4 August 2016
“We have huge possibilities now, change is here, change is now.” – Natalie Bennett
After a well-attended open forum, with cross-party guests, Natalie Bennett signed off day 1 of her South West Farewell Tour delivering a key message on Progressive Alliances.
Since Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley’s leadership bid - and a joint letter to the Guardian with Natalie Bennett - the words ‘Progressive Alliance’ have been synonymous with Green Party meetings. Natalie’s visit was aimed to break down those initial barriers between political parties, to scorn tribalism and set out her case for Bath and NE Somerset Green Party to move forward with the idea of a ‘Progressive Alliance’.
With politics and society still adjusting to the shock of that result, BANES Green Party was thanked by Natalie for listening to the future. With Labour’s results in Scotland highlighting how they are also hurt by First Past the Post, it’s time to see them support both Proportional Representation but also an alliance with the other left-of-centre political parties. Politics now is not just divided on class lines, but on a variety of other issues, and thanks to our winner takes all voting system – we lost out every time to the Conservative Party.
Locally, in 2015’s Local Elections, the ward results for the following parties gave us:
|
Party |
2015 Cllrs |
% Total Cllrs |
% Vote |
|
Conservative |
37 |
56 |
38 |
|
Liberal Democrats |
15 |
23 |
25 |
|
Labour |
6 |
9 |
15 |
|
Green |
2 |
3 |
13 |
|
Other |
5 |
7 |
6 |
Our Local Council results highlight the need to have Proportional Representation in Bath and NE Somerset so that your Councillors represent your views. With less than 50% of the vote, the Conservatives in Bath are able to determine the Council’s policy.
We’re stuck with a 19th Century political system, that’s not suitable today. It doesn’t represent Britain nor Bath and NE Somerset. A united Progressive Alliance can be that first step to bring Britain’s broken democracy into the 21st Century.
We band together. Unite. Introduce PR. Then we have an election. Progressive parties on equal footing @natalieben #BathProgressives
— Bath&NES Green Party (@BathNESGreens) 26 July 2016
Eleanor Field, External Comms Officer BANES Green Party, chairing the meeting noted that:
“This is us as the local Green Party making the first step for this to be a reality. We want to work with others, so please [other parties] have this discussion and get in contact.”
Brexit has changed the political and social landscape in Britain. Now more than ever, it’s important to be working together.
