UK Parties: The Green Party & Respect

[T_i_B]

A thread about some of the parties on the left of the political spectrum.

Firstly the Green Party, whose primary focus tends to be environmental issues.

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/

Secondly Respect, formed after George Galloway was expelled from Labour, Respect was originally a coalition with far left groups such as the Socialist Worker's Party until a split in 2007. To be honest, these days it comes across more like a George Galloway vanity project.

http://www.respectparty.org/

Much of the far left is currently involved with TUSC, and muriel_volestrangler's thread about TUSC is here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10887676

http://tusc2015.com/

[T_i_B]

1. I'm surprised this thread has received so little attention

Surely somebody on here must have encountered the Green party campaign this year?

[Ironing Man]

2. concentrated...?

from what i can see around me the Greens are concentrating their fire on the constituancies where they think that either they'll have an impact, or that they have a chance of winning. if you aint in one of those constituancies, you'll not see a green for dust...

more nationally, Bennett has recovered from her laughing stock image - she's a long way behind Caroline Lucas as a performer, but at least she's not just the comedy act brought on the warm the audience up. i take the veiw that they're going much harder on their 'red' agenda than they are their green one, and that that is getting them far more support/votes than sticking to the mung beans and yogurt knitting, but due to the vaguries of FPTP, i think that will do the 'left' more harm than good in terms of seats won. the Greens are unlikely to sneak many former Tory or UKIP voters, but they'll do well from disillusioned LD or Labour voters, and as we know, a couple of dozen votes moving from one party to another with an ideological block can swing it to the other block.

al-respeq is just George Galloway, obnoxious little turd of a man that he is. no idea whether he'll hold his seat, don't really care tbh...

[T_i_B]

3. Different story round here

In most of Sheffield you are now seeing more Green lawn signs and posters then you do for the Lib Dems!

They might even finish above the Lib Dems in Sheffield Central, which is a seat that Labour only won by 165 votes from the Lib Dems in 2010

I take the view that they're going much harder on their 'red' agenda than they are their green one

After seeing the Green candidate in my constituency defend zero hours contracts, I beg to differ.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Although they are standing in this constituency, I've seen no material from them at all

nor from UKIP, for that matter. Only 1 leaflet from Labour, 3 or 4 from the Lib Dems, and one or two more, I think, from the Tories. I think the seat is reckoned as 'safe' for the Tories this time (websites making predictions are saying over 15% in front; I suspect it will be between 10 and 15%).

Like many other places, there is a notable lack of signs in windows and gardens for any party compared with previous elections.

I may vote Green to see if I can help them retain their deposit - I reckon Labour is safe to do so this time. Or I might vote Lib Dem on the grounds that the more the Tories worry the next time, the more they'll be vulnerable, or have to spend more here they could spend elsewhere.

[T_i_B]

5. 2017 General election kick

Last edited Sun Apr 23, 2017, 07:59 AM - Edit history (1)

Funny how things change. Previously I was unlikely to consider the Greens owing to their trade policies. But the Greens impressed a lot of people (myself included) during the referendum. Since then, with the way things have deteriorated with the main parties the Greens have found themselves with policies that are actually more pro free trade than Tories or Labour!

Also worth noting that the Green candidate for the constituency where I live at the last general election was pretty decent too, although I do realise that the Green party is not without the occasional fruitcake.

[T_i_B]

6. 2019 general election kick

Although the gap between the staunchly pro remain Greens and staunchly pro Brexit socialist parties has widened quite sharply in recent times.