Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
Green Party gains more seats than ever before in local elections
The Green Party secured a historic local election victory on 2 May. Just days after parliament declared a “climate emergency”, Greens won more seats in UK elections than ever before.
“The biggest election night in our history”
With votes still coming in at the time of writing, the so-called #greenwave is clear to see. At the time of writing, there are now around 200 Green councillors, a rise of roughly 150.
A record breaking morning for the Greens – not just in terms of council seats won, but new members joining. Join the #GreenWave today 🥳https://t.co/OlwL9RZ3z7 pic.twitter.com/knTrMzmvPv
— The Green Party (@TheGreenParty) May 3, 2019
As Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said:
This is the biggest election night in our history. Greens are winning right across the country, and taking seats from a wide range of other parties.
The Green message is clearly taking hold and can win anywhere.
Green MP Caroline Lucas, meanwhile, said:
Huge congratulations to everyone for such a brilliant campaign and to all our wonderful new councillors! #Greensurge https://t.co/rmK61HdQE1
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) May 3, 2019
Media downplaying the green wave?
As ever, much of the corporate media seems to be downplaying the huge loss of the Conservatives (roughly 1,000 councillors at the time of writing) and focusing on Labour losing around 100. But while the age-old two-party bickering continues, there’s no hiding this historic Green Party victory. And this came without the level of media attention given to other parties.
On election day, author Matt Haig made a poignant point:
If the Green Party were racist they'd get much more coverage on the BBC.
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) May 2, 2019
These Green Party votes suggest that concern about the ongoing impacts of climate chaos are – as they should be – gathering huge support from voters. For some people, meanwhile, the Green Party represents a left-wing alternative to Brexit. This is in stark contrast to the Liberal Democrats, who also made huge gains (presumably as a backlash to Tory uselessness on Brexit) but have in recent years set up camp on the centre-right.
Green issues matter
The planet’s climate catastrophe is a massive issue. And Green successes in the local elections may be a sign that more and more people are taking a stand.
As a devastating climate report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) revealed, time’s running out. And political parties would do well to remember that Brexit is totally irrelevant if we don’t take climate action immediately.
Featured images via The Green Party of England and Wales/Wikimedia and Tanoshimi/Wikimedia
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Yes, this is good news. However, whilst I believe Carolyn Lucas is a competent leader of the Green Party, they haven’t really got any other policies have they? Until Jeremy Corbyn recently unveiled Labour’s brilliant and forward thinking Green and Climate Policy document, the Green Party had not really made any clear statements about this. In fact, they seem to have copied some of what Labour rolled out.
Setting these issues aside though, I do believe it is the Party is the closest aligned policy-wise to the Labour Party Manifesto (which is underpinned by brilliant policy initiatives on housing, transport, education and poverty). In a Proportional Representation scenario they would make good political allies. I do hope the Green Party does not start criticising Labour Policy just for the sake of it in our political system which is clearly adversarial rather than collaborative.