Green Left (UK)
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Green Left is an anti-capitalist and eco-socialist faction within the Green Party of England and Wales. It seeks to constitute a network for socialists and other radicals in the Green Party, whilst acting as an outreach body that will communicate the party's radical policies to other socialists and anti-capitalists outside the party. It includes some prominent members of the Green Party of England and Wales and held its first meeting on 4th June 2006[1].
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[edit] Formation
Green Left was launched on 4th June 2006 by members of the Green Party of England and Wales. Those supporting the group include various members of the Green Party of England and Wales Executive, including Richard Mallender (Chair), Peter Cranie (elections co-ordinator), Siân Berry (one of the two principal speakers, and campaigns co-ordinator), and Matt Sellwood (local party support co-ordinator), as well as Penny Kemp (former party chair), Joseph Healey (Secretary, London Green Party), Derek Wall (writer and the other principal speaker) and Peter Tatchell (human rights activist). Cllr Sarah Farrow and Cllr Matt Sellwood were elected as the co-conveners of the new group[1].
[edit] Aims and Beliefs
Green Left formulated its beliefs, agreed on at the meeting, in the Headcorn Statement (below), a declaration stating that Green Left hopes "to raise Green Party politics to meet the demands of its radical policies". The statement criticised the "New Labour government's abandonment of the policies of the left" and claimed "that the Green Party's progressive agenda makes it the natural home for the left"[1].
[edit] The Headcorn Statement
In the Headcorn statement, Green Left stated its core beliefs and policies, including the following points[1]:
- Green Left is critical of capitalism, and sees capitalism as incompatible with ideals like sustainability, peace and social justice. As such it places itself in the tradition of William Morris, the British eco-socialist who operated within the Marxist Social Democratic Federation and Socialist League.
- It seeks to unite all socialists, anti-capitalists and radicals, within the Green Party and outside of it.
- It welcomes and wishes to continue the grassroots democracy within the Green Party of England and Wales, which should remain a "bottom-up" organisation.
- Green Left wants to apply the slogan Think global, act local to its own party, by increasing international contacts, while also seeking to create local coalitions, made up of various groups like trade unions, faith communities and other minority groups.
