nearly £100 billion in decommissioning costs, will have to continue to fund the industry until the least damaging way of disposing of the waste is worked out.
Right now our emphasis should continue to be on the ability of the Green New Deal to very quickly create new jobs. That is what is needed right now for people in Britain, and that is what was sadly lacking in the ideological strategy of the Conservatives in the 1980s, when they ignored the damage that was wreaked on thousands of families and entire communities in order to secure an ideological victory.
I must declare an interest here. My great-grandfather was a miner, blacklisted for the best part of two decades for taking part in the 1926 General Strike. My grandfather was a miner, who lost his knee and the use of one hand in a cave in his early 40s. My uncle then had to go down the pit to earn money for the family. My father was the first in three generations not to go down the pit.
It is the impact on the once proud mining communities, in terms of social and economic deprivation, that remain with us today. The fact that an ideological war was waged, not to get the best outcome for the British people, but to break the power of the unions meant that entire communities in Scotland, England and Wales had the heart ripped out of them. Most still haven't recovered.
At that time there was little concern over CO2 emissions or the environmental impact from coal. This wasn't an environmental crusade but an ideological one. There are lessons here for the Greens as we continue to grow in political strength.
We are clear that large scale private car production will no longer happen in a greener Britain and that we will decommission nuclear power if we were to come to power. These are examples of clear changes in a Green Economy, but we must avoid the kind of transition that destroys communities and leaves scars that will take generations to heal.
I believe we need to look carefully on how we manage such a transition. At the moment, with market demand plunging, car production is on its knees. Thousands of jobs and the livelihoods of thousands of families is at stake. That is when innovative Green thinking, such as the proposal by Liverpool's Green councillors that short term protection for employment can be secured by purchases for car club schemes by local authorities.
In the medium term, car production could shift to build a massive fleet of coaches, providing much more flexible city to city travel on clearer motorways. The sceptics, that don't believe it is possible, should look back and see how quickly US car manufacturers switched their production to other areas upon entry to World War II. In the long term, there may a smaller demand for electric vehicles, recharged by renewable energy, used in car clubs or as pool cars at work.
Workers in the nuclear industry must already know that jobs will remain long after the last nuclear power station closes. We have stockpiles of high level, intermediate and low level radioactive waste to deal with. An entire industry is needed to work out how to deal with this, and the reality is that British taxpayers, who are already picking up a tab of nearly £100 billion in decommissioning costs, will have to continue to fund the industry until the least damaging way of disposing of the waste is worked out.
Right now our emphasis should continue to be on the ability of the Green New Deal to very quickly create new jobs. That is what is needed right now for people in Britain, and that is what was sadly lacking in the ideological strategy of the Conservatives in the 1980s, when they ignored the damage that was wreaked on thousands of families and entire communities in order to secure an ideological victory.
EU Budget Waste
Here in Britain we are facing a really tough recession. Jobs are being lost on a daily basis and there is no leadership from our government. People who want work are out trying to get a job, but the jobs are no longer there. Job vacancies are falling at a record rate.
Domestically the government is running a huge deficit, with little room for manoeuvre, whoever forms the next government. The situation in Europe is very different. There is a huge amount of waste in the EU budget. That money is desperately needed for real investment rather than lining the pockets of these particularly disgraceful abusers of the system.
The Greens want reform of the EU budget (which has never been signed off by auditors in 14 years of trying) – in particular we’ve called for it to have to be approved by the EU Council and the EU Parliament. We also want a budget scrutiny panel in the EU Parliament. Whether you are against Britain’s membership of the EU or simply against the Euro, the EU Constitution and the horrific waste in many areas of EU spending, voters deserve to know what you are going to do about it.
- The Greens have already audited the environmental and financial cost of the Euro Merry go round, from Brussels to Strasbourg, and back again. This must end.
- Budget scrutiny is the first step to getting rid of waste. We need full time and effective scrutiny of all EU budget spending. That also means better national controls, as 90% of the money spent is administered by national governments.
- Expensive agricultural subsidies to support intensive farming must come to an end
If we get more elected British Greens in the European Parliament in June’s Euro Elections, you’ll get representatives committed to reforming the Parliament and cutting the waste you currently see. We are opposed to Britain joining the Euro (more on this on another post soon) and we are opposed to the EU Constitution, which we think enshrines some of the worst aspects of the EU, and omits the bits we really need to focus on.
In local government, Green councillors have been innovative at cutting out waste to help fund local services. We need that at a European level. We are not in favour of Britain leaving the EU, but as a democratic party we are in favour of letting British people make decisions about our international future in referenda.
There is a lot that can be achieved through the European Parliament on employment, environment and EU budget reform. Greens won’t be sitting on the sidelines, which is a mistake that has been made by UKIP in the past five years. We want a better deal for British people and an end to the waste. EU sceptics might also note that you won’t find Green MEPs fiddling their expenses (as Open Europe reports here and their updated figures here from last year). There is no excuse for any party failing to get less than a score of 100% on transparency.
If we are going to demand real reform of the EU budget then you need politicians you can trust to deliver the reform. That means Greens.
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