Last Updated: 28/04/2019

GREEN PARTY CONFERENCE SPRING 2019 ...... 1 FIRST AGENDA (Draft) ...... 1 SECTION A REQUIRED ...... 2 A01 Standing Orders Committee (SOC) Report ...... 2 A02 Policy Development Committee (PDC) Report ...... 2 A03 Disputes Resolutions Committee (DRC) Report ...... 2 A04 Ethics and Conduct ...... 2 A05 Transition Team Progress Report ...... 5 A06 Constitutional Documents ...... 9 A07 Affiliated Groups to Council ...... 9 A08 Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&AA) ...... 11 B VOTING PAPERS ...... 25 B01 Tax and Fiscal Policy ...... 25 C POLICY MOTIONS ACCREDITED BY PDC ...... 36 C01 Cease support of the Arms Trade ...... 36 C02 Update AR411 ...... 37 C03 Free Movement for spouses and civil partners of British citizens ...... 37 D ORGANISATIONAL ...... 38 D01 Disciplinary Committee - capacity, speed and sanctions ...... 38 D02 Reaffirming Women's Rights ...... 39 D03 Moratorium on 5G Wireless Network Technology...... 40 D04 Climate Emergency Motion ...... 40 D05 Amendment of Standing Orders for Party Discipline ...... 41 E POLICY MOTIONS ...... 45 E01 Renters Bill of Rights ...... 45 E02 Legalisation of secular humanist marriage ...... 46 E03 Basic Income rather than Citizens Income ...... 47 E04 Enabling Motion: Refugees and Asylum and Migration ...... 47 E05 Green space and tree coverage for our towns and cities ...... 48 E06 British Sign Language ...... 49 E07 Enabling Motion: Rights and Responsibilities ...... 49 F Draft Voting Papers ...... 50 F01 Revision of the Green Party Drugs Policy ...... 50 APPENDIX A ...... 65 MOTIONS RULED OUT OF ORDER BUT MADE AVAILABLE FOR AMENDMENT ...... 65 APPENDIX B ...... 79 OUT OF ORDER MOTIONS AND MOTIONS NOT SUCCESSFULLY PROPOSED etc ...... 79 MOTIONS THAT DID NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CO-PROPOSERS ...... 91 APPENDIX C ...... 91 GREEN PARTY MEMBERS CODE OF CONDUCT ...... 91

Creation of the Framework for Ethics & Conduct and the Revised Members Code of Conduct. Framework Development Group Bernard Ekbery Bernard Ekbery*, Freda Davis, Bill Walton, Jonathan Bartley, Ann Forsaith, John Coyne, Ronald Stewart, Stephanie Wilson, Oliver Dowding, Peaceful Warrior, Gavin Andrews, Gareth Ellis, Gerry Weston, Mary Scott Morgan, Colin Boyle, Sean Mulcahy, Gerhard Lohmann-Bond, Martin Blake, Rachel Collinson, Richard Firth, Katharina Boettge

Synopsis: Spring Conference 2018 instructed the Framework Development Group to carry out a survey of Green Party members on ethical issues, review the Members Code of Conduct and bring to Conference a motion on that and a finalised format for a Framework for Ethics & Conduct within the Green Party.

Motion: This motion is in two parts: Section A Creation of the Green Party Framework for Ethics & Conduct; and Section B the Revised Members Code of Conduct. Section A Creation of the Framework for Ethics & Development 1. Conference notes the fact that a decision of Spring Conference 2018 approved a blueprint for a Framework for Ethics & Conduct for the Green Party and a road map for its development, which was to include a survey and consultation of members and party groups, and to bring a final motion to Spring Conference 2019 on creating that Framework. Conference further notes that the survey and consultation has been completed, which has succeeded in providing information to guide and inform the actual creation of the Framework. Conference agrees and directs that the creation of a Framework for Ethics & Conduct for the Green Party now be implemented, along the lines set out in the previous motion that was agreed by Conference in Spring 2018 2. The Framework is to be composed of all national in-force procedures, policies, guidance and information concerning ethics & conduct. 3. The Framework is to have 3 components: a. User-friendly interface - the member-facing side of the Framework. b. Working parts - the core policies and procedures that comprise the Framework. c. Behind the scenes - collating, recording, updating, amending and adding documents & procedures. 4. Conference approves the following additional points: a. A non-digital version of information in the Framework that can be accessed by members who cannot access the online version must be available to them. b. The Framework is to be primarily a user-friendly online resource. c. A register of all the component internal organisational documents of the ethics & conduct framework is to be stored securely and maintained by staff. d. There shall be an oversight body and process for overseeing the good functioning of the framework and flagging up gaps in procedures or guidance. e. National policies, procedures and guidance on ethics & conduct ought not to conflict with or nullify each other.

5. Framework creation process – Conference having set up the Framework Development Group to progress development of the Framework, this group will work on its creation closely with staff, in conjunction with the Framework for Ethics and Conduct oversight body. 6. Once the Framework for Ethics & Conduct has been created, all national groups listed in the GPEW Constitution will be asked to sign off on it. 7. Framework for Ethics and Conduct Oversight Body a. There shall be a body charged with oversight of the Framework for Ethics & Conduct. This body’s job will be to monitor, review & have strategic oversight of the Framework’s effective maintenance and functioning. It shall not itself have the power to draft or amend policies and procedures. b. From time to time gaps, flaws or errors in ethics and conduct policies, guidance or procedures will emerge. The Framework Oversight Body is empowered to recommend improvements. c. The Framework Oversight Body will determine how policies and procedures on ethics & conduct in the Green Party are best presented within the member-facing Framework, working closely with staff and relevant groups within the party. d. The Framework Oversight Body is charged with ensuring that the Framework is as coherent and integrated as possible. e. The Framework Oversight Body shall be composed of the following voting members: the Chair of the Green Party Executive (who shall have a veto over budgetary and staff resource matters); a Co-Chair of the Green Party Regional Council; the Chair of the Standing Orders Committee; the Chair of Disciplinary Committee; the Co-ordinator of Disputes Resolution Committee…or representatives of their successor bodies or posts, following changes implemented by the Holistic Review. f. The Green Party’s Chief Executive Officer will be an ex-officio non-voting member and its Chair. The Equality & Diversity Committee shall also have a non-voting seat. g. The Framework Oversight Body will consider the need for training and support re the various areas of the Framework and make recommendations to the appropriate bodies or officers. 8. Process for adding or amending policies and procedures a. Reporting – any competent group that produces a new ethics & conduct document of national scope via due process must first report it for listing, recording and storage within the Framework. b. Recording - staff will receive these reports, record & list each document and ensure its master copy is securely stored within the Framework. c. Storage & Editing - it is proposed that staff ensure appropriate secure storage space exists and place the new master documents there. Older out of date versions will also be retained. (Staff would also maintain and update the user-friendly interface - the member-facing side of the Framework.)

Section B Revised Members Code of Conduct (Appendix C at end of agenda) 1. Conference notes the fact that a survey of Green Party members has been carried out, Green Party local and regional parties and national groups and members with a special interest in disciplinary matters have been consulted, following which a list of issues relevant to ethical behaviour in the Green Party has been produced, to inform this revision of the Members Code of Conduct. Conference agrees and directs that the following revised version of the Members Code of Conduct will replace the existing one, with immediate effect.

2. Following any changes to internal structures implemented as a result of the Holistic Review, all references in the revised Members Code of Conduct document to Green Party bodies, posts and decision-making forums or documents or procedures are to be taken as referring to their successors.

Transition Team Martina Weitsch Martina Weitsch*, David Newman, Dee Searle, Kieran Turner, Anne Gayfer, Thomas Stewart, Gerry Weston, Liam McClelland, Matt Browne, Joyce Barhett, Gerhard Lohmann-Bond, Mary Anne McFarlane

Synopsis: This report is intended to update conference on the work done by the Holistic Review Transition Team since the beginning of 2019 (when we were set up). There are a number of other motions on this agenda relating to specific elements of that work where conference needs to make formal decisions.

Motion text:

Transition Team Progress Report

1. Background The Transition Team was set up in light of the proposals made by the Holistic Review Commission. The proposals in the HR Report were that this should be composed of 3 members of the former HRC, 2 members of GPEX and 2 Members of GPRC. The HR Report made it clear that all those serving on the Transition Team would not stand for election to the new bodies for 2 years.

2. Members

The members of the Transition Team are: Anne Gayfer, Holistic Review, South Lincolnshire Green Party Liam McClelland, GPEX, Nottingham Green Party David Newman, GPRC, Oxford Green Party Dee Searle, GPEX, Camden Green Party Thomas Stewart, GPRC, Berwick-upon-Tweed Green Party Kieran Turner, Holistic Review, Calderdale Green Party Martina Weitsch, Holistic Review, York Green Party

Matt Browne, staff, is supporting us and ensuring that link-up with staff is effective. Martina Weitsch has been the acting convenor of the group.

3. Timescales we have been working to

The Holistic Review Report was proposed to Conference in Autumn 2018 and was agreed there with some amendments. As a result, a ballot was held of all members (as required), which voted in favour of the Holistic Review Proposals. The ballot took place during December 2018.

The Transition Team could not be put in place prior to the ballot (as it would only be needed if the ballot supported the HRC proposals). As a result, work to establish the Transition Team began very quickly in January 2019 but the team were only fully in place by the end of that month. We began with weekly Zoom meetings to get the work organised on 21 January and had a first (and so far only) face to face meeting on 28 January. We have had Zoom meetings every week since then with a very intensive work schedule between meetings.

There are aspects of the work, which require decisions at Spring 2019 conference (essentially the new constitution and the affiliation of a number of groups representing marginalised communities in order for them to be able to participate fully in the initial elections to the new Council). We have therefore been working under significant time pressure despite the relatively late date of this conference. The Pre-Agenda Forum deadline was 28 March, which was just over 2 months from our first meeting. To ensure that a draft constitution was drafted and that affiliation criteria were established within that timescale has been a very pressurised task.

There will be tasks that will have to be done post the June conference and the Transition Team is expecting to continue work until all transition matters have been resolved or handed over to the new Council.

In discussion with members of GPEX, GPRC and SOC very early on in the process it was agreed that we would want to aim for 1 January 2020 as the Transition date. This was essentially to ensure that the transition went hand in hand with the incorporation, which had been decided on separately and prior to the Holistic Review. We were advised that for financial reporting reasons this transition needed to coincide with the end/start of a financial year.

4. Key tasks that needed to be addressed prior to June conference a. Constitution and incorporation We established a Task and Finish Group to focus on drafting the Constitution and ensuring that the work necessary to get the incorporation done went hand in hand with that. The work on this aspect of the transition is led by Liz Reason (chair of GPEX), Thomas Stewart and Kieran Turner who worked with a Task & Finish Group and lawyers. • The Holistic Review had proposed that the new constitution was to be drawn up by lawyers. This was debated extensively at conference in light of a number of amendments on this subject and confirmed. • So as to stay within the allocated (and very restricted) budget for the process, the approach we have taken is that the CT&FG undertook the preparatory work of "sifting" the existing constitution to identify those clauses that would be affected by the conference and referendum decisions; and then outlining the new clauses that would be required to replace them. The group also pursued the HRC intention of simplifying language, simplifying navigation around the document, and clearly identifying subsidiary documents. The proposed revisions were then all passed to the appointed lawyer for final drawing together. • We have attempted to ensure that the Constitution is written in simple language, avoiding jargon • We have attempted to ensure that the Constitution contains only provisions that need to be in a constitution and have left other matters to subsidiary documents (listed in the Constitution). The latter will be brought back to future conferences as necessary either by the Transition Team (in Autumn 2019) or by Council thereafter. • We have left unchanged (in substance) matters that were not changed by the Holistic Review proposals. That does not mean that we have not changed the text to fit its new context, with the aim of simplifying language and navigation. b. Affiliation Criteria and initial set of affiliated groups The work on this aspect of the transition is led by Anne Gayfer and Liam McClelland. A number of volunteers have assisted them. The main tasks were to • establish a definition of what an affiliated group is and to set some criteria such groups would have to fulfil in order to be affiliated and • to research the list of groups that appear on the GPEW members website and to find out which of them need to be formally affiliated at this point. The outcome of this work to date is subject to an A motion on the agenda for Spring 2019. c. Election process and timing We had to work on how the process of transition – moving from the current governance structure to the new one - would actually take place practically. It is clear that the new Council, PEX, and the new Board would start work formally and officially as the governance structure of the GPEW on 1 January 2020. But to achieve this, a number of things would need to happen first: There will have to be an election to the Council. We are proposing that this takes place as soon after the Spring 2019 conference as is possible to ensure that the Council – (in a shadow form as GPEX and GPRC will continue to function until the end of the year) – is in place by early autumn. That will allow the Council to have some induction, some handover process with GPEX and GPRC and some preparatory time. Critically it will also allow the Council to appoint the Board in time for 1 January 2020. The process for recruitment and appointment needs sufficient time for members to be fully briefed on the jobs and to be able to apply for them. It will make sense to elect the directly elected members of PEX at the same time though that is not absolutely essential. Work will need to be done with the different groups represented on PEX to discuss their election/election processes to bring forward their representatives. The proposed constitution incorporates a clause that allows for this process. This clause can and should be deleted formally from the new constitution once the transition is completed. d. Digital Engagement in Conference and Decision-Making The Holistic Review set out clearly the ambition to bring digital engagement to our decision- making both within conference and beyond. The work on this aspect of the transition is led by David Newman with the assistance of a number of volunteers. Some of fruits of this work will be evident at conference. All of the approaches we are trialling are intended to inform our move towards much greater digital engagement in the future. At the time of writing this report, it is too early to provide a comprehensive list of these approaches but there will be information about this for all members (whether physically present at conference or not) in good time prior to conference to maximise participation. We encourage local parties to arrange for local groups of members not able to go to conference to get together to participate jointly in this digital process and we encourage all members who participate remotely in any part of conference to feed back to the Task and Finish Group on their experience.

5. Key tasks that we have started but will continue after June conference There are of course many aspects of the transition that will need to wait until after conference, either because they are not as urgent or because they cannot be tackled until the new constitution has been agreed. We have made a start on some of this and identified some aspects that will need to be led by others. a. Terms of Reference for new bodies and Job Descriptions for members of new bodies and the revision of relevant Standing Orders The work on this aspect of the transition is led by Dee Searle and Matt Browne with the assistance of a number of volunteers. b. Election of Council and PEX [OoO1: This part of the Report has been ruled Out of Order under SOCC D(8)(a) as being contrary to the constitution] c. Appointment of Board As indicated above, this will need to be done once the Council has been elected but prior to the Council taking up their full role. This will be their first key task – apart from electing their own chair(s), deputy chair(s). The Transition Team will commence work on mapping out a process for this after Spring 2019 conference. d. Setting up/identifying urgent T&F groups and providing initial draft TORs There are a number of things identified in the HR Report that require urgent attention as early in the new structure as possible. The Transition Team will need to identify these, work on framing the tasks for the Task and Finish Groups and ensure that the Council is in a position to move those matters forward quickly. e. A ‘To Do’ List for Council We are already making a list of things that we will hand over to the Council as an initial ‘To Do’ list. We will continue to work on this until Council is elected and the Transition Team can consider its work complete.

6. Thanks to volunteers who have helped As soon as the result of the ballot was announced in January members were invited to volunteer for Task and Finish Groups. We received over 50 offers from volunteers. Some were offering input into Task and Finish Groups to be set up early on in 2020; but there were also many who offered skills and expertise relevant to the tasks the Transition Team. The Transition Team would like to thank all the volunteers who offered and supported us. We could not have achieved what we have achieved without them.

7. And finally … We are writing this report in April 2019. Between now and conference in June much work will be done and much progress will be made (we hope). We will provide an update to this report at conference to ensure that this progress over the next 3 months is also reported fully. We hope to have a fringe session at conference and will have the paper version of the update available for everyone.

[OoOA Motion A06 has been ruled out of order by SOC on two grounds: 1: the final text was not posted to the pre-Agenda Forum as required by SOCC D(1)para.1 2: the text of section (a), the Proposed New Constitution, does not include sections of the existing Constitution that are not replaced by the proposals in the ballot or section one of the HRC Report, and is thus contrary to SOCC D(8)(j) in fundamentally amending the result of a party-wide ballot. SOC are conscious that this out of order motion may be ruled back in order by Conference, so the place of the motion on the Agenda has been retained. If ruled back in the motion would only be available for amendment from the floor which would be an unsatisfactory and dangerous procedure with a document of such potential significance. SOC have decided to make the text available on the First Agenda Forum so that it is available for Amendment in advance. The text of the Motion is at Appendix A: Motions Ruled Out of Order but available for Amendment. Parts of the motion that were individually out of order are printed in Appendix B with other Out of Order Motions, etc]

Transition Team Martina Weitsch Anne Gayfer*, Martina Weitsch, David Newman, Liam McClelland, Matt Browne, Gerhard Lohmann-Bond, Martin Blake, Daniel Wilshire, Julia Chanteray, Heather Violett, Kieran Turner, Alistair Mark Crisp

Motion synopsis:

This motion expresses the intention of the Holistic Review Commission Report, which was agreed at autumn Conference to ensure that affiliated groups that represent marginalised communities have representation on Council.

Motion text:

Conference agrees the following 1. Definition of affiliated group (to be incorporated into the Constitution as a subsidiary document) Groups or groups of individuals who are, in a stated context (including, but not exclusively, socially, politically, economically, culturally and historically) at the risk of inequality or lacking in access to rights, resources or opportunities. This could include, but is not limited to, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, religion or belief, health status, disability, education or income.

Conference agrees the required 2. Structure and Governance [OoO24: part of this sentence has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(d)] as set out below i. Groups must have in place and record - the name of the Group - the need for the group - scope of group, for example geographical, characteristics of members or subject - desired outcomes aims, and how they were agreed - the name of an accountable contact or coordinator with whom correspondence can be conducted and if applicable - a record of committee members - whether there is a membership fee, how much and when it will be reviewed - a list of members, which is to be held within the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation - frequency, location and method of meeting - the quorum for decisions - any legal or fiscal powers the group holds, for example, to raise money - a review mechanism for the Constitution or dissolution of the Group - information on how the group reaches out to the general membership for membership of its group - a simple complaints procedure - how it is deemed someone is no longer to be a member - information on how to call an extraordinary general meeting and what matters warrant and EGM - their own constitution ii. Green Party Philosophical Basis and Policies that must be in place - a statement that it will operate within the Green Party philosophical basis https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/philosophical-basis.html - a statement or policy on inclusion - a statement or policy equal opportunities - a statement or policy on data protection iii. Number of Members - groups must initially comprise 25 or more members (for one year only). This figure should be revised by Council in time for the second round of elections of representatives from affiliated groups to Council. iv. Groups must have a webpage on the members’ website that as a minimum gives a brief outline of the purpose of the group and who might be eligible to join it and how to join. Notes of decisions made should be published on the members’ website. Any training offered should be notified to Council. Groups may hold a fund; if they do, they should have a bank account, keep simple accounts and have an agreement in place about what funds may be used for. They should hold an AGM, or method of reporting annually, to review positions held in the group. After the AGM, groups should send a copy of their AGM report and minutes to Council and a staff contact (to ensure that the members’ website is kept up to date.).

Conference agrees that 3. [OoO 25 SOC has ruled this section out of order under SOCC D(8)(c) and D(8)(d)]

Transition Team Martina Weitsch Liz Reason*, David Newman, Liam McClelland, Matt Browne, Anne Gayfer, Thomas Stewart, Gerhard Lohmann-Bond, Martin Blake, David McKechnie, Martina Weitsch, Tanja Rebel, James Humphreys, Kieran Turner, Richard Firth, Mary Anne McFarlane, Jon Nott, Peter Hamilton

Synopsis: Conference adopts the new M&AA of a new Green Party company limited by guarantee whose Commencement Date shall be 1st January 2020. To allow for the necessary transition arrangements to be made, Conference utilises Clause 10.vii of the existing Constitution to grant exception powers to Regional Council. [SOC Note: GPEW Constitution Clause 10(vii) “ Conference may by a two thirds majority grant Regional Council exceptional powers in defined areas of policy, campaign strategy or administration for a specified period of time”. The synopsis does not form part of the motion so this is not part of the motion proposal. If it were part of the motion it would be ruled OoO under SOCC D(8)(d) as being vague since it does not define the areas of .. administration .. nor specify a time period. No evidence has been provided that GPRC agree to this.] Motion To adopt the Draft Articles attached. Companies Act 2006 Private Company Limited by Guarantee Articles of The Green Party Ltd 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of the Party is to carry out its function as a co-operative and to abide by the Cooperative Principles. 2. Objects 2.1 The objects of the Party are as set out in the Constitution from time to time. 3. Powers 3.1 To further its objects the Party may do all such lawful things as may further the Party's objects and, in particular, may borrow or raise funds for any purpose. 4. Members 4.1 The first Members of the Party will be the subscribers to the memorandum of association of the Party. 4.2 From the Commencement Date, the membership of the Party shall be the members of the Council of the Green Party, as defined by and elected in accordance with the Constitution. 4.3 [OoO26: SOC ruled the first part of this clause out of order under SOCC D(8)(d)], no natural person shall be admitted into membership of the Party unless they have attained the age of 16. 5. Termination of Membership 5.1 A Member shall cease to be a Member of the Party immediately if they cease to be a member of the Council of the Green Party. 5.2 The rights and privileges of a Member shall not be transferable or transmissible. 6. Calling a General Meeting 6.1 The Board of Directors may convene a General Meeting or, in accordance with the Companies Acts, 10% of the membership may, in Writing, require the Directors to call a General Meeting. 7. Notices 7.1 All General Meetings shall be convened with at least 14 clear days’ notice but may be held at shorter notice if so agreed in Writing by a majority of Members together holding not less than 90% of the total voting rights of the Party. 7.2 All notices shall specify the date, time and place of the meeting along with the general nature of business to be conducted and any proposed resolutions. The notice must also contain a statement setting out the right of each Member to appoint a proxy. 7.3 The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any Person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate proceedings at that meeting. 8. Proxies 8.1 A Member who is absent from a General Meeting may appoint any Person to act as their proxy, provided that no Person shall hold a proxy for more than five Members at any one time in any General Meeting. 8.2 Proxies may only validly be appointed by a notice in Writing which: (a) States the name and Address of the Member appointing the proxy; (b) Identifies the Person appointed to be that Member’s proxy and the General Meeting in relation to which that Person is appointed; (c) Is signed by or on behalf of the Member appointing the proxy, or is authenticated in such manner as the Directors may determine; and (d) Is delivered to the Party in accordance with the Articles and any instructions contained in the notice of the General Meeting to which they relate. 8.3 The Party may require proxy notices to be delivered in a particular form and may specify different forms for different purposes. 8.4 Proxy notices may specify how the proxy appointed under them is to vote (or that the proxy is to abstain from voting) on one or more of the resolutions, otherwise the proxy notice shall be treated as allowing the Person appointed the discretion as how to vote on any matter. 8.5 A Person who is entitled to attend, speak or vote (either on a show of hands or a poll) at a General Meeting remains so entitled in respect of that meeting or any adjournment of the General Meeting to which it relates. 8.6 An appointment using a proxy notice may be revoked by delivering to the Party a notice in Writing given by or on behalf of the Person by whom or on whose behalf the proxy notice was given. A notice revoking a proxy appointment only takes effect if it is delivered before the start of the meeting or the adjourned meeting to which it relates. 8.7 If a proxy notice is not signed by the Person appointing the proxy, it must be accompanied by evidence in Writing that the person signing it has the authority to execute it on the appointor’s behalf. 9. Quorum 9.1 No business shall be transacted at a General Meeting unless a quorum of Members is present, either in person or represented by proxy. Unless amended by special resolution of the Party, a quorum shall be 50%+1 of the membership. 10. Chairing General Meetings 10.1 Members shall appoint one of their number as the chairperson to facilitate General Meetings. If they are absent or unwilling to act at the time any meeting proceeds to business then the Members present shall choose one of their number to be the chairperson for that meeting. The appointment of a chairperson shall be the first item of business at the General Meeting. 11. Attendance and Speaking at General Meetings 11.1 A Member is able to exercise the right to speak at a General Meeting and is deemed to be in attendance when that Person is in a position to communicate to all those attending the meeting. The Directors may make whatever arrangements they consider appropriate to enable those attending a General Meeting to exercise their rights to speak or vote at it including by Electronic Means. In determining attendance at a General Meeting, it is immaterial whether any two or more Members attending are in the same place as each other. 11.2 The chairperson of the meeting may permit other persons who are not Members of the Party to attend and speak at General Meetings, without granting any voting rights. 12. Adjournment 12.1 If a quorum is not present within half an hour of the time the General Meeting was due to commence, or if during a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the chairperson must adjourn the meeting. If within half an hour of the time the adjourned meeting was due to commence a quorum is not present, the Members present shall constitute a quorum. 12.2 The chairperson of a General Meeting may adjourn the meeting whilst a quorum is present if: (a) The meeting consents to that adjournment; or (b) It appears to the chairperson that an adjournment is necessary to protect the safety of any persons attending the meeting or to ensure that the business of the meeting is conducted in an orderly manner. 12.3 The chairperson must adjourn the meeting if directed to do so by the meeting. 12.4 When adjourning a meeting the chairperson must specify the date, time and place to which it will stand adjourned or that the meeting is to continue at a date, time and place to be fixed by the Directors. 12.5 If the meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, at least 7 clear days’ notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in the same manner as the notice of the original meeting. 12.6 No business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which could not properly have been transacted at the meeting if the adjournment had not taken place. 13. Voting 13.1 In accordance with the Co-operative Principle of democratic member control, each Member shall have one vote on any question to be decided in General Meeting. 13.2 A resolution put to the vote at a General Meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is duly demanded in accordance with these Articles. 13.3 In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or a poll, the chairperson shall not have a second or casting vote and the resolution shall be deemed to have been lost. 14. Poll Votes 14.1 A poll on a resolution may be demanded: (a) In advance of the General Meeting where the matter is to be put to the vote; or (b) At a General Meeting, either before a show of hands on that resolution or immediately after the result of a show of hands on that resolution is declared. 14.2 A poll may be demanded by: (a) The chairperson of the meeting; (b) The Directors; (c) Two or more Persons having the right to vote on a resolution; or (d) Any person, who, by virtue of being appointed proxy for one or more members having the right to vote on the resolution, holds two or more votes; 14.3 A demand for a poll may be withdrawn if the poll has not yet been taken and the chairperson consents to the withdrawal. 14.4 Polls must be taken immediately and in such manner as the chairperson of the meeting directs, provided that each Member shall have only one vote. 15. Resolutions 15.1 A special resolution is one passed by a majority of not less than 75% of votes cast at a General Meeting and an ordinary resolution is one passed by a simple majority of votes cast. 15.2 Resolutions may be passed at General Meetings or by written resolution. 15.3 A written resolution passed by Members shall be effective if it has been passed in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts which includes sending a copy of the proposed resolution to every Member. Written resolutions may comprise several copies to which one or more Members have signified their agreement. 15.4 A written resolution shall be deemed to have been passed if, within 28 days of the written resolution’s circulation date: (a) Written approval has been received from at least 75% of the Members where the resolution is a special resolution; (b) Written approval has been received from at least a simple majority of the Members where the resolution is an ordinary resolution. 15.5 In accordance with the Companies Acts, resolutions to remove a Director or auditor (or their equivalent) of the Party before the end of their period of office shall not be passed by written resolution. 16. Directors 16.1 The Party shall have a Board of Directors comprising no fewer than two Directors. 16.2 The initial Board of Directors shall be those notified to the Registrar of Companies. 16.3 Only persons who are aged 16 years or more may serve on the Board of Directors. 17. Appointment of the Board of Directors 17.1 From the Commencement Date, the Board of Directors, including the Chair of the Board and the Treasurer of the Party shall be appointed by notice served on the Party by a duly authorised representative of the Council of the Green Party, following a decision made in accordance with the Constitution. 18. Retirement Cycle 18.1 At every Annual Retirement Meeting one-third of the Board of Directors, or if their number is not a multiple of three then the number nearest to one-third, shall retire from office. The Directors to retire shall be the Directors who have been longest in office since their last appointment. Where Directors have held office for the same amount of time the Director(s) to retire shall be decided by lot. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re- election, subject to the maximum number of terms specified in the Constitution. 19. Board Education and Training 19.1 In accordance with the Co-operative Principle of education, training and information, before accepting a position as Director an individual must agree to undertake training during their first year of office as deemed appropriate by the Party. This training will include information on the roles and responsibilities of being a Director of a company which is also a co-operative. 20. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors 20.1 The Directors are responsible for the management of the Party’s business and, subject to these Articles and directions given by special resolution, they may exercise all the powers of a company for this purpose. No such special resolution invalidates anything which the Directors have done before the passing of the special resolution. 20.2 The Board of Directors shall have the power to determine policies and procedures associated with membership. 20.3 All decisions made by a meeting of the Board of Directors or by any person acting as a Director shall remain valid even if it is later discovered that there was some defect in the Director’s appointment or that the individual had previously been disqualified from acting as a Director. 20.4 In accordance with the Co-operative Principles of democratic member control and member economic participation, the Board of Directors shall not be entitled to sell or otherwise dispose of assets (in a single transaction or series of transactions) equivalent in value to one-third or more of the total value of the last published balance sheet of the Party without the approval of the Members by special resolution. 21. Delegation 21.1 Subject to these Articles, the Directors may delegate any of the powers which are conferred on them under these Articles to any Person or committee, by such means, to such an extent, in relation to such matters and on such terms and conditions as they think fit. 21.2 The Directors may specify that any such delegation may authorise further delegation of the powers by any person to whom they are delegated. 21.3 The Directors may revoke any delegation in whole or in part or alter any terms and conditions. 22. Sub-Committees 22.1 A sub-committee to which the Directors delegate any of their powers must follow procedures which are based as far as they are applicable on those provisions of these Articles which govern the taking of decisions by Directors. 22.2 The Directors may make Regulations for all or any sub-committees, provided that such Regulations are not inconsistent with these Articles. 22.3 All acts and proceedings of any sub-committee must be fully and promptly reported to the Directors. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 23. Calling a Meeting of the Board of Directors 23.1 Any Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Board of Directors by giving reasonable notice of the meeting to all Directors. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors must indicate the date, time and place of the meeting and, if the Directors participating in the meeting will not be in the same place, how they will communicate with each other. 24. Proceedings of a Meeting of the Board of Directors 24.1 The Board of Directors may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit. 24.2 A Director is able to exercise the right to speak at a meeting of the Board of Directors and is deemed to be in attendance when that person is in a position to communicate to all those attending the meeting. The Directors may make whatever arrangements they consider appropriate to enable those attending a meeting of the Board of Directors to exercise their rights to speak or vote at it including by Electronic Means. In determining attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors, it is immaterial whether any two or more Directors attending are in the same place as each other. 24.3 Questions arising at any meetings shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes the status quo shall be maintained and the Board of Directors may choose to refer the matter to a General Meeting of the Party. 24.4 A written resolution, circulated to all Directors and signed by a simple majority of Directors, shall be valid and effective as if it had been passed at a Board meeting duly convened and held. A written resolution may consist of several identical Documents signed by one or more Directors. 24.5 The Board of Directors may, at its discretion, invite other persons to attend its meetings with or without speaking rights and without voting rights. Such attendees will not count toward the quorum. 24.6 The Directors must ensure that the Party keeps a record, in Writing, for at least 10 years from the date of the decision recorded, of every unanimous or majority decision taken by the Directors. 25. Quorum 25.1 The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be 50% of the Directors or 3, whichever is the greater. 25.2 If at any time the total number of Directors in office is less than the quorum required, the Directors must not take any decisions other than to arrange for the appointment of further Directors. 26. Chairperson 26.1 Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be facilitated by the chairperson appointed under Article 16. If they are absent or unwilling to act at the time any meeting proceeds to business then the Directors present shall choose one of their number to be the chairperson for that meeting. The appointment of a chairperson shall be the first item of business at the meeting. 27. Declaration of Interest 27.1 Whenever a Director has a personal, financial or material interest, whether directly or indirectly, in a matter to be discussed at a meeting and whenever a Director has an interest in another unincorporated body, firm, partnership or corporate body whose interests are reasonably likely to conflict with those of the Party in relation to a matter to be discussed at a meeting, notwithstanding matters relating to the terms of business of the Party, they must; (a) Declare the nature and extent of the interest before the discussion begins on the matter; (b) Withdraw from that part of the meeting unless expressly invited by the chairperson of the meeting to remain; (c) Not be counted in the quorum for that part of the meeting; (d) Withdraw during the vote and have no vote on the matter. 27.2 Subject to anything to the contrary in these Articles: (a) In accordance with (but subject to) the Companies Acts, the Board of Directors may give authorisation in respect of a situation in which a Director has, or could have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Party; and (b) In authorising a situation the Board of Directors may decide, whether at the time of giving the authorisation or subsequently, that if the conflicted Director has obtained any information through their involvement in the situation otherwise that as a Director and in respect of which they owe a duty of confidentiality to another Person, the Director is under no obligation to: (i) Disclose that information to the Party; and/or (ii) Use that information for the benefit of the Party; where to do so would amount to a breach of confidence. 28. Remuneration and Expenses 28.1 Any Director may act in a professional capacity for the Party and they or their firm shall be entitled to reasonable remuneration for professional services. Provided that nothing shall authorise a Director or their firm to act as auditor of the Party. 28.2 The Party may pay any reasonable expenses which the Directors properly incur in connection with their attendance at meetings or otherwise in connection with the exercise of their powers and the discharge of their responsibilities in relation to the Party. 29. Termination of a Director’s Appointment 29.1 A person ceases to be a Director of the Party as soon as: (a) That person has served in that post for a term of six consecutive years (on condition that, if fewer than 3 Directors will remain in post following their retirement, they only cease to be a Director as soon as this is no longer the case); (b) That person ceases to be a Constitutional Member; (c) That person resigns from office in Writing to the Secretary of the Party, and such resignation has taken effect in accordance with its terms (on condition that at least 3 Directors remain in post); (d) That person is removed from office by a resolution of the Party in General Meeting in accordance with these Articles and the Companies Acts; (e) That person is absent from 3 meetings of the Board of Directors during a continuous period of 12 months without special leave of absence granted by the Board of Directors and the Directors pass a resolution that they have by reason of such absence vacated office; (f) That person ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Companies Acts or is prohibited from being a Director by law; (g) A bankruptcy order is made against that person; (h) A registered medical practitioner who is treating that person gives a written opinion to the Party stating that the person has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director and may remain so for more than three months; (i) By reason of that person’s mental health, a court makes an order which wholly or partly prevents that person from personally exercising any powers or rights which that person would otherwise have. 30. Removal of a Director 30.1 A Director may be expelled from office by a resolution of the Party stating that it is in the best interests of the Party that their office is terminated. A resolution to remove a Director from office may only be passed if: (a) The Director has been given at least 21 days’ notice in Writing of the General Meeting at which the resolution to remove them from office will be proposed and the reasons why it is to be proposed; and (b) The Director or, at the option of the Director, the Director’s representative (who need not be a Member of the Party) has been allowed to make representations to the General Meeting. 31. SECRETARY 31.1 The Board of Directors may appoint a Secretary of the Party for such term and at such remuneration and upon such conditions as they think fit. Any Secretary so appointed may also be removed by them. 31.2 A provision of the Companies Acts or these Articles requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person acting in both capacities. 32. REGULATIONS The Directors may from time to time make such rules or bye-laws as are necessary in relation to their functions as Directors; the calling of General Meetings; or other issues (insofar as the rules on those other issues are not inconsistent with the Constitution). 33. LIABILITY OF MEMBERS 33.1 The liability of Members is limited to £1. Every Member of the Party undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Party in the event of it being wound up while they/it is a Member or within one year of her/him/it ceasing to be a Member. The contribution shall be for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Party contracted while they/it was a Member and of the costs, charges or expenses of winding up and for the adjustments of the rights of the contributories amongst themselves. Each Member’s contribution shall not exceed £1. 34. APPLICATION OF PROFITS 34.1 The profits of the Party shall be applied in the following ways, in such proportions and in such manner as the General Meeting shall decide from time to time: (a) To create a general reserve for the continuation and development of the Party; (b) In accordance with the Co-operative Principle of concern for community, to make payment for social, co-operative and community purposes 33.2 Members and Directors may only receive financial benefits from the Party if they are authorised by these Articles or by the Constitution. DISSOLUTION 35. Common Ownership 35.1 The Party is a common ownership enterprise. In the event of the winding up or dissolution of the Party the liquidator shall first, according to law, use the assets of the Party to satisfy its debts and liabilities. Any balance of assets remaining may not be distributed among the Members but shall be transferred to some other common ownership organisation(s) with a purpose aligned with those of the Party, to be determined by a General Meeting of the Members. If such residual assets cannot be distributed in this manner they shall be transferred to some other organisation(s) whose purpose is to promote and support the Co-operative Movement and common ownership enterprises. This article is Entrenched in accordance with section 22 of the Act; any alteration to this article requires the approval of 100% of the Members. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS 36. Means of Communication 36.1 A Member may provide their consent to receive communications from the Party by Electronic Means. 36.2 Subject to these Articles, anything sent or supplied by or to the Party under the Articles may be sent or supplied in any way in which the Companies Acts provides. Any notice or Document to be sent or supplied to a Director in connection with the taking of decisions by Directors may also be sent or supplied by the means by which that Director has asked to be sent or supplied with such notices or Documents for the time being. A Director may agree with the Party that notices or Documents sent to her/him in a particular way are to be deemed to have been received within a specified time or their being sent, and for the specified time to be less than 48 hours. 37. Seal. If the Party has a seal, it shall only be used by the authority of the Board of Directors acting on behalf of the Party. Every instrument to which the seal shall be attached shall be signed by a Director and countersigned by a second Director, the Secretary, or a Member of the Party appointed by the Board of Directors for the purpose. 38. Registers 38.1 The Board of Directors shall ensure accurate registers are maintained which shall include a register of Members, a register of Directors and such other registers as required by the Companies Acts. 39. Register of Members 39.1 The Party shall maintain a register of Members which records their/its name, address (in the case of a corporate body the registered office address), and the dates on which they/it became a Member and ceased to be a Member. A Member shall notify the Secretary of the Party within seven days of any change to their/its name or address. 40. Register of Directors 40.1 The Party shall maintain a register of Directors which shall include the following particulars: (a) Name of the Director and any former names used by her/him for business purposes; (b) Service address; (c) Country of residence; (d) Nationality; (e) Business occupation, if any; (f) Date of birth. 40.2 The register of Directors shall be open for inspection to any Member of the Party without charge and to any other Person on payment of such fee as may be prescribed. 40.3 The Party shall also maintain a register of Director’s residential addresses which is not available for inspection. 41. Minutes 41.1 The Party shall ensure that minutes are kept of all: (a) Proceedings at meetings of the Party; and (b) Proceedings at meetings of the Board of Directors and its sub-committees which include names of the Directors present, decisions made and the reasons for those decisions. 42. Accounts 42.1 The Board of Directors shall cause proper accounts to be kept and circulated in accordance with the Companies Acts. 42.2 Proper accounts shall be deemed to have been kept if they give a true and fair record of the state of the Party's affairs and explain its transactions. 42.3 The accounts shall be kept at the registered office of the Party or, subject to the Companies Acts, at such other place or places as the Board of Directors thinks fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of all Members and other Persons authorised by the Party in a General Meeting. 42.4 The Board of Directors shall prepare and present to the Members such regular financial reports, results and cash flow predictions showing the current financial position of the Party as the Members in a General Meeting shall require to be laid before them. 43. Audit 43.1 The Party may decide if it meets the qualifying criteria to be exempt from audit. If not, at least once in every year the accounts of the Party shall be audited in accordance with the Companies Acts. 43.2 Auditors (or their equivalents) shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with the Companies Acts. 44. Borrowing from Members 44.1 In accordance with the Co-operative Principle of member economic participation the interest paid by the Party on money borrowed from Members shall not exceed such rate as is necessary to attract and retain the capital required to further the Party’s purpose. 45. Social Accounting and Reporting 45.1 In addition to any financial accounts required by the Companies Acts, the Members may resolve to undertake an account of the activities of the Party which will endeavour to measure its co-operative, social and environmental performance using whatever methodology the Members deem appropriate. Following the completion of such an account the Party shall report any findings to its Members and other stakeholders. 46. Indemnity and Insurance 46.1 Subject to the following article, any Director or former Director of the Party may be indemnified out of the Party’s assets against: (a) Any liability incurred by that Director in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the Party; (b) Any liability incurred by that Director in connection with the activities of the Party in its capacity as a trustee of an occupational pension scheme (as per the Companies Acts); (c) Any other liability incurred by that Director as an officer of the Party. 46.2 The above article does not authorise any indemnity which would be prohibited or rendered void by any provision of the Companies Acts or any other provision of law. 46.3 The Directors may decide to purchase and maintain insurance, at the expense of the Party, for the benefit of any Director or former Director of the Party in respect of any loss or liability which has been or may be incurred by such a Director in connection with their duties or powers in relation to the Party or any pension fund or employees’ share scheme of the Party. 47. Amending the Constitution 47.1 Nothing in these Articles permits the Members or the Directors to amend the Constitution, except in accordance with the processes set out therein. 47.2 Article 47.1 cannot be amended or removed except in accordance with a decision of the Conference (as defined in the Constitution) as well as a special resolution Article 48.1 cannot be amended or removed except in accordance with a decision of the Conference (as defined in the Constitution) as well as a special resolution. 48. Interpretations 48.1 In these Articles: “Address” means a postal address or, for the purposes of electronic communication, a fax number, email address or telephone number for receiving text messages; “Annual Retirement Meeting” means a meeting, to take place once in each calendar year as determined by the Directors, at which Directors will retire in accordance with these Articles. “Articles” means the Company’s articles of association; “The Board of Directors” or “Board” or “Directors” means all those persons appointed to perform the duties of directors of the Party; “Commencement Date” is the date chosen following the process set out in the Constitution. “Companies Acts” means the Companies Acts (as defined in section 2 of the Companies Act 2006) in so far as they apply to the company; “The Constitution” means the constitution of the Party adopted by the Conference (as defined in the Constitution) in 2019, as amended from time to time, and any standing orders made under it; “Constitutional Members” means those individuals who are defined as members of the Green Party in the Constitution (who, for the avoidance of doubt, may or may not be company law Members of the Party, as defined in these Articles); “Council of the Green Party” has the meaning provided in the Constitution; “The Party” means the above-named company; “Co-operative Principles” are the principles defined in the International Co-operative Alliance Statement of Co-operative Identity, as applicable to the Party in the manner agreed in a memorandum of understanding, if any, with Co-operatives UK. The principles are those of voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training and information, co- operation among cooperatives and concern for the community; “Director” means a director of the Party and includes any person occupying the position of Director, by whatever name called; “Document” includes, unless otherwise stated, any document sent or supplied in electronic form; “Electronic Means” has the meaning given in section 1168 of the Companies Act 2006; “General Meeting” has the meaning given in the Companies Act 2006. “Member” has the meaning adopted in section 112 of the Companies Act 2006 and as detailed under ‘Membership’ in these Articles; “Person” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a natural person, unincorporated body, firm, partnership, corporate body or any representative of an unincorporated body, firm, partnership or corporate body; “Regulations” has the meaning as detailed under ‘Regulations’ in these Articles; “Secretary” means any person appointed to perform the duties of the Secretary of the Party; “Writing” means the representation or reproduction of words, symbols or other information in a visible form by any method or combination of methods, whether sent or supplied in electronic form or otherwise. 48.2 Unless the context requires otherwise, other words or expressions contained in these Articles bear the same meaning as in the Companies Act 2006 as in force on the date when these Articles become binding on the Party. Schedule 2 to the Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 shall apply to the Party, save where amended or replaced by these Articles. In the case of any variation or inconsistency between these Articles and the model articles, these Articles shall prevail.

Synopsis This Voting Paper contains proposals to replace the main text on taxation at EC700 to EC793 inclusive, including the section on Citizen’s Income at EC730 – EC733, of Policies for a Sustainable Society. It contains the broad outlines of tax and fiscal policy. Details on reasons for the changes, illustrative rates of taxation, transitional policies and methods of calculation are in the Background Note at: https://spaces.greenparty.org.uk/s/tax-fiscalwg/wiki/page/view?title=Background+Paper The proposals cover the principles of taxation, fiscal policy, a new approach to personal income taxation incorporating capital gains and inheritance (Consolidated Income Tax), corporate taxation, VAT and environmental taxation, Land Value Tax, funding local government, and enforcement. The paper as submitted includes a group of amendments designed to abolish Corporation Tax and instead tax all corporate distributions with the proposed Consolidated Income Tax. These amendments are supported by the majority of the Working Group, but we accept it is a controversial idea and so have proposed it this way to ensure it is debated. Similarly the group are proposing minor amendments to Citizen’s Income policy. There are also largely consequential proposals on references to tax elsewhere in the PSS. The Enabling Motion said that the replacement of EC700 to EC793 will not exceed the current length of 2650 words. The proposed replacement text here is 2749 words. Motion i) Delete EC700 to EC793 inclusive and replace with the text in section called ‘Replacement for EC700 to EC793’ below and re-number if necessary. ii) Make the amendments to the rest of the PSS specified in the section called ‘Amendments to the rest of the PSS’ below. Replacement for EC700 to EC793 1 Tax Principles EC700 There are four main reasons for taxation: a) to provide the money to fund public expenditure; b) to redistribute income and wealth; c) to influence behaviour, including behaviour that promotes ecological sustainability; and d) broader management of the economy. EC701 There are also a number of principles that we believe are desirable in a taxation system: a) the system should be as simple as possible; b) the system should be fair, that is, treat people in the same position in the same way; c) taxes should, as far as possible, command wide public acceptance; d) taxes should be easy to collect and be difficult to avoid or evade; e) taken as a whole the system should be progressive, that is, those on higher incomes or with higher wealth should pay proportionately more than those with lower incomes or with lower wealth; and f) apart from what has to be done to fulfil the four basic motivations for taxation in EC700, taxes should be neutral economically, that is, have a minimally distorting effect on the economic decisions made by people and companies. EC702 A simple and fair tax system which is hard to evade and avoid will tend to have few exemptions and allowances. Accordingly we will confine exemptions and allowances to cases where there are clear environmental or social aims, where fairness demands them, for example, avoiding double taxation, or where they make taxes easier to collect. EC703 The proceeds of particular taxes should not normally be specifically allocated to particular areas of spending, and nor should the spending on a particular area be restricted to the proceeds of a particular tax. In cases where such hypothecation is a precondition of public acceptance or where transparency and accountability make it desirable, there must be a duty on the level of government concerned to provide reliable and verifiable information on the extent to which the policy of earmarking is being respected in practice. EC704 We recognise that some of these policies may, from time to time, be inconsistent with the UK’s international obligations. Where and when international constraints prevent us from carrying out our policy, we would nevertheless press for our policy to be adopted internationally. EC705 Many of the changes proposed here are radical and far reaching. We recognise that they need to be introduced gradually and in stages and in many cases with appropriate transitional measures. 2 Fiscal Policy EC710 We accept that we need to devote a significant part of our national resources to the common good, and reject moves to a ‘smaller state’ for its own sake. We would expect Government expenditure in normal times to lie somewhere in the range 45% to 55% of GDP. EC711 The cumulative National Debt must be constrained to preserve the Government’s ability to borrow, and to prevent too much tax revenue going to pay interest. EC712 We would aim to balance spending and taxation over the economic cycle, with Government tax and spending plans following the precautionary principle that there will be a recession sometime in the next ten years. Policy would aim to at least fund the natural deficit that appears due to higher social security payments and lower tax receipts in a recession, and may go further to apply some counter-cyclical stimulus to the economy. EC713 We would seek, whenever the target in EC712 results in a surplus over and above that needed at that stage in the cycle, to pay off part of the National Debt. EC714 The level of Government expenditure will be adjusted periodically to correct any anticipated whole-cycle deficit or surplus (net of National Debt repayment under EC713) and to account for moneys paid (or forecast to be paid) to the Government to be spent into circulation under implementation of monetary reform (EC664 d) or as a result of applying EC676. 3 Personal, Corporate and Income taxes EC720 Under the present system individuals receive money in many and various ways, for example wages and salaries, pensions and other benefits, and the tax they pay and benefits they receive depend both on the type of money concerned, and upon their or others’ personal circumstances. EC721 Our aim in individual taxation would be to replace this with a far simpler and fairer system of individual income taxation and social security support, but with the same aim of overall redistribution. This would have two principal elements: a) Every citizen would receive an unconditional Citizen’s Income to secure their basic social security (see EC730 – 733 below); and b) All money of any kind received by an individual would be treated in the same way by a new Consolidated Income Tax. EC722 Consolidated income will include all money received in a given year by an individual, and also benefits in kind and transfers of wealth. It will exclude a person’s Citizen’s Income or Citizen’s Pension and assets covered by Land Value Tax (EC791ff.), but will include: a) earned income, such as wages and salaries; b) income from self-employment after the deduction of reasonable expenses; c) unearned income, such as private pensions, interest and dividends; d) capital transfers, such as gifts and inheritance; and e) realised capital gains, though this list is for illustration and is not exclusive. EC723 Consolidated Income Tax payable on income under EC722 c), d) and e) will be offset against any Corporation Tax already paid on the dividend/gain, thus ensuring that those in receipt of these distributions will be taxed at the same rate as those receiving income in any other way. AMENDMENT 1A (TO BE BASKETED WITH 1B, THE PRINCIPAL AMENDMENT, AND 1C) Delete EC723 and re-number. AMENDMENT ENDS EC724 Personal allowances could be adjusted and perhaps eventually removed to take account of the introduction of Citizen’s Income. There will be a small, standard personal tax- free allowance for gifts, inheritance and capital gains from non-financial products. Tax will be levied on all consolidated income above any personal allowances. EC725 Tax rates will be banded and will increase progressively so that those on higher consolidated incomes pay higher marginal rates of tax. EC726 As a consequence of the Consolidated Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, capital transfer taxes and Inheritance Tax will be abolished. EC727 Employee National Insurance will be abolished as a separate tax. Because it is levied only upon earned income, in practice the combined current income tax/NI rate is lower on unearned income. We would gradually increase income taxation on unearned income so that in due course this differential is eliminated. Citizen’s Income EC730 A Citizen's Income sufficient to cover an individual's basic needs will be introduced. A Citizen's Income is an unconditional, non-withdrawable income payable to each individual as a right of citizenship. It will not be subject to means testing and there will be no requirement to be either working or actively seeking work. EC731 The Citizens' Income will eliminate the unemployment and poverty traps, as well as acting as a safety net to enable people to choose their own types and patterns of work (See EC400). The Citizens' Income scheme will thus enable the welfare state to develop towards a welfare community, engaging people in personally satisfying and socially useful work. EC732 Children will be entitled to a reduced amount which will be payable to a parent or legal guardian. People with disabilities or special needs, and single parents will receive a supplement. EC733 Initially, the housing benefit system will remain in place alongside the Citizens' Income and will also cover contributions towards mortgage repayments for people in those situations previously covered by the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme (see HO602). This will subsequently be reviewed to establish how housing benefit could be incorporated into the Citizen's Income. EC734 We appreciate that introducing a Citizen’s Income as a sudden single change is probably not feasible. Instead we would propose to gradually introduce its main features into the existing social security system, beginning with removing conditionality, reducing the number and complexity of payments, and reducing withdrawal rates. 4 Taxes on Businesses and Financial Services EC760. Corporation Tax will continue to be levied on the net profits declared by companies in the UK. In addition, any profits distributed abroad, which currently avoid further UK incomes taxes, will be subject to an additional ‘withholding tax’. This should seek to equalize the overall rate of tax levied with the basic rate of Consolidated Income Tax. AMENDMENT 1B Delete EC760 and replace it with ‘EC760 Corporation tax will be abolished and, instead, all distributed profits will be taxed at the point of payment by the Consolidated Income Tax. This will include increases in cash holdings, share buybacks, distributions to parent or subsidiary bodies (onshore or offshore), dividend payments and all other forms of distributed income payments.’ AMENDMENT ENDS EC761 Employers’ National Insurance contributions will be phased out, initially – to favour smaller enterprises – by raising the Employment Allowance. EC762 We would extend Stamp Duty on Shares to all shares. This will include all publicly traded shares, as well as shares in private companies with an annual turnover in excess of £100million, with the exception of ‘market-maker’ and similar intermediary transactions. EC763 We would increase the Bank Asset Tax (Bank Levy). This is intended to capture some or all of the value of public assets, subsidies and protections routinely extended to the banking sector. 5 Taxation of Goods and Services and Eco-taxes EC770 The main UK tax on goods and services is Value Added Tax, supplemented by duties, for example, on fuel, alcohol and tobacco. We will: a) retain this broad structure of both VAT and duties; b) recognise that indirect taxes can be regressive, and will set other taxes to compensate for this; c) vary VAT rates and levy duties at higher levels for luxury goods and lower levels, including exemption, for essentials; d) have higher rates of VAT and impose duties to discourage harmful behaviour we wish to reduce, including in particular environmentally damaging and ecologically unsustainable behaviours and consumption, and lower rates for ecologically sustainable behaviours; e) recognise that c) and d) above may conflict in particular cases (eg, domestic energy), and if so, seek to achieve a balance between them; and f) use duties in preference to VAT where it is primarily the physical quantity we want to control and the supply chain provides a convenient point for doing so. EC771 In an effort to promote sustainable behaviours, we will seek to reduce VAT on, or the prices of, non-polluting and pollution-reducing goods and services by up to the amount raised by any eco-taxes introduced or increased (EC776). EC772 We will explore applying VAT or an equivalent to certain sectors currently exempt, most notably aviation. EC773 Taxes designed to encourage changes in behaviour do not, if they are successful, provide large amounts of Government revenue in the longer term. Their effectiveness should be judged in conjunction with other non-fiscal measures that aim to reduce the prevalence or impacts of the behaviour that is being tackled. EC774 Taxes on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco will be extended to other recreational drugs that remain or become legal, to the extent that their use imposes costs on the health system. Taxes on alcoholic drinks will be proportional to their alcoholic content. EC775 Resources will be provided at a cost-effective level to ensure that the aims of this kind of taxation are not undermined by smuggling from countries where a lighter regime prevails or where enforcement is weak. EC776 The current range of environmental tax measures (‘eco-taxes‘) will be expanded to promote sustainability and combat pollution more effectively. These taxes too will be combined with remedial measures such as regulation, as set out, for example, in the Energy chapter. They will take a variety of forms, but the common aim will be to ensure that the environmental costs of emitting and polluting activity are borne by those responsible, and hence, to promote more environmentally benign processes. In cases of local pollution, taxes may be imposed and collected locally (EC796). EC777 A carbon tax will be introduced whereby a steadily rising price will be placed on sources of all greenhouse gas emissions, including agricultural emissions and those embedded in imports (EC779). Part of the tax revenue will be paid out as dividends to UK residents, while the rest will be used to promote sustainable behaviours and investment in renewable technologies. EC778 Fuel duties currently address different detrimental effects of road traffic – congestion, local pollution and noise, accidents and greenhouse gas emissions. Only the last of these is appropriately tackled by a uniform nationwide tax that takes account only of engine efficiency and miles travelled. The others will gradually become a local responsibility, underpinned by increased local authority powers to tax, charge and regulate vehicle movements (EC791). EC779 Import duties will be levied on both raw materials and finished products which will reflect the ecological and social impact of the production, extraction and transportation of such goods where sufficient eco-taxes are not considered to have been levied in their country of origin, or ecological or social regulation is inadequate. 6 Land Value Tax (LVT) EC780 A system of Land Value Taxation will be introduced. The LVT rate will be set at national level, and the tax will be calculated by applying the rate to the capital value of the land itself, not including any buildings etc. built upon it. Local authorities may levy an additional local Land Value Tax once the tax is fully implemented, and, subject to EC792, keep the proceeds locally. All LVT will be collected by local authorities. We will seek to use LVT in the long run to replace other land- and property-based taxes (see HO603). EC781 There will be no exemptions for different land uses from this policy. Where obligations are placed on landowners to conserve wildlife habitats, archaeological sites or other landscape features, the capital value of the land may be assessed as zero or negative, and LVT would then become a subsidy. LVT will be introduced gradually over a number of years. As a transitional measure, where land necessarily attached to a domestic dwelling was subject to a mortgage on the day the tax was introduced, the tax would apply only to the value of the land net of the mortgage. Owner occupiers aged over 65 years will not be exempt, but they will be able to ‘roll over’ payments until the home is sold. EC782 Proceeds from national LVT will be distributed to local authorities with the amount based upon the procedure set out in EC792. 7 Local Government Finance and Taxation EC790 For reasons of democratic accountability, taxes should be levied at the level of government at which they are to be spent. There needs to be transparency about what proportion of local spending reflects the local authority acting effectively as an agent of central government, and how much is due to local political initiative. The sources of funding should reflect this distinction. EC791 Central government must distribute adequate funds from central taxation to fund centrally imposed obligations, and allow local authorities to raise taxes to fund their own initiatives. We would establish a menu of possible taxes that local authorities would be allowed to use under local democratic control, including land and property taxes and local pollution and congestion taxes (EC776 and 778). EC792 Allocation of central funds should include a redistributive element in favour of less well-off areas. A distribution formula that takes into account the capacity of a local authority to raise its own funds should operate in a consistent and non-partisan way at arm’s length from the Treasury. 8 Collecting Taxes EC795 Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will be converted into an independent agency answerable directly to Parliament and free from Ministerial control. It will be adequately resourced and will include a network of local tax offices. EC796 Other approaches and measures to promote tax compliance will include: a) a general anti-avoidance principle; b) obliging banks to provide information about companies automatically to HMRC; c) abolishing the rule that allows non-domiciled residents not to pay tax on foreign income (though we would respect the normal double taxation conventions); d) internationally, pursuing efforts through the G20 and other bodies to secure an international agreement to eliminate or restrict the pernicious effects of tax havens; and e) domestically, requiring offshore companies to reveal their beneficial ownership before being accepted as competitors for publicly funded contracts. EC797 In order to reduce significantly aggressive tax avoidance and evasion by corporations, we will introduce a series of measures to close loopholes and remove tax evasion methods, including: a) Treating as distributed profits: 1. All additions to cash holdings, share buy-backs and intra-group payments 2. All loan and interest repayments to jurisdictions identified as Tax Havens 3. The transfer of financial assets abroad b) Ensuring that the ultimate beneficial ownership of all businesses registered and operating in the UK is declared. Tax reliefs will be available to prevent double taxation. Amendments to the rest of the PSS Delete CMS442. Note. CMS442 currently says ‘We will explore the feasibility of a tax on superstar performances which is hypothecated to local cultural enterprises.’ Delete in CMS641 the words ‘from a tax which may be ring-fenced (hypothecated) for public service broadcast use. The operation of this tax should not be regressive.’ and the words ‘in the first instance.’ Note. CMS641 currently says ‘The primary public service broadcaster will remain the BBC (and S4C in Wales) funded wholly by public money from a tax which may be ring-fenced (hypothecated) for public service broadcast use. The operation of this tax should not be regressive. The existing licence fee will be abolished and in the first instance replaced by a guaranteed inflation linked payment from general taxation.’ So CMS641 will become ‘The primary public service broadcaster will remain the BBC (and S4C in Wales) funded wholly by public money. The existing licence fee will be abolished and in the first instance replaced by a guaranteed inflation linked payment from general taxation.' Delete CY530. Note. CY530 currently says ‘The Green Party will introduce Land Value Taxation (see LD400), which will be calculated to take into consideration the economic effects of having to conserve wildlife habitats, archaeological sites and other landscape features. This would help to reduce inequality in the ownership of land and buildings and would help new entrants into farming and poorer local people to afford housing.’ Delete second and third sentences in DU402 and add ‘See further at EC774’. Note. DU402 currently says ‘The effect on consumption of taxation on the sale of tobacco and alcohol would be subject to continued review and, where appropriate, these legal drugs would be taxed at a higher rate than at present. In addition, both the net profits of tobacco companies and companies producing alcohol for consumption, and the dividends paid to shareholders of these companies would attract a significantly higher rate of taxation than at present. The tax levied on alcohol products would be in proportion to the amount of alcohol in the finished product.’ Delete EC953. Note. EC953 currently says ‘To introduce an international tax on currency speculation, both to raise revenue for development, and to deter a form of financial activity which is deeply, destabilising for all countries.’ Delete ‘(perhaps from a Tobin Tax (see EU445))’ in EC1012 a. Note. EC1012 a. currently says ‘in the long term we would promote international funding (perhaps from a Tobin Tax (see EU445)) to buy out the owners of certain patents, based entirely on global social and environmental usefulness, with the patent becoming available to all once the payment had been made’ Delete final sentence in EC1052. Note. EC1052 currently says ‘The Green Party promotes the idea of self-reliant economies. This means that, whenever possible, profits made are re- invested within the country of origin. Where this is not entirely practical, taxation should be used to both raise public finance in the country of origin and discourage the transfer of business outside it. To this end, all international funds transfers should be taxed, with the tax revenue being retained in the country of origin of the funds.’ AMENDMENT 1C (BASKETED WITH 1A AND 1B) Delete ‘and Corporation Tax’ in ED127.’ Note. ED127 currently says ‘Schools which remain in the private sector would be classed as a business and have all charitable status removed; they would pay all relevant taxes such as VAT and Corporation Tax.’ AMENDMENT ENDS In HE1300 alter first two sentences to read: ‘Therefore companies, including pharmaceutical companies, employing or using NHS-trained healthcare professionals outside the NHS, will have to pay an additional training levy for each person-hour during which they employ or use NHS-trained staff outside the NHS. Delete final sentence. Note. HE1300 currently says ‘Therefore companies, including pharmaceutical companies, employing or using NHS- trained healthcare professionals outside the NHS will have to pay an additional training tax. This will take the form of a levy for each person-hour during which they employ or use NHS- trained staff outside the NHS. The proceeds from this levy will go directly into the NHS Tax which the Green Party is going to create.’ Delete all HE1303. Note. HE1303 currently says ‘An NHS Tax, earmarked to increase direct funding of the NHS, shall be introduced as part of general income and other taxation. We believe this will have wide support.’ Delete HE1306 (Repeats wording of HE1300) In HO603 delete ‘as a transitional move towards the introduction of Land Value Taxation’. Note. HO603 currently says ‘As an immediate response to concerns about the fairness of Council Tax, and to the growing housing crisis (particularly in London and the South East), Greens support the following modifications to Council Tax/National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) as a transitional move towards the introduction of Land Value Taxation…’ In HE1413 add, after ‘retail price’, ‘(See EC770)’. Note. HE1413 currently says ‘Sanitary Products will no longer be classed as a ‘luxury’ product, and VAT will no longer be added to their retail price.’ In IN404 replace ‘tax incentives that’ by ‘incentives to’. Note. IN404 currently says ‘This will include tax incentives that promote clustering of zero carbon, zero waste enterprises in new social enterprise zones – to encourage sustainable enterprises to replicate and co-locate.’ In IN406 delete all after ‘(see below)’ and add after ‘below’, ‘and EC771’. Note. IN406 currently says ‘New green taxes would be balanced by incentives for zero carbon and zero waste production (see below) and reductions in other taxes. In particular, the introduction and expansion of eco-taxes would be accompanied by a phased abolition of VAT (see EC770- 771).’ In IN411 delete ‘or tax breaks’. Note. IN411 currently says ‘…and subsidies or tax breaks for investment in some areas outside the South East…’ In IN627 delete ‘Corporation tax and’. Note. IN627 currently says ‘Corporation tax and Government procurement contracts should be measured against triple bottom line reporting…’ In IP421 delete second sentence. Note. IP421 currently says ‘The British Government should assist developing countries in buying off TNC subsidiaries and in producing the inputs needed for them. Funds for this should be provided from the turnover tax.’ Delete MC327. Note. MC327 currently says ‘The Green Party would press at EU level for an end to all subsidies that can result in increased fishing pressure, including concessionary tax rates for fuel, vessel modification and improving port and fish processing facilities.’ In PL401 delete ‘taxes and’. Note. PL401 currently says ‘The import of products derived from hazardous industries and processes will be resisted by selective taxes and prohibitions.’ Delete PL430. Note. PL430 currently says ‘Differential corporation tax will favour those enterprises causing minimal environmental damage. Taxes on the quantity and quality of industrial waste will be levied on producers.’ Delete TR011 f. and re-letter the subsequent subparagraph. Note. TR011 f. lists under ‘the principal objectives [of transport] policy’: ‘Alter funding of transport to the polluter pays principle, using charges and taxes on transport to support the development of sustainable methods of transport.’ In WR348 delete ‘tax’. Note. WR348 currently says ‘There will be tax incentives for employers who provide support facilities at the workplace such as childcare, job-sharing, flexible working, counselling and family planning.’ In WR352 delete ‘tax’. Note. WR352 currently says ‘There will be tax incentives to encourage employers to provide facilities at the workplace for people pursuing further education, or a service which is of benefit to the community.’ In WR414 delete ‘, and shall also provide tax allowances for their cost, as is done for subscriptions to professional bodies’. Note. WR414 currently says ‘The cost of union membership subscriptions should not be allowed to be a deterrent; we shall develop a mechanism to ensure that the poorest paid workers can afford to join the union of their choice, and shall also provide tax allowances for their cost, as is done for subscriptions to professional bodies…’ In WR453 delete ‘tax’. Note. WR453 currently says ‘We encourage trade unions to develop schemes of mutual aid, such as the NALGO (now UNISON) welfare fund. We shall provide tax incentives for this.

Mariette Labelle*, Tony Firkin, David Wild, Fergal McEntee, Susan Hampton, Dave Wetzel, Rebecca Warren, Raymundo Obedencio, Daniel Goldsmith, Mirinda Roche, Mary Ellen Archer, Lilias Cheyne, Diana McCann, Jon Elkon, Hounslow Green Party

Motion synopsis: This is an amendment to policy PD430. It brings this policy in line with the General Principles of the Peace and Defence Policy Chapter. It increases the Green Party commitment to cease support for the arms industry and trade.

Motion text:

Delete current policy PD430: An acceptance of military means of defence and peace-enforcement requires an acceptance of the existence of arms manufacture. Hence, although weapons of mass destruction will not be made under a Green Government, moderate quantities of conventional weapons and vehicles will be. A green Government will have less commitment to protecting either the UK or the EU arms manufacturing industries. and replace with new PD 430: The Green Party will dissociate security from the military approach. Resources will be reallocated to address the problems which underlie insecurity. Weapons of mass destruction will not be made under a Green Government. Only moderate quantities of conventional weapons and vehicles for UK security and in proportion to threat will be manufactured. A Green Government will cease government support, promotion and protection of all arms manufacturing industries. Animal Rights Policy Working Group: David Finney Karen Varga, Diana Newson, Emma Randall, John Davis, David Finney* Synopsis With increased evidence of environmental damage caused by intensive farming, this motion proposes to update AR411 so it actively promotes a transition to more plant based diets. It explicitly links factory farming to animal abuse and environmental degradation so the policy becomes more proactive in driving change.

Motion

Delete existing AR411 And replace with:

A reduction in the consumption of animal products would have benefits for the environment, human health and animal welfare. There is evidence that large-scale animal agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions, habitat destruction, pollution and loss of biodiversity. The Green Party believes it is imperative to act and will actively promote an immediate transition from diets dominated by meat and other animal products to increasingly plant-based diets and to lifestyles using environmentally sustainable products derived from non-animal sources. The aim of these measures is to conserve natural resources, free up fertile land for increased production of plant-based foods and products, increase access to healthier food options, enforce animal welfare legislation and reduce animal cruelty. We will achieve this through research, education, economic measures and reformed approaches to farming.

Mid-Sussex, Crawley and Horsham GP Nick Wilkins*, Anne Miles-Eves, Robert Duggan, Mike Airey, Michael Gregg, Steven Goodman, Sabrina Poole

Motion synopsis: To demand that spouses and civil partners of British citizens retain the same rights to Free Movement after Brexit and to extend that right to non-EEA nationals. To promote cross- party support for this policy.

Motion text:

The Green Party will as a matter of urgency commit to establish cross-party support for the following measures: 1). A register will be established of all Foreign Nationals who are the spouses or civil partners of British Citizens. Subject to the consent of each couple, marriages and civil partnerships conducted in the UK will be automatically enrolled. Couples can apply for inclusion if the ceremony was conducted overseas. 2). All Foreign Nationals on this list and all their non-British children under 26 will be granted Free Movement, as currently enjoyed by EEA citizens, for so long as the marriage or civil partnership pertains.

These minimal but urgent measures are intended as a safety net to protect family life. They do not replace or dilute the Green Party’s greater long-term commitment to reforms on Migration and Asylum

John Coyne*, Alan Butterworth, Ann Forsaith, Florence Pollock, Frankie Rose Taylor, Hannah Graham, Hannah Clare, Ronald Stewart, Bernard Ekbery, Nicola Stewart, Charlie Keller, Sean Mulcahy, Benedict Albrooke, David Teasdale

Synopsis: Amend the Standing Orders for Party Discipline (SOPD) to enable more capacity for investigation of complaints, to invite early replies from respondents and to extend and fine- tune the available sanctions.

Motion a) In SOPD paragraph 4.4 delete the words "from its membership". This change would enable Disciplinary Committee to appoint investigators who are not necessarily current, voting members of the Committee. (b) At the end of SOPD 3.8 insert the sentence "The respondent shall be offered the option to submit a provisional response to the complaint and the Complaints Manager will seek to ensure that this response is available to Disciplinary Committee (or any other body receiving the complaint) at the same time as the complaint form." (c) In paragraph 6.12 delete the words "one of the three disciplinary measures from (a) censure, (b) suspension for a fixed period, or (c) expulsion" and insert the words: "one or more of the disciplinary measures listed in paragraph 6.13" and insert the following as paragraph 6.13 with subsequent paragraphs renumbered. The sanctions or disciplinary measures available to the Committee are as follows: • censure • suspension for a fixed period • expulsion • excluding the respondent from participation in any specified meeting/meetings or activity of GPEW for a fixed period; (the scope of the exclusion may have national, regional or local reach;) • imposition of conditions on the respondent's participation in GPEW, for example an instruction not to approach a specified complainant in meetings (if appropriate, a set of conditions may be set out in a formal agreement); • removing the respondent from any elected position in GPEW; • disqualification of the respondent from election or co-option to any office in GPEW, for a fixed period; • deselection of the respondent from any candidacy for public office; • disqualification of the respondent from seeking GPEW nomination for election from any public office, for a fixed period; • withdrawal of Green Party designation from a respondent who holds public office (e.g. a councillor), for a fixed period. The Committee may, at its discretion, impose a sanction which is suspended from immediate effect, to expire after a fixed period. In the event of any further complaint against the respondent being received within that period and subsequently upheld, the Committee may impose the suspended sanction in addition to any sanction awarded for the further complaint.

Dawn Furness*, Janine Pyke, Hazel Pegg, Loppy Oubridge, Darren Price, Beatrix Campbell, Donna Wallace, Viv Preece, Karl Rogers, Julie Timbrell, Stephen Green, Peter Barnett, Alison Teal, Gavin Andrews, Steve Leyland Motion synopsis: Conference calls on all GPEW elected politicians, leadership team and spokespersons to campaign for and reaffirm our commitment to women's rights.

Motion text: Women's Rights have been under attack, despite the apparent protection of the Equality Act (2010). Conference recognises that women are an oppressed class on the basis of their biological sex. Conference recognises language is vital in calling out and identifying that oppression. Conference recognises that sexism Is explicitly the discrimination based upon someone's sex and is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010). Conference recognises that Women must retain the right to use language which specifically refers to the anatomy of their biological sex for the purpose of personal dignity and health care provision. Conference recognises that misogyny is a hate crime. Conference calls on all GPEW elected politicians, leadership team and spokespersons to actively campaign for and reaffirm our commitment to women's rights, to include the above.

Berwick on Tweed CGP: David McKechnie*, Joan Lawson, Ivor Rackham, Patricia McKechnie, Thomas Stewart, Gail Heck. Tanja Rebel, Jennifer Agricola, Lynne Wycherley, Jacqi Hodgson, Isabelle Green, Tom Murphy, Liz Bygrave, Rupert Read, Michael Wilson, David Garlovsky, Annelie Fitzgerald, Paul Turpin, Jennifer Hicks, Alison Perkins, Steven Goodman, Rosie Chandler, Anna Thornhill, Stephanie Turpin, Jem Poster, Anne Gayfer

Synopsis: In line with the Precautionary Principle, and appeals from scientists worldwide, a moratorium must urgently be authorised on the precipitate implementation of 5G Wireless Network Technology, to allow for sufficient time for thorough and independent environmental and health impact assessments.

Motion: Conference instructs the Campaigns Co-ordinator to immediately instigate a campaign for a world-wide moratorium on the implementation of 5G wireless network technology, due to potential effects on human and animal health, increased carbon footprint from energy usage, pollution caused by the mining of rare earth materials, and the impact of large-scale deployment on Earth and in Space.

Bernard Ekbery, Alan Todd, David Flint, Chit Chong*, Richard Edwards, Clive Lord, Lucy Sommers, Gerry Weston, Tony Firkins, Kelvin Clayton, Jayne Forbes, Shahrar Ali, Mariette Labelle, Linda MacCallum-Stewart Synopsis Motion to endorse the work of Extinction Rebellion and Youth Strike 4 Climate and for the Green Party articulate the urgency of the Climate Crisis and its impact on the ecology of the planet by reviewing the Green Party's existing policies to gear them to meet the Crisis.

Motion The Green Party applauds the work of Extinction Rebellion and the Youth Strike 4 Climate and shares their sense of urgency. The Green Party recognises the Climate Emergency. To meet this challenge we hereby: - Encourage local Green Parties to work with such groups to widen awareness of the seriousness of climate change and to promote the adoption of Climate Emergency motions by local governments and all other relevant organisations in their areas. - Mandate the Climate Change Policy Working Group (CCPWG) to conduct a gap analysis of our of the PSS since some of our existing policies do not meet the needs of the Climate Emergency. This gap analysis will be reported at plenary in the next Conference. - Mandate all relevant Policy Working Groups work with the CCPWG to develop policies to close those gaps by next conference. - Instruct GPEx to provide these PWGs with the necessary support including half an officer day a week to work with PWGs to help close our policy gap with the Climate Emergency. - Note that these policy changes are urgent and in keeping with the Climate Emergency instructs SOC to automatically prioritise such "Climate Emergency" motions

Shahrar Ali*, Maire Smith, Loppy Oubridge, Peter Barnett, Alan Borgars, Viv Preece, Hazel Pegg, Dee Searle, Gerry Weston, Jessica Goldfinch, Christopher Padley, Zoe Nicholson, Dawn Furness, Julie Tumbrill

Motion synopsis

• For members only (SOC ruling, 3 Feb 2018); • Complainant anonymity not default (SOC, 16 Nov 2018); • Respondent right to know identity of accuser; • When escalated to national level; • Record-keeping; • Right of Respondent to early knowledge of complaint; • Recusals. Motion text [Current SOPD: https://my.greenparty.org.uk/content/complaints-process] In Section 1.2 1.2 The committee will handle all complaints of a disciplinary nature which have not been resolved at Regional, Local Party or other party group level and which have been brought on one of the following grounds: i) that there has been contravention of the Constitution of the Party as interpreted by the Standing Orders Committee (SOC); ii) that there has been breach of one or more of the number of Standards in the Party’s Code of Conduct; iii) that the Party has been brought into disrepute. Delete ‘have not been’ and insert ‘cannot be’ Insert new subsection (i) ‘by a national member of good standing (eg not themselves suspended at fault) who is not a member of another political party’ and renumber In sub section (ii) insert ‘an alleged’ between ‘been’ and ‘contravention’ In sub-section (iii) insert ‘an alleged’ between ‘been’ and ‘breach’ In sub section (iv) insert ‘allegedly’ between ‘has’ and ‘brought So that section 1.2 reads:

1.2 The committee will handle all complaints of a disciplinary nature which cannot be resolved at Regional, Local Party or other party group level and which have been brought on one of the following grounds: i) by a national member of good standing (e.g. not themselves suspended at fault) who is not a member of another political party ii) that there has been an alleged contravention of the Constitution of the Party as interpreted by the Standing Orders Committee (SOC); iii) that there has been an alleged breach of one or more of the number of Standards in the Party’s Code of Conduct; iv) that the Party has allegedly been brought into disrepute. In Section 1.5

1.5 There shall be a Complaints Referral Group hereinafter known as ‘the Referral Group’. The Referral Group shall be made up of, the Chair of the Committee (or their Deputy), a Co- Chair of GPRC and the Convenor of Disputes Resolution Committee (or their Deputy). Insert ‘three and only three officers’ between ‘Group’ and ‘the’ Add at end ‘Only if there is an inability to reach consensus should the Referral Group be widened as per 3.3’ So that section 1.5 reads 1.5 There shall be a Complaints Referral Group hereinafter known as ‘the Referral Group’. The Referral Group shall be made up of three and only three officers, the Chair of the Committee (or their Deputy), a Co-Chair of GPRC and the Convenor of Disputes Resolution Committee (or their Deputy). Only if there is inability to reach consensus should the Referral Group be widened as per 3.3.

Add a new section 1.6 and renumber.

1.6 All decision-making meetings of the Committee and Referral Group shall be minuted, and reported to the appropriate body. It is the responsibility of each body to inform Party members of their decisions which affect them, and to answer queries about decisions promptly and without obstruction. In Section 3.1 3.1 On receipt of a complaint, submitted on the official complaint form by a member of GPEW (hereinafter referred to as the Complainant) the Complaints Manager shall: i) acknowledge receipt of the complaint ii) forward the complaint to the members of the Referral Group within two working days. iii) log the complaint in the confidential section of the Governance folder. In subsection (ii) insert ‘the member against whom the complaint has been made (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent)’, subject to any redaction as appropriate as per 3.4 and 3.7 and’ between ‘to’ and ‘the’ So that section 3.1 reads:

3.1 On receipt of a complaint, submitted on the official complaint form by a member of GPEW (hereinafter referred to as the Complainant) the Complaints Manager shall: iv) acknowledge receipt of the complaint v) forward the complaint to the member against whom the complaint has been made (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent), subject to any redaction as appropriate as per 3.4 and 3.7 and the members of the Referral Group within two working days. vi) log the complaint in the confidential section of the Governance folder. In section 3.4 3.4 If a complaint is dismissed, the members of the Referral Group shall be required to notify the Complaints Manager of the reason for their decision. The member against whom the complaint has been made (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent) will be informed by the Complaints Manager that a complaint has been made against them, that it has been dismissed and the reasons for that decision. They shall be provided with an outline detail of the complaint which includes the substance of the complaint but not the names of the Complainant or witnesses. Consideration shall however be given to the possibility that the complaint itself is part of a pattern of harassment of the Respondent and avoid routinely passing on complaints to Respondents in such instances until proper consideration has been given as to whether this will be contributing to such harassment. The Complaints Manager will also notify the Complainant of [delete: this information] [add: the outcome.] In the second sentence Delete ‘The member against whom the complaint has been made (hereinafter referred to as’ and capitalise ‘the’. In the third sentence delete: ‘an outline’ between ‘with’ and ‘detail’ ‘which includes the substance of the complaint’ between ‘complaint’ and ‘but’ ‘the Complainant or’ between ‘of’ and ‘witnesses’ In the fourth sentence delete ‘ and avoid routinely passing on complaints to Respondents in such instances until proper consideration has been given as to whether this will be contributing to such harassment’ after Respondent Add after sentence 4 a new sentence: Complaint forms should include a warning to Complainants that if harassment is evident then a complaining member may themselves become subject to disciplinary action. In current sentence five delete ‘this information’ after ‘of’ and insert ‘the outcome’ So that section 3.4 reads:

3.4 If a complaint is dismissed, the members of the Referral Group shall be required to notify the Complaints Manager of the reason for their decision. The Respondent will be informed by the Complaints Manager that a complaint has been made against them, that it has been dismissed and the reasons for that decision. They shall be provided with detail of the complaint but not the names of witnesses. Consideration shall however be given to the possibility that the complaint itself is part of a pattern of harassment of the Respondent. Complaint forms should include a warning to Complainants that if harassment is evident then a complaining member may themselves become subject to disciplinary action. The Complaints Manager will also notify the Complainant of the outcome. In section 3.6 3.6 If the complaint is being referred to another party body, the Respondent will be informed by the Complaints Manager that a complaint has been made against them and the body to which it is being referred. They shall be provided with an outline detail of the complaint which includes the substance of the complaint but not the names of the Complainant or witnesses. The Complaints Manager will then pass the complaint form on to the relevant body within five working days with a request to be kept informed of how the complaint is progressed. The Complaints Manager will also notify the Complainant of this information

In the second sentence delete ‘an outline’ between ‘with’ and ‘detail’ delete ‘which includes the substance of the complaint’ between ‘complaint’ and ‘but’ delete ‘the Complainant or’ between ‘of’ and ‘witnesses’ so that section 3.6 reads: 3.6 If the complaint is being referred to another party body, the Respondent will be informed by the Complaints Manager that a complaint has been made against them and the body to which it is being referred. They shall be provided with detail of the complaint but not the names of witnesses. The Complaints Manager will then pass the complaint form on to the relevant body within five working days with a request to be kept informed of how the complaint is progressed. The Complaints Manager will also notify the Complainant of this information

In Section 3.7 3.7 If the complaint is being referred to the Committee, the Respondent will be informed by the Complaints Manager that a complaint has been made against them and that it is being referred to the Committee. They will be forwarded the appropriately redacted 5complaint form, a copy of these Standing Orders and given the probable date of the next Committee meeting when the complaint will be considered. If information is available that indicates that consideration should be taken of any possible impact on the Respondent of receiving the complaint, then the Complaints Manager shall liaise with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee in this consideration. The Complaints Manager will also notify the Complainant of this information. The Complainant’s personal details should not be shared with the Respondent without the Complainant’s explicit consent Insert after the final sentence: Personal details does not include the identity of the Complainant themselves. The Respondent is entitled to this information as a matter of due process and in order to be able to defend themselves against any allegation, to protect themselves against the risk of harassment, and that any officer with a conflict of interest be required to recuse themselves from the disciplinary process. A Complainant will be consenting to this much in their act of making an official complaint. So that section 3.7 reads: 3.7 If the complaint is being referred to the Committee, the Respondent will be informed by the Complaints Manager that a complaint has been made against them and that it is being referred to the Committee. They will be forwarded the appropriately redacted 5complaint form, a copy of these Standing Orders and given the probable date of the next Committee meeting when the complaint will be considered. If information is available that indicates that consideration should be taken of any possible impact on the Respondent of receiving the complaint, then the Complaints Manager shall liaise with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee in this consideration. The Complaints Manager will also notify the Complainant of this information. The Complainant’s personal details should not be shared with the Respondent without the Complainant’s explicit consent. Personal details does not include the identity of the Complainant themselves. The Respondent is entitled to this information as a matter of due process and in order to be able to defend themselves against any allegation, to protect themselves against the risk of harassment, and that any officer with a conflict of interest be required to recuse themselves from the disciplinary process. A Complainant will be consenting to this much in their act of making an official complaint.

Carla Denyer, Lesley Grahame, Jenny Vernon, Sian Berry, Tom Chance, Ronald Stewart, Samir Jeraj*, Vix Lowthion, Emma Carter, Magid Magid, Charlotte George, Alex Armitage, Zoe Garbett, Zack Polanski, Caroline Russell Synopsis Private renters are often left without control over their housing situations. This motion seeks to establish a Right of first refusal for private renters and to form a Housing Cooperative in order to improve the control, conditions and finances of private renters. It also provides for councils to have first [Synopsis cut by SOC as exceeding 50 words]

Motion text:

Insert new HO513 and renumber: Private renters in a house in multiple occupation (HMO) will have the right to form a cooperative in order to take over the ownership and management of their home (see HO522). They would also have the option of contracting with an existing housing co- operative to manage their home. This transfer of ownership and management would be triggered by the landlord selling the home, where the tenants would have first refusal to buy; the landlord failing a fit and proper person test, or persistent failures to maintain and manage the home. Tenants that chose the co-op option would still be protected by the same tenancy provisions, including secure tenancies and rent controls.

Insert new HO515 and renumber. Cooperatives will be provided 5-year loans to help co-ops buy properties. After those 5 years the co-op would have gained sufficient equity in the property, and have a financial track record, to be able to secure better deals from ethical and other lenders. Loan and grant funding will be provided for property improvements and extensions. A Green government would also work with existing housing co-operatives to leverage their asset base and their cash holdings to support new co-operatives.

Insert new HO522 and renumber: Councils will have the right of first refusal to buy back a former council-built property from a private landlord at the point when the landlord decides to sell, if the landlord fails a fit and proper person test or is found to be persistently failing to maintain and manage the home.

Subject to the council buy-back, private renters will have the right of first refusal to buy their home from their private landlord at the point when the landlord decides to sell, if the landlord fails a fit and proper person test, or is found to be persistently failing to maintain and manage the home

Richard Firth*, Martin Childs, Sean Mulcahy, John Knight, Sam Riches, Dave Brookes, Sabrina Poole, Gina Dowding, Joanna Young, Martin Coule, Moira Dunworth, Nick Senior, Dawn Furness

Synopsis: When the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was passed, it contained a section that allowed the Government to legalise secular humanist marriage in England and Wales by use of Statutory Instrument. As of now, secular humanist marriage still is not legal in England and Wales. We call upon the [Synopsis cut by SOC as exceeding 50 words].

Motion: Insert into ROPS: The Green Party of England and Wales calls on the Government to honour its commitment to legalising secular humanist marriage in England and Wales, by granting secular humanist celebrants the same status as religious officiates to register marriages. A public consultation carried out in 2014, as stipulated by section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, showed over 95% of respondents were in support of legalisation, and a further report in 2015 by the Law Commission also supported this position. We believe that it is unfair that people in England and Wales without a religious or faith background are denied the same marriage rights as people of faith, and a potential breach of human rights law. An inclusive society needs to ensure the same rights are enjoyed by all citizens irrespective of faith or belief, or lack thereof.

Rachel Collinson, Alistair Polson, Samir Jeraj, Tim Kiely*, Robert Crowston, Zack Polanski, Paul Burgess, Bethan Lant, Ciaran Cusack, Alina Baczynska, Daniel Smith, Shannon Butterfield, Maureen Childs

'The PSS currently refers to its basic income scheme as 'Citizens Income', and treats it as a right of citizenship. This excludes those who are legally resident in the UK, and does not reflect our 2015 or 2017 manifestoes. An explicit change of wording is therefore proposed.'

The proposed text of the motion is:

'Amend PSS EC730-EC732 so that any reference to a 'Citizens' Income' is changed to 'Universal Basic Income'. Additionally, amend EC730 so that it is granted as a 'right of legal residence in the UK' rather than as a 'right of citizenship'.

Asylum and Migration Policy Working Group: Walter John Houston Walter John Houston*, Andrew Blanchflower, Nicola Watson, Helen Giblin Jowett, Bronwen Jones, Alexi Dimond, Richard Williams, Michael Gregg, Christian Schroeder, John Knight, Charlie Keller, Sabrina Poole

Motion synopsis: This is an enabling motion to commit the party to review and rewrite two related chapters of PSS, on Refugees and Asylum and Migration respectively.

Motion text: Seeing that the last substantial revision of the chapters on refugees and asylum (RA) and migration (MG) in PSS took place in 1990, before the mass migration and mass refugee movements of the past decade or so, and the issues have become more salient as a result, it is necessary to revise them to update the policies to reflect present and, so far as we can forecast them, future realities in this field.

This Conference therefore instructs Policy Development Committee to initiate a policy development process to bring a draft voting paper rewriting and updating policies in these fields to a future Conference, including the option of merging the two chapters into one. The process will be undertaken by a working group, which should seek the opinions and involvement of members of the Party with interest or expertise in these fields, as well as the views of NGOs and other relevant organizations and professionals.

Alan Borgars*, Susan Jones, Maire Smith, Janine Pyke, Jacqi Hodgson, Steven Campkin, Rosie Chandler, Loppy Oubridge, Ashley Routh, Gerry Weston, Joyce Barhett, Laurie Needham, Anne Gayfer

Motion synopsis: In many places trees are needlessly being cut down despite their important role and there is often insufficient accessible green space. It is crucial our towns and cities have a statutory minimum amount of green space and tree coverage proportional to the size of the community in question.

Motion text: Insert new LP204: To ensure our communities can be environmentally safe places to live in and have air that is safe to breathe for everyone.

Insert new LP408 (and consequently renumber LP408-LP410 as LP409-411 respectively): "The Green Party strongly supports the introduction of a statutory minimum area, within towns and cities, of at least 50% public and accessible green space within the town's or city's boundaries. This standard will be applicable for all towns and cities in the UK with a population of more than 5,000 people. The Green Party also supports the introduction of a requirement for all cities and towns in the UK with a population of more than 5,000 people to have a minimum amount of tree canopy coverage within their boundaries." Charlie Keller*, Chandler Wilson, Nigel Hennerley, Vix Lowthion, Kathryn Driscoll, Hannah Graham, Elain Francis, David Francis, Emma Chan, Bob Irving, Owain Sutton, Kyle Welch, Steven Campkin, Jenny Vernon, Nicola Stewart Synopsis: Students should have the right to access British Sign Language (BSL) as a second language taught in all schools, under the age of 13. Furthermore. students should also be allowed to take a formal qualification in British Sign Language as a further study option.

Motion text: In policy ED041, where it says; "g. Learning at least one language from the age of 7 in addition to English (and Welsh within schools in Wales). Children should have a wide range of language available for instruction, and school children who are not native speakers, or are multilingual, should have the chance to develop and share their languages at school."

Amend it to read; "g. Learning a wide-range of languages from the age of 7: 1. These must include English until the age of 16, and British Sign Language (BSL) as a second language until the age of 13. 2. For students in Wales, these must include Welsh until the age of 16. 3. Students who are not speakers in a native language of England and Wales, or are multilingual, should have the chance to develop and share their own languages at school."

And insert point h. below, relettering accordingly; h. Students should have the opportunity to continue study in British Sign Language (BSL) as a second language after the age of 13 in order to gain a formal qualification.

Policy Development Committee: Paul Woodhead.

Paul Woodhead, Hazel Pegg, Jonathan Bartley, Chris Holt, Robert Triggs, Sam Riches, Loppy Oubridge, Dee Searle, Jessica Goldfinch, Mariette Labelle, Liz Reason, Hazel Pegg, Zoe Nicholson, Dawn Furness, Peter Barnett, Maire Smith, Denise Michell Price, Sean Mulcahy, Sian Berry, Amelia Womack, Viv Preece Synopsis Establish a Task and Finish group to enable a full review of the Rights & Responsibilities Chapter of Policies for a Sustainable Society to bring proposals back to conference update our policy position including any aspects of our Philosophical Basis and Core Values which it is felt conference should consider Motion In view of the high number of proposed motions addressing the Rights and Responsibilities Chapter of Policies for a Sustainable Society (PfSS) and elsewhere, Policy Development Committee (PDC) is proposing that a full review and rewrite of the chapter be brought forward as an Enabling Motion to be undertaken by a Task and Finish Group. The key objective would to ensure that the GP has up-to-date and consistent policies across the diverse range of groups and individuals covered by the chapter.

This group will review all aspects of the Chapter and related statements extending to - but not limited to the Chapter, its interactions with other chapters of PfSS, any applicable RoPS, Our Core Values and Philosophical Basis. The group will consider our interactions with, definitions from, and similar statements by external bodies as well as taking peer-reviewed evidence from any appropriate sources.

This could link up with other work within the party to find ways to navigate conflict and support honest and respectful dialogue and debate on what have proved to be difficult issues. The Task and Finish group would consist of those involved with, and with an interest in, this area of Policy as well as taking reference and evidence from external bodies. The structure of the resulting work will bring forward a Draft Voting paper to the Autumn 2019 conference of a chapter of principles and what our Rights and Responsibilities would look like in a sustainable society supported by briefing papers holding the detail and evidence. The group may also bring back proposals to amend other aspects of our Policy Hierarchy. PDC will help facilitate the convening of the group but it is envisaged that this will be co- chaired and the group’s members will reflect a diverse range of genders, ethnicity, religion, ability, and sexuality.

Drugs Policy Working Group: Zoe Garbett, Alex Armitage

Zoe Garbett*, Nick Thorp, John Devaney, Rosemary Hampshire, Paul Urwin, Ben Samuel, Sally Ziotowitz, Joe Garbett, Janet Alty, Michael Dooley, Stefan Lberadzkie, Carrie Hamilton, Alex Armitage, Liam McClelland, Samir Jeraj, Sian Berry, Tom Killick

Proposed policy 1. Aim and Principles 1.1 Aim: To end the prohibition of drugs and create a system of legal regulation to minimise the harms associated with drug use as part of an inclusive, supportive, socially just society. 1.2 Principles: The Green Party will: 1. Be evidence based in all aspects of drug policy, taking into account the views of people who use alcohol and other drugs 2. Take a public health approach to drug dependence to tackle the wider causes of drug use, such as adverse life events and poverty 3. Promote a healthy relationship between drugs and society 4. Be internationally and environmentally responsible in relationships with producers and supply chain workers 5. Remove profiteering from the supply of drugs 6. Be honest in communication to the public about drugs The Green Party recognises that the majority of recreational drug use is not harmful and has the potential to enhance human relationships and human creativity. Harmful drug use is underpinned by poverty, isolation, mental illness, physical illness and psychological trauma. The minimisation of these societal ills will be the focus of the Green Party. 2. Policy and action to be taken within our current legislative framework “Short-term Policy” These are evidenced-based policies which the Green Party is working to enact within the current legal framework: Prevention, harm reduction and effective treatment A. Evidence-based education to raise public awareness of the criminal, health, environmental and international issues around the supply of drugs B. Evidence-based information and education to enhance the safety of all who use drugs, aimed at: i. The public, especially schoolchildren, parents and students ii. Professionals - health and social care workers, teachers, emergency services employees, and criminal justice professionals iii. Workers in bars, pubs, clubs and other entertainment venues iv. Gay and bisexual men and MSM who engage in chemsex C. Diversion from the Criminal Justice System Diverting people involved in possession for personal use or minor supply offences away from the criminal justice system into an assessment by treatment services, drug education, or other support, rather than prosecuting or cautioning. i. Ensure that the Home Office, in consultation with police, health bodies and civil society, creates national guidelines for best practice Diversion schemes for drug possession for personal use, and supply offences involving non-profit social supply, small-scale cannabis cultivation for personal use or driven by their own drug dependency. Diversion will avoid giving a criminal record, and provide access to drug services, drug education including harm reduction advice, and other support as needed. ii. Support and encourage all police forces to implement Diversion schemes, informed by best practice. iii. Encourage the greater use of problem-solving courts to support people whose problematic drug use leads to increased contact with the criminal justice system. Magistrates and Judges must be given the option of handing down drug treatment as an effective alternative to repeated short prison sentences. Problem solving courts reduce reoffending and give offenders a greater chance of making a positive contribution to society. D. Drug treatment and support services i. Cease the use of the misleading term ‘Drugs and Alcohol’. ii. Campaign for ring-fenced funds from Government to Local Authorities to ensure funds are used to commission effective provision to meet local need (mandating the provision of drugs services). iii. Bring together Community Safety, Police and Public Health funding to increase efficiency, align goals and prevent silos. iv. End all financial and other incentives on NHS drugs services other than to promote the health of users. v. Ensure drug and dependency treatment is carried out by qualified health professionals; individualised, patient-centred treatment should be delivered in each patient’s best interests, according to the professional judgement of the doctor or health professional treating them and with the wishes and consent of the client. vi. Ensure that people with a dual diagnosis are able to access both mental health and drug treatment, removing barriers to access. vii. Implement outcome-based commissioning, in line with the Public Health Outcomes Framework, focusing on reducing the number of drug-related deaths, reducing crime and increasing the health and quality of life for people who use drugs. Commissioned services should allow for flexibility to deliver tailored treatment for individuals and groups including for women, people leaving prison and men who engage in chemsex. E. Overdose Prevention Centres (OPCs) (also called supervised drug consumption rooms) OPCs are legally sanctioned facilities where people can inject or smoke their own illegal drugs, under medical supervision, in order to prevent fatal overdoses, and with access to other health and treatment services. They can be located in permanent clinics, mobile ambulance-style units or temporary structures, and are proven to increase treatment engagement for hard-to-reach groups (in particular those who are homeless and/or injecting in public spaces). i. Provide OPCs in towns and cities so that people living with problematic drug use can be provided with clean equipment, and use their own drugs under medical supervision, with access to overdose reversal, drug treatment and additional medical and other support services. ii. Devolve decision-making on whether to open OPCs to police, health services and local authorities. F. Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) HAT is medically-prescribed heroin for dependent users who are unable to reduce their use and for whom other forms of treatment, such as methadone, are not effective. HAT takes place in clinics under medical supervision (though in a small proportion of cases it can be through prescribing for home use). HAT reduces: fatal overdoses and needle sharing which can lead to HIV and hepatitis infections; high-risk street injecting; fundraising-driven acquisitive crime, with money going to organised crime; street-based sex-work among problem drug users; and discarded needles. Additionally, it increases takeup and retention in treatment. Studies show moreover that HAT is cost effective. i. Supports the call of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs: ‘Central government funding should be provided to support HAT for patients for whom other forms of Opioid Substitution Treatment have not been effective’. ii. Encourage health, police and local authorities to work together to open Swiss-model HAT clinics, including developing collaborative funding streams to ensure long-term sustainability. iii. Carry out research to explore whether lower-threshold access to HAT for a wider group of people who use heroin would be beneficial. iv. Ensure that take-home prescribing of heroin (the ‘British Model’) is available to people for whom it is appropriate. G. Naloxone provision Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effect of heroin and other opiates. It is cheap and has no potential for misuse. It can be administered by injection into the muscle or intranasally. Where available, naloxone is proven to decrease deaths from opiate overdose. i. Issue naloxone to all injecting drug users who present to health services. ii. Issue naloxone to all those leaving prison with a history of opiate use or injecting drug use. iii. Ensure that all emergency services personnel are trained to administer naloxone and have easy access to naloxone either on the person or in a nearby vehicle. iv. Include naloxone administration as a key skill to be taught on all first aid courses. v. Ensure that intranasal naloxone is included in all first aid kits and with all public defibrillators. vi. Make nasal naloxone available without prescriptions in pharmacies. H. Drug Safety Testing Knowing what is in any drug, and how strong it is, can reduce the risk of overdose, poisoning or long-term damage. Drug safety testing at festivals and in city centres, in the absence of a regulated drug supply, is a proven way to reduce risk from drug use. i. Provide regular, free, confidential drug safety testing at festivals and in urban and rural areas where local need dictates, so people know what they are taking, accompanied by tailored health and safer use advice. This should be accessible both for night-time economy drug use and for people who use heroin or other drugs, including within OPCs. ii. Use intelligence regarding the nature and identity of drugs in circulation to support early warning systems to alert professionals and people who use drugs about contaminated, high strength or other particularly risky drugs. Supportive, inclusive and socially just society I. County Lines (see definition above) i. Promote wrap-around social support, housing, better schools with fewer exclusions, and good prospects for young people in order to reduce the numbers vulnerable to exploitation. ii. Reduce the criminal profits that motivate OCGs to develop County Lines, through drug regulation (see section 3 and 4 of this policy). J. Drugs training in Police (concealment of controlled drugs) The concealment of controlled drugs such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis in the body has become increasingly prevalent among drug couriers and county drug line runners. Wrapped packages of drugs are either swallowed or concealed in body orifices. It is common practice for people to swallow drugs to avoid police detection. The risk from swallowing or packing drugs depends on the type of drug, the number of packages and the type of packaging used. i. Police training that focuses on medical emergency rather than the recovery of potential evidence. ii. Police training that features identifying signs of toxicity and choking. iii. If it is known or suspected that a detainee has swallowed or packed drugs, either for the purpose of trafficking or to avoid imminent arrest or detention by the police, the person must be treated as being in need of urgent medical attention and immediate first aid to prevent choking, and/or taken straight to the nearest hospital or an ambulance. iv. If the detainee has been brought to a custody suite, having swallowed or plugged controlled drugs, an ambulance or health care professional must be called immediately; a custody record should be opened but this should not delay a transfer. v. Ensure that individuals who summon emergency medical services to scene of a drugs- related emergency will not face arrest for drugs charges. K. Drugs in Prisons Drug use and the related markets are among the main challenges facing prison systems. They threaten security and lead to violence, bullying and threats to prisoners, their families and friends, and prison officers. The disruption and damage a prison sentence does to employment prospects, relationships, housing and other aspects of life mean the problems driving drug dependency are made worse by a prison sentence. i. Support the use of diversion (see above) to ensure as few people as possible with drug problems are sent to prison. ii. Campaign for a fundamental reform of the prison system to address drugs in prisons; NB: this is further addressed in the Green Party’s Crime and Justice Policy. L. Inclusive Employer Practice Current law discriminates against people in the labour market in a number of ways. i. Erase all previous criminal records for possession. ii. Prohibit employers from subjecting prospective and existing employees to questions/sanctions concerning past or present drug use. iii. Restrict drug testing of employees to cases of proven risk to health and safety. M. Cannabis Social Clubs. The Cannabis Social Club is a community-based, non-profit model that forms an integral part of a legally regulated cannabis market. Clubs can cultivate and consume their own cannabis and cannabis products. Furthermore they act as a gathering place for recreational consumers and patients using medicinal cannabis as well as a place of information exchange, advice on safer cannabis use, harm reduction and education. There are already several active clubs throughout the UK. i. Support communities to establish Cannabis Social Clubs with private / 18+ membership, tiered licensing dependent upon membership size, cultivation limit dependent upon membership size and possession limits (for on-site and in transit). 3. Proposed reform of legislative framework “Long-term Policy” A Green government will end all criminal sanctions for possession of drugs for personal use. Criminal sanctions for the illicit production, import and supply of controlled drugs will include community service sentences and fines to reduce the profitability of the illegal drugs trade. Routine custodial sentencing for non-violent drug offences will be abolished. A Green government will pardon and erase the criminal record of all individuals previously convicted for possession and small scale supply of drugs. A Green government will seek to renegotiate the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which underpins the failing ‘War on Drugs’ and the harmful prohibitionist policies of governments around the world. In the event that the Single Convention cannot be renegotiated, a Green government would unilaterally withdraw from the convention. A Green government will repeal the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, ending prohibitionist policies that have empowered organised criminal networks and harmed individuals and communities across England and Wales for much of the 20th and 21st centuries. A Green government will replace prohibition with a legalised, regulated system of drug control. The production, import and supply of all recreational drugs, including caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, will be regulated according to the specific risks that they pose to the individual, to society and to the environment. Drugs that pose the highest risks will be subject to the heaviest regulation; safer drugs will be subject to lighter regulation. A Green government will set up an Advisory Committee for Drug Safety, a body of individuals with appropriate expertise in health, psychology, sociology, international trade and criminal justice. The committee will be responsible for: • Appraising new scientific evidence on drugs and advising the government on suitable changes to regulatory mechanisms • Commissioning research, analysing evidence and recommending regulation for New Psychoactive Substances • Continuous national surveillance of patterns of drug use and drug-related harm • Ensuring environmentally-sustainable and mutually beneficial trading relations between the government and opium and coca growing communities in the Global South The Green Party recognises the importance of medical research using currently illicit drugs; therefore a Green government will remove existing unwarranted restrictions on the use of psychoactive substances in medical research. A Green government will regulate potency and purity of all products containing controlled drugs. A Green government will place a minimum age restriction of 18 on the sale of all psychoactive drugs, excluding caffeine. A Green government will implement the following mechanisms for the legal regulation of drugs: ▪ Medical Prescription - doctors and suitably qualified health professionals will be able to prescribe drugs such as injectable heroin to users who have not responded to alternative forms of therapy to treat their problematic drug use. ▪ Specialist Pharmacy - specially qualified pharmacists will be able to dispense limited supplies of recreational drugs such as powder cocaine or amphetamines over the counter to recreational users. Drugs will be dispensed after a short consultation during which the user is given safety information and directed to support services if required. ▪ Licensed Sales - outlets will be licensed by local councils to sell drugs such as herbal cannabis to recreational users. Licensees will be subject to regulation on opening hours, quantity, strength and type of drug sold, age and intoxication level of the user. ▪ Licensed Premises - venues will be licensed by local councils to sell drugs such as alcohol and low-strength MDMA to users for consumption on the premises. Licensees will be subject to regulation on opening hours, quantity, strength and type of drug sold, age and intoxication level of the user. ▪ Unlicensed Sales - low-risk drugs such as caffeine and coca tea which are suitable for sale will be made available in unlicensed shops and venues and subject to food and drink legislation. Local Authority licensing committees will be responsible for granting licenses for the supply of recreational drugs using the above mechanisms. Committees will be guided by the following principles in their decision-making: • Promotion of public safety • Promotion of public health • Protection of children and vulnerable adults from harm • Protection of the natural environment • Promotion of a diverse and inclusive cultural environment Licenses for small businesses involved in the legal supply of recreational drugs will be preferentially granted to individuals and communities that have previously been harmed by prohibitionist policies and the ‘War on Drugs’. 4. Drug-specific policy (for reform of legislative framework) Alcohol Alcohol has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. Use of alcohol reduces social inhibition, increases appetite, reduces motor coordination and affects judgement. Alcohol is toxic to human cells and is lethal in large doses; acute alcohol poisoning kills hundreds of otherwise healthy people each year in the UK. Regular consumption of alcohol risks physical and psychological dependence and a wide range of health harms which result in thousands of deaths per year. Alcohol is a drug that has been used in many cultures for millennia and is exempt from many drugs laws internationally. Nevertheless alcohol use continues to be linked with violent crime, domestic violence, child neglect and accidents. Alcohol consumption significantly increases the burden on our emergency services: frontline fire, police and ambulance service personnel overwhelmingly support more restrictive controls on alcohol. The Green Party recognises the special historical status that alcohol has with respect to other drugs in Britain but considers many aspects of our cultural attitude to drinking to be harmful to the individual and to society. A Green government will: • Prohibit all forms of marketing of products containing alcohol • Require off-license alcohol sales to be from dedicated liquor stores only • Introduce a maximum per purchase limit of 50 units of alcohol at off-licenses • Prohibit off-license alcohol sales before 10am and after 10pm • Reduce drink-drive limits to 50mg of alcohol in every 100ml of blood • Introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol • Regularly review controls on alcohol and adjust them as necessary against alcohol-related crime and alcohol-related health outcomes • Set up a publicly controlled ‘alcohol control foundation’ paid for by alcohol taxation which will fund public health interventions to reduce harms caused by alcohol. Amphetamines Amphetamines are synthetic stimulants that speed up the body and its functions and suppress appetite. Historically amphetamines were prescribed for a range of medical uses, including as part of weight loss regimes. They were used by the British and German armies during World War II to increase endurance in soldiers and continue to be used in some armies for this purpose. Amphetamines are currently used for the medical treatment of children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and some other conditions. They are sometimes used by students and workers (e.g. shift workers, truck drivers and professionals) to stay awake for long hours and to increase alertness and concentration. Amphetamine (speed) is popular with clubbers. It typically comes in powder form and is snorted, ‘bombed’ (swallowed wrapped in cigarette paper) or dissolved in liquid and drunk. Some problematic users inject speed. The risks of amphetamine use are similar to those of cocaine (see below), including increased heart and blood pressure. There are greater risks associated with mixing with alcohol or other stimulants, or with injection (NB risk of infection, including HIV and hepatitis). The Green Party will: • Make amphetamine available in fixed dosages at fixed prices to recreational users for personal use solely through the specialist pharmacy mechanism • Require that specialist pharmacies provide full information on support services and safe use information, including guidelines on safe injecting • Provide medical support and therapy for problematic users. Cannabis Cannabis contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidol (CBD). THC produces psychological effects of relaxation, euphoria, increased awareness, introspection, paranoia and increased appetite. The effects of CBD are less well researched but are thought to have antipsychotic properties. Herbal cannabis is usually smoked, often along with tobacco. Cannabis resin can be smoked or ingested, either raw or as an ingredient in cooking, producing a slower onset and duration of action. THC is not toxic to human cells. Recreational use of high-strength cannabis (which typically has low levels of CBD) has been linked with psychosis, although there remains no proof of causation. Since 2000, many governments in the world have decriminalised or legalised cannabis, with no populational evidence of harmful effects. Cannabis has a long history of use as a medicine although research into its effects were banned for much of the 20th century. Medical cannabis is approved for use in the UK although access is currently limited to the private market. The Green Party will: • Make herbal cannabis available on NHS prescription, produced by government-employed cultivators • Grant licences for Cannabis Social Clubs, premises where members cultivate, prepare and consume cannabis for recreational purposes (see above) • Grant licenses for small businesses to sell recreational cannabis at fixed prices for consumption on or off the premises • Set the maximum permissible THC content of hemp at 1% • Create commercial licences for co-operatives and social enterprises, allowing for the cultivation of up to 300 plants (indoors) or 200 acres (outdoors) to be sold either directly to the consumer or to manufacturers of food and beauty products or herbal remedies • Ensure that laboratory-tested cannabinoid content is clearly labelled on any commercially available ingestible and topical product such as edibles, oils, tinctures and balms • Make provision for home use and cultivation, including a limit on the number of plants permitted per household • Prohibit marketing of cannabis products containing >1% THC • Apply the same restrictions on tobacco smoking to cannabis smoking. Cocaine Cocaine is a stimulant that produces feelings of euphoria, confidence, energy and alertness. Cocaine is produced from coca leaves through a series of chemical reactions. Coca leaves have been chewed by Indigenous Andean peoples for millennia with little or no evidence of health harms and some documented benefits. International drug prohibition policies have progressively driven the cultivation of coca and the production and trade of cocaine into the hands of organised crime networks leading to violence, insecurity and environmental damage, particularly in Latin America. The Green Party recognises that any attempt to address the human rights, development, health and environmental fallout from the prohibitionist approach to drugs must adopt a new approach to the production, trade and use of cocaine and other coca products on a global scale. Powder cocaine is usually snorted (for the more potent form of cocaine that is smoked, see ‘crack cocaine’ below). Use of cocaine increases the risk of heart attack and high blood pressure. Regular use through snorting can damage the inside of the nose and septum. When cocaine is mixed with alcohol this creates the toxic chemical cocaethylene, which stays in the body and can increase the risk of heart and liver damage. Regular heavy use may lead to episodes of psychosis, paranoia, delusions and psychological dependence. In addition to its recreational use, cocaine is occasionally used for medicinal purposes as a local anaesthetic. The Green Party will: • Make powder cocaine available in fixed dosages at fixed prices to recreational users for personal use only through the specialist pharmacy model • Make lower-strength cocaine products such as drinks available at fixed prices from specialist pharmacies to provide lower dose options in order to absorb some of the demand for cocaine in a safer way • Require that specialist pharmacies provide full information on support services to users • Fund professional medical treatment for problematic cocaine users, along with social and psychological support • Introduce direct partnerships between the UK government and coca farming co-operatives in South America that guarantee a fair and sustainable income for producer communities and a sustainable supply of coca and cocaine for recreational, medical and other uses in the UK. Crack Cocaine Crack is manufactured from powder cocaine via a simple process that can be done in the home. Crack enters the brain more rapidly than powder cocaine, producing a quicker onset and shorter duration of action as compared with powder cocaine, and therefore greater feelings of depression and craving after the initial effects. This gives the drug a high addictive potential, particularly when taken in the context of socioeconomic deprivation. Repeated doses of crack cocaine are more likely to cause psychosis. Crack is normally smoked or injected, often in conjunction with heroin. The Green Party will: • Make crack cocaine available on NHS prescription from medical professionals for use under medical supervision in a clinic similar to a Swiss style Heroin Assisted Treatment clinic, as maintenance therapy for individuals who are unable or unwilling to reduce their use • Introduce Overdose Prevention Centres (OPCs, see above) - venues where people can use crack cocaine, with free supplies of sterile injecting equipment, staffed by health professionals trained to promote users’ safety • Fund professional medical treatment for problematic crack users, along with social and psychological support, to help users to engage as fully as possible in society. GHB GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) is a naturally occurring component of human cells. It was developed as a drug in the early 1960s for use as a human anaesthetic. As a depressant it acts on the body in a way similar to alcohol. In lower doses it also has euphoric and aphrodisiac properties, making it a popular drug on the club scene and among some men who engage in chemsex. Since the late twentieth century GHB has been used by some body- builders to enhance the body’s production of growth hormone. GHB has been used in some countries to treat alcoholism. If combined with alcohol or any other depressant GHB is dangerous and potentially fatal, because this combination multiplies the drug’s respiratory- depressant effects. It has gained some notoriety as a ‘date rape drug’ after reports of cases in which individuals’ alcoholic drinks were spiked with GHB, leading to unconsciousness and increased vulnerability to sexual assault. The Green Party will: • Make GHB available in fixed dosages to recreational users for personal use only through specialist pharmacies • Require that specialist pharmacies provide full information on support services to users, emphasising the risks of combining GHB with alcohol • Require that clubs, bars, saunas and other venues have full safety information on GHB use and potential risks for patrons, emphasising the risks of combining GHB with alcohol and of sharing drinks with strangers • Provide medical support and therapy for problematic users. Heroin Heroin is the common name for the drug diamorphine, a strong painkiller which is commonly used in medical practice in the NHS. Heroin enters the brain rapidly and causes effects of euphoria, sedation, itching, nausea and constipation. The sedative effects of heroin can cause the user to stop breathing, an effect which can quickly be reversed by the administration of naloxone, an antidote to heroin. Repeated doses of heroin cause changes in the brain which increase tolerance and produce withdrawal symptoms of nausea, diarrhoea, agitation and insomnia. Particularly when use is associated with difficult socioeconomic circumstances, injected heroin has a high potential for addiction when compared to most other drugs. Heroin is usually smoked or injected; the latter route of administration is a significant cause of HIV and hepatitis infection, bacterial abscesses, infections of the heart valves and other disorders of the bloodstream when sterile needles are not used. Heroin is commonly injected simultaneously with crack cocaine. The Green Party will: • Make heroin available on NHS prescription from medical professionals as maintenance therapy for individuals who are unable or unwilling to reduce their use • Introduce Overdose Prevention Centres (OPCs; see above) • Fund professional medical treatment for problematic heroin users, along with social and psychological support, to help users to engage as fully as possible in society • Introduce direct partnerships between the UK government and opium farmers in central and south-east Asia that guarantee supply of medical opiates for use in the NHS and guarantees a sustainable income for farming communities. Ketamine Ketamine is a strong dissociative anaesthetic that also has psychedelic effects. It is used widely around the world as an anaesthetic agent and since the late twentieth century has been popular among people seeking spiritual and other psychedelic experiences, as well as on the club scene. Ketamine is typically sniffed or snorted but can also be injected. Ketamine impairs motor coordination so there is a risk of injury and death when taken while users are alone, in inappropriate settings, in high doses or in combination with other depressant drugs, including alcohol. High doses of ketamine can lead to what is popularly known as a ‘k hole’, when the user loses control of their body and is unable to communicate with people around them. While some users deliberately seek out this experience, for others it can be very frightening. Long-term ketamine use has been associated with dependence, urinary tract infections and loss of bladder control. There are also specific risks related to injecting. The Green Party will: • Make ketamine available in fixed dosages to recreational users for personal use only through specialist pharmacies • Require that specialist pharmacies provide full information on support services to users, including the risks of combining with alcohol • Provide medical support and therapy for problematic users MDMA MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), popularly known as ecstasy, is a stimulant which produces empathogenic and occasionally hallucinogenic effects. It is typically ingested orally as a tablet or powder. MDMA dates from the 1960s and became popular in the late 1980s on the British rave party scene, where it was famed for its ability to allow ravers to stay awake and dance all night at the same time as giving users an increased sense of happiness and empathy/friendliness towards other people. There is strong evidence of MDMA’s value as a medical treatment for mental health disorders. In the 21st century microdosing (taking very small amounts) has become popular amongst adults seeking mildly enhanced feelings of empathy, happiness and concentration for a defined period of time. In large part because of its association with the underground rave and party scene, and youth culture generally, MDMA has been a particular target of media campaigns around the dangers of young people’s drug use. A number of high-profile cases of deaths of related to ecstasy have influenced political and public opinion of the drug. Although cases of deaths attributed to ecstasy have increased in recent years, linked to the increased purity of the drug, it remains a relatively safe drug compared to many illicit and licit substances and activities. MDMA carries some risks of physical harm (most notably elevated blood pressure and heart), especially when taken in high dosages. However, the harms associated with MDMA use are often the result of associated behaviours (mainly dehydration or overhydration) rather than the direct effects of the drug itself. The Green Party will: • End all unwarranted restrictions on MDMA for medical research • Make MDMA available on prescription to patients under the direct supervision of licensed healthcare professionals in therapies where benefits have been proven by medical research • Make MDMA available in fixed dosages to recreational users through specialist pharmacies • Require that specialist pharmacies provide full information on support services to users • Grant licenses to venues, festivals and other events to sell fixed-dose products containing low doses of MDMA for consumption on the premises • Require that licensed venues have full safety information on drug use for patrons, especially the need to regulate water intake and the potential risks of mixing MDMA with other drugs, including alcohol • Require that license holders be able to demonstrate that staff are trained to provide supportive care for individuals who are intoxicated • Provide medical support and therapy for problematic users. Mephedrone Mephedrone is a stimulant with psychoactive properties. It is a synthetic drug from the class of drugs known as cathinones, which also includes the khat plant native to Africa/the Middle East (traditionally chewed for its stimulant effects). Mephedrone typically comes in powder form and is snorted. It appeared on the UK club scene in the early 21st century and quickly became one of the most popular recreational drugs. Risks associated with mephedrone are similar to those of cocaine and amphetamines: potential infection and nose damage caused by snorting, heart and blood pressure risks, and the danger of developing dependent or compulsive use. Like other stimulants, mephedrone increases sexual desire in some users and in some cases may increase the propensity to engage in higher risk sexual activity. It is one of the drugs used in chemsex. The Green Party will: • Make mephedrone available in fixed dosages to recreational users for personal use only through specialist pharmacies • Require that specialist pharmacies provide full information on support services to users, including dangers of injecting • Provide medical support and therapy for problematic users. Methamphetamine Methamphetamine has the same effects as amphetamine but is more potent and has a longer duration of action. Because it can be smoked as well as injected it has a high addictive potential, particularly when taken in the context of socioeconomic deprivation. The Green Party will: • Make methamphetamine available on NHS prescription from medical professionals as maintenance therapy for individuals who are unable or unwilling to reduce their use • Provide Overdose Prevention Centres (OPCs; see above) • Fund professional medical treatment for problematic methamphetamine users, along with social and psychological support, to help users to engage as fully as possible in society. New psychoactive substances Driven by prohibitionist policies towards existing drugs, New psychoactive substances (NPS) have been developed, marketed and distributed since the early 21st century. NPS cover a vast spectrum, from almost harmless to potentially catastrophically dangerous (for example, some of the fentanyl analogues). The Green Party will: • Make all new drugs subject to research • Implement risk-appropriate licensed sales dependent upon a baseline of risk data. Nicotine Nicotine is the principal psychoactive drug found in tobacco and has both stimulant and sedative effects on the brain. When tobacco is smoked, nicotine is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and reaches the brain within seconds of inhalation. Nicotine is then rapidly broken down by the body’s systems. Tobacco smoking gives the user a pleasurable sensation for a few minutes. This quick onset and short duration of action often leaves the user craving another hit and is one of the reasons smoking is so addictive. As well as nicotine, tobacco smoke contains substances which are toxic to many parts of the body, causing high rates of cancer and heart disease in regular users. Since 2000, the UK government has introduced regulations on the supply and use of tobacco, which have dramatically improved health outcomes. Despite this, cigarette smoking remains the biggest preventable cause of death in Britain and worldwide. As a consequence of these regulations, e-cigarettes, which deliver vapourised nicotine to the lungs, have become popular. E- cigarettes, whilst producing the same psychoactive effects as conventional cigarettes, do not carry all of the same risks to physical health but are just as addictive. The Green Party will: • Prohibit all marketing by private companies of products containing nicotine • Allow the NHS to promote nicotine-containing products as part of health promotion initiatives to reduce smoking • Extend plain packaging policies to all products containing nicotine • Make tobacco and nicotine-containing products available at licensed outlets only • Extend the smoking ban to publicly accessible outdoor areas where children congregate such as playgrounds, school gates and youth centres. Psychedelics Psychedelic drugs have the effect of altering a user’s state of consciousness and perception of visual and auditory stimuli. The psilocybin mushroom grows naturally in the UK and is domestically the most commonly consumed psychedelic drug, along with the synthetically produced LSD. There are many other naturally occurring psychedelic compounds derived from plants native to other regions of the world; many of these have been traditionally consumed as part of religious rituals for thousands of years. Psychedelics are sometimes said to help people think creatively; for example, the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA was ascribed to the use of LSD. The particular psychedelic experience of the user depends heavily on the locational and psychological context in which the drug is taken. Because of the effect that psychedelic drugs have in enabling the user to see things from a different perspective, they have huge potential as part of therapeutic regimes for mental illnesses and drug addiction. The Green Party will: • Make substantial public funding available for research into psychedelic drugs as adjunctive therapies for mental illness and addiction • Make psychedelic drugs available in fixed dosages to recreational users for personal use through specialist pharmacies • Require that specialist pharmacies provide full information on support services to users • Grant licenses to venues and festivals and other events to sell fixed doses of psychedelic drugs for consumption on the premises, and require license holders to demonstrate that staff are trained to provide supportive care for individuals who are intoxicated.

A New Constitution for the Green Party

[SOC Note: Motion A06 has been ruled out of order by SOC on two grounds: 1: the final text was not posted to the pre-Agenda Forum as required by SOCC D(1)para.1 2: the text does not include sections of the existing Constitution that are not replaced by the proposals in the ballot or section one of the HRC Report, and is thus contrary to SOCC D(8)(j) in fundamentally amending the result of a party-wide ballot.] Transition Team Jon Nott, Liz Reason*, Zoe Nicholson, David Newman, Thomas Stewart, Anne Gayfer, David McKechnie, Martina Weitsch (Convenor), Tanja Rebel, Helen Gavin, Kieran Turner, Julia Chanteray, Rae Cather, Richard Firth, Mary Anne McFarlane, Alistair Mark Crisp, Darcy Dench, Peter Hamilton Motion Synopsis: To adopt a new Constitution as required by the Holistic Review. Subsidiary documents listed in the Constitution shall be presented for adoption at Conference Autumn 2019. To adopt the transition arrangements Conference utilises Clause 10.vii of the existing Constitution to grant exception powers to Regional Council. [SOC Note: GPEW Constitution Clause 10(vii) “Conference may by a two thirds majority grant Regional Council exceptional powers in defined areas of policy, campaign strategy or administration for a specified period of time”. The synopsis does not form part of the motion so this is not part of the motion proposal. If it were part of the motion it would be ruled OoO under SOCC D(8)(d) as being vague since it does not define the areas of .. administration .. nor specify a time period. No evidence has been provided that GPRC agree to this.] Motion Text Conference adopts the new Constitution of the Green Party whose Commencement Date shall be 1st January 2020. The draft constitution is attached along with proposed transition arrangements for the election of the new governance bodies and a document which sets out the background for elections to governance bodies. GREEN PARTY Constitution 2019 (Draft) THE GREEN PARTY 1. NAME The name shall be The Green Party, and is referred to below as either “the Green Party” or “the Party”. 2. GEOGRAPHICAL APPLICATION This Constitution is to apply to all the activities of the Green Party in England and Wales.

3. OBJECTS AND AIMS The objects and aims of the Green Party are: (1) to develop and implement policies consistent with the Philosophical Basis and Core Values of The Green Party as set out in Subsidiary Documents from time to time; (2) to that end to win seats at all levels of government; and (3) to organise and carry out any non-violent activity which will publicise and further the first two aims. In furthering its objects, the Party will at all times strive to ensure that it and its Members are safe, and that it is welcoming and inclusive for all Members, employed staff, volunteers and candidates. 4. CODE OF CONDUCT The Green Party and its Members must conduct themselves in accordance with the Code of Conduct approved by Conference from time to time. 5. MEMBERSHIP (1) Membership of the Green Party is open to any individual who – (a) subscribes to the objects of the Party and its Code of Conduct; (b) is not concurrently a member of another political party in England and Wales; and (c) pays the relevant annual or monthly subscription in force at the time (subject to clause 5(5)(b)). (2) Membership of the Green Party shall entitle Members to – (a) participate in all activities of the Party subject, where applicable, to appointment or election to the relevant role; (b) attend and participate in all meetings of the Party which are open generally to Members, including Conference; and (c) vote on the business of the Party and hold office in it, in accordance with and in such ways as are set out in this Constitution and Standing Orders made under it. (3) No Member may – (a) be a candidate for any other party in England and Wales, in an election for any level of government except in cases of joint candidacies; (b) stand as a candidate against any properly selected Green Party candidate; (c) campaign for any candidate standing against a properly selected Green Party candidate. (4) No member of another party in England and Wales may be a candidate for the Green Party in any election except in cases of joint candidacies. (5) A Member shall cease to be a Member – (a) from the date on which that Member sends a written notice of resignation to the Party’s head office for the time being; (b) 6 months after that Member’s subscription became due, if that subscription remains partly or wholly unpaid at that point; (c) if, after due process of the Disciplinary Committee and by decision of the Council, that Member is expelled from the Party. 6. PARTY STRUCTURE The Green Party is formally organised on a geographical basis at three levels. To the extent possible (and permissible in accordance with the governing document of the local or regional entity), a person joining the Party on anyone level is to automatically become a Member of the Party on the other levels. Those levels are – (1) LEVEL 1 –Level 1 is to consist of Local Parties. Each Local Party is to draw its Members from a specific geographical area which coincides either with one or more Parliamentary constituency boundaries or a number of electoral wards of one or more local authorities. The boundaries of adjacent Local Parties must not overlap. Each Local Party will be known by reference to the geographical area from which it draws its embers. Arrangements for Local Parties, and a Model Constitution, are to be included as Subsidiary Documents. (2) LEVEL 2 –For Members permanently resident in Wales, level 2 is the Wales Green Party and for Members permanently resident in England, level 2 is whichever of the Regional Parties covers the geographical area which includes the Member’s permanent address or address at which that Member is registered on the electoral register. Arrangements for Regional Parties, and a Model Constitution, are to be included as Subsidiary Documents. (3) LEVEL 3 –The Green Party. 7. GOVERNANCE BODIES The governance structure of the Green Party is made up of the following constituent parts: (1) Conference; (2) the Leadership Team; (3) the Council; (4) the Board which is selected by the Council; (5) Political Executive Committee; (6) Disputes Resolution Committee; and (7) Disciplinary Committee. 8. CONFERENCE (1) Conference is the supreme governing body of the Party and derives its authority from the Membership of the Party as a whole, subject to the terms of this Constitution. (2) Conference is responsible for the adoption (after amendment where applicable) of all policies formulated and developed by Members, and for changes to policy. [OoO 2: Part of this clause has been ruled out of order by SOC Under SOCC D(8)(c) and (d)] (3) [OoO 3: Part of this clause has been ruled out of order by SOC under SOCC D(8)(j)] Every Member is entitled to participate in and vote at Conference whether in person or by electronic or other remote means. (4) The Council is to be responsible for setting a date and venue for each Conference, subject to a budget agreed by the Board. (5) Conference shall elect a Standing Orders Committee, which shall propose Standing Orders for the rules and procedures in accordance with which Conference must conduct itself (the Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference), and those Standing Orders are to be approved by Conference. (6) The Standing Orders Committee is to be the final authority for the interpretation of this Constitution and its Subsidiary Documents. (7) [OoO4: This clause has been ruled out of order by SOC under SOCC D(8)(j)] (8) Conference must ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for elections for positions in the Party as and when required. (9) Conference may (by a two-thirds majority of all votes cast) grant the Council exceptional powers in defined areas of policy, campaign strategy or administration for a specified period of time. 9. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM (1) The Leadership Team is to consist of three Members, being either two co-leaders of differing gender identities and a deputy leader, or a leader and two deputy leaders of differing gender identities. (2) The Leadership Team is to be the primary public face of the Party, responsible for presenting Green Party policy and promoting its political and electoral activities and public campaigns on a daily basis. (3) The roles, requirements and activities of the Leadership Team are more particularly set out in the Standing Orders for the Leadership Team. Any variation in those Standing Orders must be notified to and ratified by Conference. (4) Each member of the Leadership Team will serve for a period of two years. (5) The Council must ensure that elections for the Leadership Team are arranged so that the new Leadership Team will have been elected in time to succeed the current Team without a break between the current and the new Leadership Team. 10. THE COUNCIL (1) The Council has delegated to it by Conference the general power, duty and responsibility for the directing of the Party between Conferences in accordance with this Constitution. (2) The rules and procedures of the Council are set out in the Standing Orders of The Council, and any variation of those Standing Orders shall be notified to and ratified by Conference. (3) The Council has the power to delegate its authority to Task and Finish Groups of Members on such terms of reference and for such periods of time, whether limited or not, as it thinks fit and as provided for in applicable Standing Orders, provided always that each group reports back to the Council when it has completed its tasks or at least once in every year, or more frequently as required by its terms of reference. Task and Finish Groups must not act outside their terms of reference. (4) The duties and responsibilities of the Council include: (a) establishing and developing the overall policy and strategy of the Party, and recommending to Members future activities consistent with that overall strategy; (b) the formation and establishment of a structure for the Party based on a company limited by guarantee. (c) [OoO5: This sub-clause has been ruled out of order by SOC under SOCC D(8)(j)] (d) Maintaining relationships with other Green Parties throughout the world. (e) Establishing its own rules, practices and procedures and setting them out in Standing Orders and, save as set out in clause 8(5) above, ensuring that every other body established or recognised by this Constitution has its own rules, practices and procedures contained in Standing Orders or an appropriate Subsidiary Document applicable to it and all of which are kept up to date and fit for purpose. The Subsidiary Documents, including Standing Orders, are listed in clause 19 below, and the Council must make them all available to all Members in an appropriate manner. Every such Standing Order and Subsidiary Document must be read in a way consistent with this Constitution; and if that is not possible, any inconsistency or ambiguity must be resolved in a way consistent with this Constitution. (f) Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and monitoring these. (g) being responsible for the health and wellbeing of the Party. (5) On the Commencement Date, the Council shall have 45 members, but its number may be varied by Conference from time to time. On the Commencement Date, so far as is practicable its composition will be as follows: (a) 2 representatives from each of the Regions of England; and (b) 2 representatives from the Wales Green Party; (c) 10 members directly elected from the Membership; (d) 5 representatives of the Young Greens; (e) 5 representatives of the Association of Green Councillors; (f) 5 representatives of formally constituted Affiliated Groups. (6) Procedures for election of the members of the Council are set out in the Subsidiary Document for Elections to the Council. (7) Each member of the Council will serve a term of up to 3 years after election, [OoO6: Part of this clause has been ruled out of order by SOC under SOCC D(8)(c)] 11. THE BOARD (1) Every member of the Council must be a member of the company referred to above. The Council must appoint a Board of Directors of that company from amongst the Members using the Party’s recruitment procedures. The Board is (so far as is practicable) to have 7 members, including a chair and the treasurer. (2) Members of the Board must resign from that position after serving for 6 years. This applies notwithstanding any rules in the articles of association relating to the retirement by rotation of directors, but on condition that the said director is able to resign having regard to any minimum number of directors stipulated in those articles of association. (3) The function of the Board is to develop the operational and financial strategy of the Party, and to exercise the functions of company directors as set out in company law and the articles of association of that company. (4) The Council must establish and maintain appropriate Standing Orders for The Board, to provide for the way in which the company is operated. Any variation in those Standing Orders is to be notified to and ratified by Conference. 12. POLITICAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (1) The role of the Political Executive Committee is to maintain a close understanding of the political events and mood of the people of the United Kingdom, with a view to ensuring that policies are formulated for the Party to pursue consistent with the Objects and Aims of the Party as set out above and its position on issues of the day. The committee must meet as often as necessary for it to be able to discharge its role. (2) So far as practicable, the members of the committee on the Commencement Date will be - (a) The Leader, or one of the co-Leaders, who is to act as chair; (b) The Deputy Leader, or one of the co-Deputy Leaders (c) The leader of the Wales Green Party (d) A member of Parliament or the House of Lords; (e) A member of the Association of Green Councillors; (f) The chair of the Council or one of the co-chairs of the Council; (g) One of the members of the European Parliament (if applicable); and (h) Four Members elected by the Membership. (3) Except where their term is otherwise defined, each member shall serve for a period of 3 years, [OoO7: Part of this clause has been ruled out of order by SOC under SOCC D(8)(c)] (4) The rules and procedures of the Political Executive Committee, are to be set out in the Standing Orders of the Political Executive Committee, and any variation to those Standing Orders is to be notified to and ratified by Conference. 13. DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE (1) There shall be a Dispute Resolution Committee to serve the needs of Green Party Members in resolving disputes arising in any matter relating to the Membership and activities of The Green Party, Regional Parties and Local Parties. (2) The Committee shall consist of five Members elected at each Annual Party Conference, with vacancies to be filled by election, or by co-options, to be ratified at Conference. No member of the Dispute Resolution Committee shall be a member of any other body of The Green Party elected by the whole membership or by Conference, nor employees, nor Officers of The Green Party. (3) The rules and procedures of the committee are to be set out in the Standing Orders of the Dispute Resolution Committee, drafted by the committee and approved by the Council. [OoO8: Part of this clause has been ruled out of order by SOC under SOCC D(8)(j)] 14. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE (1) Green Party Members shall, wherever possible, resolve any disagreement through mutual respect and discussion. Expelling members of an organisation is painful and should be a last resort. A diversity of opinions is likely to exist within any organisation, and political difference should not automatically be the basis for expulsion of a party member. Mediation must be attempted on an informal basis before expulsion of a member is considered. (2) There shall be a Disciplinary Committee, elected to handle all complaints of a disciplinary nature which have not been resolved at Regional or Local Party level. The committee will comprise eleven members, one member from each region, one from the Wales Green Party and a member elected biennially at the Conference. The term of office will be two years. (3) The rules and procedures of the committee, including procedures for electing or otherwise selecting its members, [OoO9: Part of this clause has been ruled out of order by SOC under SOCC D(8)(j)] The Standing Orders must make provision for – (a) each complaint to be heard and decided by a panel of 3 members of the committee; for the individual against whom the complaint is made to have a right to appeal to the Appeals sub-Committee; which shall be a separate subcommittee appointed by the Council, consisting of Members who are not members of the Disciplinary Committee; and for the decision of the appeal panel to be final; and (b) for the committee to report to the Council on its activities at least once in every calendar year, but without disclosing any matters of a confidential nature. 15. GENERAL LIMITATION ON SERVING IN THE SAME POST Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution in relation to maximum terms as a member of one of the governance bodies, [OoO10: Part of this paragraph has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(j)] 16. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND CAPITATIONS (1) Subscriptions in respect of Membership of the Party are to be paid to a bank account designated by the Board from time to time. The amount and the terms applicable to payment of subscriptions may be reviewed from time to time, but at least every 3 years, by the Board. (2) A Member whose subscription is more than two months overdue will be sent a reminder, and, if that Member fails to pay that subscription up to date within 6 months of the date on which the overdue subscription first became due, that Member’s Membership shall come to an end in accordance with clause 5(5)(b). During this six-month ‘grace’ period that Member shall not be eligible to stand as a candidate nor to vote in the selection of candidates, or take part in any other processes within the Party. (3) A percentage of all subscriptions paid, known as capitations, shall be allocated and paid to the Green Party of Wales, English Regions and to Local Parties. The percentage rates shall be subject to review carried out on a three-yearly basis by the Council. 17. ELECTIONS AND VOTING (1) All elections in the Green Party are to be conducted by the single transferable vote method of proportional representation. (2) Voting may be by using ballot papers, or, if an electronic system is available for an election, voting may take place electronically. (3) For elections to the governance bodies, the arrangements shall be made by the Election Returning Officer as appointed by, and in accordance with the procedures set out in the applicable Subsidiary Documents. 18. AMENDMENT OF THIS CONSTITUTION This Constitution may be amended only as follows – (1) by a resolution passed by at least two thirds of the total number of Members casting a vote (excluding abstentions) in Conference; or (2) by a resolution passed by at least two thirds of all Members casting a vote (excluding abstentions) in a ballot open to all Members. 19. SUBSIDIARY DOCUMENTS The Subsidiary Documents and Standing Orders are listed below: A OUR BELIEFS 1. Our Core Values 2. Philosophical Basis 3. Policies for a Sustainable Society 4. Record of Policy Statements B CODE OF CONDUCT C LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTIES 1. Arrangements for Local Parties, and including Model Constitution for Local Parties 2. Arrangements for Regional Parties, and including Model Constitution for Regional Parties D AFFILIATED GROUPS 1. Definition of Affiliated Groups 2. Procedures for the Groups’ entitlement to seek representation on The Council E STANDING ORDERS 1. Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference 2. Standing Orders for the Leadership Team 3. Standing Orders of Green Party Council 4. Standing Orders of Green Party Board 5. Standing Orders of the Political Executive 6. Standing Orders of Standing Orders Committee 7. Standing Orders for Disputes Resolution Committee 8. Standing Orders for the Disciplinary Committee 9. Standing Orders for Party Discipline (if different from B8) 10. Standing Orders for Affiliated Groups F ELECTIONS 1. Procedures for internal elections within the Green Party 2. General procedures relating to all internal elections for a. Elections to The Leadership Team b. Elections to The Council c. Elections to The Political Executive d. Election to the Standing Orders Committee. 3. Procedures for selection of candidates for Westminster and (if applicable) European elections. 4. Procedures for selection of candidates for election as directly-elected mayors. 20. MEANINGS AND DEFINITIONS Unless the context requires otherwise, in this Constitution the following words and expressions are to have the meanings set out for them below, and where appropriate, the singular is to include the plural and vice versa: “Affiliated Group” means a group of Members as defined in the applicable Subsidiary Document. “Association of Green Councillors” means a self-organising group of Members who sit as councillors at any level of local government, including Members who have previously sat as councillors and Members who aspire to sit as councillors. “Commencement Date” means the day on which this Constitution came into force. “Constitution” means this Constitution (which, from the point at which the Party is structured as a company limited by guarantee, supplements the articles of association of that company); “Electoral Register” means an electoral register maintained under the law for the time being in England and Wales. “Member” means any individual who has become and remains for the time being a Member of the Green Party in accordance with the rules for Membership set out above; and “Membership” means the status of being a Member. “Local Party” means a sub-division of the Green Party as further defined in clause 6 above. “Regional Party” means a sub-division of the Green Party as defined in clause 6 above. “Standing Orders” means a set of rules drawn up by one of the governance bodies established by this Constitution. “Subsidiary Document” means a document (including a Standing Orders document) giving further guidance or explanation, or setting out terms of reference or rules, relating to part of the Green Party or its activities, and associated with this Constitution. “Task and Finish Group” means a group of individual Members (plus one or more employees of the Party if appropriate), up to a maximum of 11, carrying out a defined piece of work (which could include, but is not limited to, policy development, investigation, research, campaigning, liaison) “Young Greens” means a group consisting of individuals below a particular age threshold, and others in full-time education, who have chosen to join it. The age threshold is set by the Young Greens. 21. COMMENCEMENT AND TRANSITION (1) [OoO11 This clause has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(a)] (2) [OoO12 This clause has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(c) and 8(f)] (3) The existing governance bodies shall concurrently continue the process of Incorporation, ensuring at all times that there is no inconsistency with this Constitution. (4) [OoO13 This clause has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(c) and 8(d)] (5) [OoO14 This clause has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(d)] (6) [OoO15 This clause has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(d) and 8(j)] (7) [OoO16 This clause has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(j)] b. Initial elections to the new governance bodies

This document gives transitional arrangements for the initial elections to the Council and Political Executive in 2019. We need to hold initial elections to Council as soon as possible, so that the Council, in shadow form, [OoO17: SOC Note: part of this paragraph has been ruled Out of Order under SOCC D(8)(a) and D(8)(j)] The Council There are separate constituencies that nominate candidates for election. The constituencies reflect the parts of the party where members are active, namely: 1. Local, regional and national parties. (20 representatives, 2 from each English region and 2 from Wales) 2. Elected Green councillors. (5 representatives) 3. Young Greens. (5 representatives) 4. Affiliated Groups. (5 representatives) 5. Members in general. (10 representatives) Membership of constituencies To effectively manage the nomination and voting process, the national party database needs to include information on which set of groups each member belong to. It currently has the address of each member and their local and regional parties. It has records of who is a Young Green. But it does not have complete and accurate records of Green councillors or members of affiliated groups. The party will need to carry out a membership survey to update its records, inviting members to self declare their membership of the different groups. The Council will need to do that in the first 3 months after commencement. Until a membership survey is carried out, we will have to rely on whatever membership lists exist. This has implications for how the initial elections in 2019 can be run. Election cycle The Holistic Review recommended that Council members would serve 3 year terms, elected in thirds. That ensures that tacit knowledge learned from experience of serving on Council is not lost as it would be in all out elections. [OoO18: part of the paragraph has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(c)] A pattern that emerges is:

Council 3 year Terms 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Wales 2 1 1 1 1

North East 2 1 1 1 1

North West 2 1 1 1 1

Yorkshire and the Humber 2 1 1 1 1

East Midlands 2 1 1 1 1

West Midlands 2 1 1 1 1

Eastern 2 1 1 1 1

South West 2 1 1 1 1

South East 2 1 1 1 1

London 2 1 1 1 1

Councillors 5 1 2 2 1 2 2

Young Greens 5 2 1 2 2 1 2

Affiliated Group 5 2 2 1 2 2 1

Directly elected members 10 3 3 4 3 3 4 Total elected each year 45 15 15 15 15 15 15

Nominations [OoO19: This section has been ruled Out of Order under SOCC D(8)(c) and D(8)(d)] Elections [OoO20: This section has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(c) and D(8)(d)] Voting system Initial elections to council will be by Single Transferable Vote on lists of nominees for each constituency, with an option to Re-open Nominations (RON) where RON is treated like any other candidate, except that if RON is elected that place and all subsequent place will remain unfilled until a by-election can be held. To determine who serves terms of different lengths in this first election in the cycle, we need an order of election. It is determined as follows. Use the alternative vote to find the first candidate elected. Then run an STV count to fill 2 places. That finds the second candidate. Do repeated STV counts to find the 3rd, 4th, … places until all places are filled. Those elected last stand down after one year, the next lowest stand down after 2 years and those in the top places serve for 3 years. The Political Executive There are a number of people who will serve on the Political Executive who represent certain groups of members who are there because of their role as publicly elected Greens or because of their role in the party. They are: MPs/Peers Elected every 2 years by those who are in this group only MEPs Elected every 2 years by those who are in this group only. Co-Leaders – unless there is only one leader; then it is the Leader. Co-leaders to decide between them who would do this. Deputy Leaders – unless there is only one Deputy Leader; then it is the Deputy Leader Deputy leaders to decide between them who would do this. Leader of Wales GP AGC Representative Elected by AGC Chair/one of co-chairs of Council. Council should decide whom they want to take that seat. There are also 4 directly elected members on the Political Executive. [OoO21 part of this paragraph has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(j)] The Board The Board must be in place at the point of transition. Once the Council has been elected in Summer/Autumn 2019 and starts operating as a shadow Council, one of its priorities will be to appoint the Board. The Transition Team will draft terms of reference for the Board (they will derive from the Memorandum and Articles of the Limited Liability Company). [OoO22: this paragraph has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(a)] c Election to Governance Bodies

[OoO23 part (c) of the proposed document – election to Governance Bodies is very close in text to part (b) – initial election to Governance Bodies and has been ruled out of order under SOCC D(8)(c) and D(8)(e)]

[ SOC Note: This part of the Report has been ruled Out of Order on the grounds of being contrary to the current constitution s17(iii) and (iv) which govern national elections and which will govern any elections until the new Constitution comes into force] As indicated above, this will need to happen as soon after Spring Conference as possible and the work will have to be coordinated by relevant members of staff. OoO2 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Part of Clause 8(2) [SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of being ambiguous and vague. It does not specify from whom any such new or amended policy would come.] Where policies are introduced or amended between Conferences such changes are subject to ratification at the next Conference. OoO3 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Part of Clause 8(3) [SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of fundamentally amending the result of a party wide ballot. The ballot requires an ‘Autumn Conference’ and this is not reflected in the wording here.] The Party must hold a Conference at least once in every calendar year OoO4 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Clause 8(7) [SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of fundamentally amending the result of a party wide ballot. There is no precedent for a Conference binding a future Conference.] Conference may, if authorised to do so by a majority of Members participating in that Conference, amend or suspend any Standing Order for the purposes of that Conference and/or specified future Conferences, notwithstanding the terms of any applicable Standing Orders in force at the relevant time. OoO5 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Sub-clause 10(4)(c) [SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of fundamentally amending the result of a party wide ballot. The ballot specifies that the Chair and Treasurer of the Board are to be elected] Appointing the Board and supervising the Board and activities of the company referred to above OoO6 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Part of Clause 10(7) [SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of being ambiguous since the wording means that after two consecutive terms the member may never serve again. The HRC Report used the term “and must not serve more than two terms consecutively”] and must not serve more than two consecutive terms. OoO7 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Part of Clause 12(3) [SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of being ambiguous since the wording means that after two consecutive terms the member may never serve again. The HRC Report used the term “and must not serve more than two terms consecutively”] and must not serve for more than 2 consecutive terms

[SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of fundamentally amending the result of a party wide ballot. Currently DRC is required to report to both Autumn and Spring Conferences and this represents an amendment to the current Constitution, and does not reflect the decision of Autumn Conference 2018, as reflected in the ballot, that the position of DRC be unaffected by the proposed changes.] The Standing Orders must make provision for the committee to report to the Council on its activities at least once in every calendar year, but without disclosing any matters of a confidential nature.

[SOC Note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of fundamentally amending the result of a party wide ballot. Standing Orders for Party Discipline (the current form of the proposed Standing Orders) are approved by Conference and this does not reflect the decision of Autumn Conference 2018, as reflected in the ballot, that the position of DC be unaffected by the proposed changes.] are to be set out in the Standing Orders of the Disciplinary Committee, drafted by the committee and approved by the Council.

[SOC note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order on the grounds of fundamentally amending the result of a party wide ballot. It is unambiguously a lifetime limit, but is in neither the ballot or HRC and thus represents a significant change to the constitution not agreed by the ballot.] no Member may be elected to the same post or serve on the same body for more than 10 years

[SOC note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order as being Contrary to the Constitution, in that under the existing Constitution s.20(iv) “Changes to this constitution take effect at the close of the conference in which they are agreed”] (1) This Constitution will come into force on a day to be decided by Conference. That day is referred to in this Constitution as the Commencement Date.

[SOC note: This part of the motion was ruled Out of Order as requiring no consequential action in that no power has been granted to any body to carry out these actions] (2) As soon as possible after the adoption of this Constitution, the existing governance bodies are to take the necessary steps for setting up the Council and the Political Executive Committee, including the holding of elections to the posts within those new bodies. The rules and procedures for such elections in 2019 are set out in the document “Initial Elections to the New Governance Bodies”. Rules and procedures for elections in future years are to be prepared and set out in appropriate Standing Orders. OoO13 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Clause 21(4) [SOC Note: This part of the motion has been ruled Out of Order as being ambiguous and vague – there is no indication of where specification otherwise might take place] (4) For a period of 3 months before the Commencement Date, there is to be a transitional period, during which all aspects of the existing constitution (as at the conclusion of Autumn 2019 conference) shall be maintained, except where specified otherwise. OoO14 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Clause 21(5) [SOC Note: This part of the motion has been ruled Out of Order as being vague, as a consequence of ruling clause 21(2) OoO] (5) As soon as possible after the Council has been established in accordance with sub- paragraph (2) above, it must then take all necessary steps to ensure that each of the remaining Governance Bodies provided for in this Constitution is established as so provided for. OoO15 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Clause 21(6) [SOC Note: This part of the motion has been ruled Out of Order as being vague, as a consequence of ruling clause 21(2) OoO; and as fundamentally amending the outcome of a ballot in that no Standing Orders exist that are applicable to these bodies] (6) For the avoidance of doubt, such necessary steps referred to in sub-paragraph (2) above are to include fixing the terms of appointment and the periods during which individual members of those bodies are to serve immediately following the Commencement Date so as to ensure that only a proportion of the members of any such body are to be subject to re- election at any one time in accordance with the Standing Orders applicable to that body. OoO16 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Clause 21(7) [SOC Note: This part of the motion has been ruled Out of Order as fundamentally amending the outcome of a ballot that determined that DC and DRC will continue in their current form, and are Governance Bodies identified under s.7 of this Constitution, and cannot ‘cease to function’ on Commencement Date] (7) At the Commencement Date, all existing governance bodies will cease to function, and the elected posts within those bodies will not be carried forward into any of the new governance bodies. OoO17 PART OF MOTION A06 CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Part (b) [SOC note: this part of the motion has been ruled Out of Order on the grounds that it is contrary to the Constitution – the proposed new constitution and Council do not come into existence until 1st January 2020, and thus do not have powers, and no changes have been proposed to the current Constitution to permit the shadow council to act before that time, and as fundamentally amending a party wide ballot in suggesting that all of the Board can be appointed (see note on OoO5 above)] can appoint members of the Board and take handover from GPEx, GPRC and a number of current committees before they start on 1 January 2020.

[SOC note: this part of the motion has been ruled out of order on the grounds that it is ambiguous – it appears to state that 2 consecutive 3 year terms is a life time limit] No one can serve more than 2 consecutive 3 year terms

[SOC note: this part of the motion has been ruled out of order as being vague and ambiguous. The word nominated is used where election would be expected and this means that in some contexts the intention is not clear; in the final part, where the term election is used but no election is to take place, no process for agreement is explained, and no fall back is included if consensus cannot be reached] Nominations Each constituency will nominate candidates for their representatives on Council This will be done through a national voting system For the first elections to Council, we will adopt the current nomination procedures of each constituency. For example, the regional representatives will be nominated for each region in England and the nation of Wales, by members in the region or nation using the current procedures for electing GPRC councillors, with the same constraint on serving no more than 6 years consecutively. However, 2 constituencies do not have current nomination procedures. They are all members and affiliated groups. For the ballot to elect the representatives of all members, we will use the nomination procedures currently used for GPEx elections. For the affiliated group representatives, election of the representatives of these groups to the first Council should be though selection using each group’s own system and appointment by consensus of affiliated groups either at Conference or at a meeting to be convened after Conference

[SOC note: this part of the motion was ruled out of order as being vague and ambiguous in that although the term election is used no election is to take place, no process for agreement is explained, and no fall back is included if consensus cannot be reached] Elections The Council will be debating and making decisions on national issues that affect the whole of the Green Party. So we need to consider the extent to which they are delegates, acting in the interests of the section they represent, or representatives of Conference, trying to establish what is best for the party. The Transition team considered two options. Option A. The members of the constituency nominate, all Green Party members vote to select from the list of nominees. Option B. The members of the constituency nominate and vote to select from the list of nominees. There are practical constraints in organising elections this summer. As explained above under membership of constituencies, we do not have complete membership records for all constituencies. There are good records of where members live and whether they are Young Greens. We recommend option B for electing representatives from the regions and Wales and from the Young Greens. We recommend option A for electing representatives from Green councillors and all members. For the affiliated group representatives, election of the representatives of these groups to the first Council should be though selection using each group’s own system and appointment by consensus of affiliated groups either at Conference or at a meeting to be convened after Conference

[SOC note: this part of the motion has been ruled out of order as fundamentally amending the outcome of a party wide ballot. In part 1 of the HRC report where the elections to PEX are referred to the term limit is set at 3 years] They will be elected for 2 year terms: 4 in 2019, then 2 every year afterwards.

[SOC note; This part of the motion has been ruled out of order as contrary to the current Constitution, and will require a change to the existing constitution at Autumn Conference to be possible] The shadow Council will invite applications (with person specs), interview and select Board members during the autumn of 2019

[SOC note: This part of the motion was ruled out of order as being trivial and ambiguous in repeating much of the text of part (b)] Elections to Governance Bodies

This document gives the procedures for election to the Council and Political Executive. It includes transition arrangements for the initial elections to establish them in 2019. The Holistic Review Commission were clear that there would be transition issues with regard to these elections because there would be a need to ensure rolling elections to avoid cliff edges on all of these bodies.

The Council The Council is structured to ensure diversity in its members’ experiences of the Green Party. There are separate constituencies that nominate candidates for election. The constituencies reflect the parts of the party where members are active, namely: 1. Local, regional and national parties. (20 representatives, 2 from each English region and 2 from Wales) 2. Elected Green councillors. (5 representatives) 3. Young Greens. (5 representatives) 4. Affiliated Groups. (5 representatives) 5. Members in general. (10 representatives) The aim is to ensure that any proposed decision gets examined from different perspectives and debated by those who could be affected by it in different ways. It is a system designed to protect minorities from majorities, country folk from London staff and marginalised groups from those who unwittingly ignore their needs.

Membership of constituencies To effectively manage the nomination and voting process, the national party database needs to include information on which set of groups each member belong to. It currently has the address of each member and their local party. It has mostly accurate records of who is a Young Green. It has records of most principal authority councillors but not parish councillors. The Association of Green Councillors has records of its own membership (both councillors and aspiring councillors). The national party database has incomplete records of membership of affiliated groups, under-reporting the number of members in all groups. The party will need to carry out a membership survey to update its records, inviting members to self-declare their membership of the different groups. The Holistic Review recommends regular members surveys, up to 6 times a year. Questions on membership of groups should be included once a year. Until a membership survey is carried out, we will have to rely on whatever membership lists exist. This has implications for how the initial elections in 2019 can be run.

Election cycle The Holistic Review recommended that Council members would serve 3 year terms, elected in thirds. That ensures that tacit knowledge learned from experience of serving on Council is not lost as it would be in all out elections. No one can serve more than 2 consecutive 3 year terms. A pattern that emerges is:

Council 3 year Terms 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Wales 2 1 1 1 1

North East 2 1 1 1 1

North West 2 1 1 1 1

Yorkshire and Humber 2 1 1 1 1

East Midlands 2 1 1 1 1

West Midlands 2 1 1 1 1 Eastern 2 1 1 1 1

South West 2 1 1 1 1

South East 2 1 1 1 1

London 2 1 1 1 1

Councillors 5 1 2 2 1 2 2

Young Greens 5 2 1 2 2 1 2

Affiliated Group 5 2 2 1 2 2 1

Directly elected members 10 3 3 4 3 3 4

Total elected each year 45 15 15 15 15 15 15

Nominations Each constituency will nominate candidates for their representatives on Council. This will be done through a national voting system. Council, once established, will lay out the nomination processes, including, among other things, the number of members required to nominate, methods to encourage or ensure diversity and criteria for admission to the ballot. This is the general approach, but it has to be modified for the initial elections in 2019 to establish the Council.

2019 transition For the first elections to Council, we will adopt the current nomination procedures of each constituency. For example, the regional representatives will be nominated for each region in England and the nation of Wales, by members in the region or nation using the current procedures for electing GPRC councillors, with the same constraint on serving no more than 3 consecutive terms. However, 2 constituencies do not have current nomination procedures. They are all members and affiliated groups. For the ballot to select the representatives of all members, we can use the nomination procedures currently used for GPEx members. For the affiliated group representatives, election of the representatives of these groups to the first Council should be though selection using each group’s own system and appointment by consensus of affiliated groups either at Conference or at a meeting to be convened after Conference. Elections The Council will be debating and making decisions on national issues that affect the whole of the Green Party. So we need to consider the extent to which they are delegates, acting in the interests of the section they represent, or representatives of Conference, trying to establish what is best for the party. If they are delegates, fighting for their corner, then only the confirmed members of their constituency can vote for them. But if they are to come together from their different groups as members of a national body, then every member could vote for them. In either case, they can only be nominated by their constituency. This is something that needs to be debated and considered in depth by the first Council, perhaps appointing a Task and Finish group with expertise on democracy, to bring a proposal to a Conference or members vote. Table 1: Who can vote: alternative options. Constituency Option A Option B Regions and All members The members in each region or Wales vote for their Wales area’s representatives. Elected All members All elected councillors councillors Young Greens All members All under 30 and full time students Affiliated groups All members Members of any affiliated group as recorded in the national database All members All members – Note that the best choice may be different for different constituencies, for philosophical or practical reasons. Table 2: Comparison of options. Option A Option B Constituency members nominate. Constituency members nominate. All members vote to select from the list of Constituency members vote to select from the nominees. list of nominees. Each member votes for every Councillor from Each member votes for Councillors to all constituencies. represent their own groups, but not others. Every member has the same number of votes. Some members can have more votes than others. Electorate of around 40,000 Electorate ranges from 25 to 9,000 Voters informed by selection statements and Voters may know some of the nominees in hustings. their constituency. Voters rank nominees on their own perception Voters rank nominees on their own perception of who would be the best Councillors. of who would best represent their interests. Initial election in 2019 Council can work through these options and bring a proposal to Conference for elections from 2020 onwards. But we need to hold initial elections to Council as soon as possible, so that the Council, in shadow form, can appoint members of the Board and take handover from GPEx, GPRC and a number of current committees before they start on 1 January 2020. There are practical constraints in organising elections this summer. As explained above under membership of constituencies, we do not have complete membership records of all constituencies. So to manage a national, simultaneous election using the Green Party internal voting system, we have to use option A where there is no data good enough for use in option B. There are good records of where members live and whether they are a Young Green. We recommend option B for electing representatives from the regions and Wales and from Young Greens. We recommend option A for all other constituencies, namely elected Green councillors, affiliated groups and directly elected Council members. This avoids the difficulties involved in getting accurate records of membership in the other constituencies in time for this election. It also encourages all members to feel ownership of all members of Council, not just a particular section.

Voting system The Council, once established, may set up a Task and Finish group to look at alternative voting systems, both for elections of representatives and decision-making and make proposals to a future conference. In the meantime, elections to council will be by Single Transferable Vote on lists of nominees for each constituency, with an option to Re-open Nominations (RON) where RON is treated like any other candidate, except that if RON is elected that place and all subsequent place will remain unfilled until a by-election can be held. Where an order of election is required (e.g. to determine who serves terms of different lengths in the first elections in the cycle) it is determined as follows. Use the alternative vote to find the first candidate elected. Then run an STV count to fill 2 places. That finds the second candidate. Do repeated STV counts to find the 3rd, 4th, … places until all places are filled.

The Political Executive There are a number of people who will serve on the Political Executive who represent certain groups of members who are there because of their role as publicly elected Greens or because of their role in the party. They are: MPs/Peers Elected every 2 years by those who are in this group only MEPs Elected every 2 years by those who are in this group only. Co-Leaders – unless there is Co-leaders to decide between them who would do only one leader; then it’s the this. Leader Deputy Leaders – unless there Deputy leaders to decide between them who would do is only one Deputy Leader; then this. it’s the Deputy Leader Leader of Wales GP AGC Representative Elected by AGC – HRC took the view that even if the representative lost their seat on their local authority, they would serve out their term Chair/one of co-chairs of Council should decide who they want to take that seat. Council

There are also 4 directly elected members on the Political Executive. They will be elected for 2 year terms: 4 in 2019, then 2 every year afterwards.

The Board The Board must be in place at the point of transition. Once the Council has been elected in Summer/Autumn 2019 and starts operating as a shadow Council, one of its priorities will be to appoint the Board. The Transition Team needs to draft terms of reference for the Board (they will derive from the Memorandum and Articles of the Limited Liability Company). The Shadow Council needs to invite applications (with person specs), interview and select Board members during the autumn of 2019.

[SOC Note: Part of this sentence has been ruled out of order as being vague] (subsidiary to Constitution)

[SOC note: this part of the motion was ruled out of order as being vague and ambiguous in that although the term election is used no election is to take place, no process for agreement is explained, and no fall back is included if consensus cannot be reached] Election for representation from these groups to the first Council should be though nomination using each group’s own system and appointment by consensus of affiliated groups either at Conference or at a meeting to be convened after Conference [SOC note: this part of clause has been ruled out of order as vague, there is no article 3.2] Notwithstanding Article 3.2,

[SOC note: This motion has been ruled out of order as requiring no consequential action under D(8)(f)] Dawn Furness*, Viv Preece, Janine Pyke, Susan Jones, Justine Fox, Jessica Golfinch, Dee Searle, Caroline Boreham, Noel Cass, Hazel Pegg, Raymundo Obedencio, Judy Maciejowska, Karl Rogers, Loppy Oubridge, Maire Smith, Karl Rogers

Motion synopsis: It is utterly shocking that in 34 categories comprising hundreds of policies and tens of thousands of words we have not one single policy about women! This is shameful and requires immediate rectification.

Motion text: The Green Party of England & Wales recognises the following:

Women are an oppressed class on the basis of their biological sex.

Language is vital in calling out, and identifying, that oppression.

Sexism Is explicitly the discrimination based upon someone's sex and is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010).

Women must retain the right to use language which specifically refers to the anatomy of their biological sex for the purpose of personal dignity and health care provision.

Misogyny is a hate crime

[SOC note: this motion has been ruled out of order as being vague under SOCC D(8)(d)] Michael Gregg*, Walter John Houston, Christian Schroeder, Helen Giblin Jowett, Nigel Hennerley, John Knight, Charlie Keller, Siriol Hugh Jones, Laurie Needham, Darren Woodiwiss, Christopher Williams, Joseph Levy

Motion synopsis: Asylum seekers can wait years in the UK whilst the claim is considered. They are mostly refused the right to work and given ‘income’ of £37.75 weekly. This motion proposes that the income they receive matches that of UK benefits, council housing standards and that they can legitimately seek employment.

Motion text: At PSS 411: The Green Party commit to enabling asylum seekers to have access to the same income level and rules as someone claiming welfare benefits within the UK. This payment being administered through the Home Office as part of on-going monitoring and support, alongside accommodation that meets the same standards and conditions that are applied to Local Authority housing. This would include the entitlement to legitimate paid employment and an expectation that this paid work would be required disclosed to Home Office officials

Section D: REVISION OF ALLOWABLE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES Alan Borgars* NATIONAL GREEN PARTY REGULATION OF YOUNG GREENS Alan Borgars*, Susan Jones, Raymundo Obedencio, Karl Rogers, Dawn Furness WORKING GROUP ON SELECTING CANDIDATES FOR EXTERNAL ELECTIONS Bill McComish, Carla Denyer, Alan Mossman*, Pippa Austin Section E PROTECTING PEOPLE – ALLOWING ASYLUM CLAIMS FROM OUTSIDE THE UK Michael Gregg*, Walter Houston, Helen Jowett, John Knight, Charlie Keller, Siriol Hugh Jones, Andrew Blanchflower, Gavin Andrews CONFEDERACY OF COUNTRIES Rob Bryher* ENGLISH PARLIAMENT Rob Bryher*

CONTENTS A) Preamble 1 Status of the Code 2 Scope 3 Oversight 4 Mechanism for updating, revising & appending documents to the Code 5 Appended documents 6 Green Philosophy & Values

B) Standards of Conduct 7 Organisational guidance & procedures and legal responsibilities 8 Freedom of expression 9 Safe space & civility 10 Inclusion 11 Diversity 12 Differences 13 Infighting & cliques 14 Vexatious or malicious complaints 15 Smears and rumours 16 Confidentiality 17 Transparency 18 Procedure and authority 19 Conflict of interest

A) PREAMBLE 1 Status of the Code 1.1 The Members Code of Conduct is an organisational document that is binding on all members of the Green Party of England and Wales (‘the Green Party’). It forms part of the national disciplinary framework that applies to all Green Party members, as set out in the Green Party of England and Wales Constitution and Standing Orders for Party Discipline. 1.2 Other Party documents set out that a breach of this Code of Conduct constitutes grounds for disciplinary action. When considering disciplinary action, it is the clauses in the section titled Standards that must be considered, in conjunction with the Scope and Status of the Code. Documents that are formally appended to this Code, as set out below, are to be considered part of the Standards section. 2 Scope 2.1 The purpose of this document is to provide a clear set of standards that must not be breached, to guide members and non-member volunteers in how they are expected to conduct themselves. In the rest of this document where ‘members’ are mentioned, non- member volunteers are also included. 2.2 It also applies to all activities carried out for or on behalf of the Green Party, for which Green Party members or non-member volunteers are responsible, including informal social activities and any other forms of interaction at which Green Party members are present.

2.3 Members are expected to display the same high standards of conduct in their interactions with staff. The Party has in addition a set of policies specifically for paid staff and how to deal with matters arising within employment situations.

2.4 This Code of Conduct stands alongside and complements other organisational Party documentation, such as the Safe Spaces policy and the Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination (& Whistleblowing) policy and Safeguarding Policy. However only documents formally appended to this Code may be considered a part of it for disciplinary purposes. 3 Oversight This document is to be kept under review by a group consisting of: the Co-Chairs of Green Party Regional Council, the Chair of Disciplinary Committee, the Coordinator of Disputes Resolution Committee, and the Chair of GPEx, or their deputies or substitutes. 4 Mechanism for updating, revising & appending documents to the Code 4.1 Updating – Standing Orders Committee may make simple updating corrections to this Code as to numbering, terminology, names of groups, procedures or documents as they change and should do so promptly so as to keep this document relevant, up to date and fit for purpose. 4.2 Revision – The oversight body may propose revisions to this document on which it has reached consensus after consultation with relevant staff. If there is consensus, a change will take effect immediately. All revisions, as well as proposed revisions for which there is a majority in favour but not consensus, are to be ratified via inclusion in a report from the oversight body to the next Conference. Subject to a majority Conference vote in favour of the report, any revision shall take immediate and permanent effect. 4.3 Appending documents – From time to time a body with the competent authority to do so may produce an organisational document and propose that it be appended to this Code of Conduct. The proposal must specify exactly which clauses or parts of clauses are to be appended, which has the effect of making them grounds for disciplinary action. A consensus decision of the oversight body is sufficient to bring the appendance into effect, subject to ratification, as set out in the above clause.

4.4 No appended document may nullify or be in conflict with any clause in this Code, the GPEW Constitution or the Standing Orders for Party Discipline. A document proposed to be appended to this Code under para 4.3 also may not be in conflict with or nullify a document that is already appended to it.

4.5 The procedures set out in clauses 3.3. & 3.4 may also be used in reverse to unappend a document or section of a document. 5 Appended documents Each appended document or part document is to be listed here, giving precise details of which the appended clauses are; the date of appendance; the means of or authority for appendance; and the date or version number of the appended document. The following documents or sections of documents are appended to this Code. A breach of them constitutes a breach of this Code for disciplinary purposes.

i. The Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination (&Whistleblowing) policy Clauses appended: full document Appendance date: 15/04/2015 Appended via: a decision of Conference Oversight body: GPEx Version number of document: version 1, dated 15/04/2015 6 Green Philosophy & Values The Green Party’s approach to ethical conduct is guided by its philosophical basis and core values, which include a commitment to freedom of self -expression and the non-violent resolution of conflict. Philosophical Basis para 401 ‘The Green Party affirms the importance of individual freedom and self-expression. We believe people should be free to make their own decisions on matters which do not adversely affect others. Its importance lies in valuing the opportunity people have to make their own decisions, accept responsibility for them and develop in their own way.’ Green Party Core Value 8. ‘We look for non-violent solutions to conflict situations, which take into account the interests of minorities and future generations in order to achieve lasting settlements.’ These perspectives inform the following standards for conduct.

B) STANDARDS The following clauses each contain standards that must not be breached. 7 Organisational guidance & procedures and legal responsibilities 7.1 Members have a general duty to respect decisions made by the National Party, any local or Regional Party or any other Party body or group through democratic process. This includes, but is not limited to, internal organisational guidance and procedures on: ethics and conduct, as well as legal responsibilities relating to safeguarding, financial accounting, data handling and electoral law. 7.2 Members should maintain civilised standards of conduct towards each other and others such as political opponents or non-members when acting in a Party capacity, or when identifiable as a Green Party member. 7.3 Members should take care to not bring the Green Party into disrepute by engaging in unethical conduct. 8 Freedom of expression 8.1 Members’ right to freedom of thought, conscience and belief should be respected. 8.2 Members who dissent from a decision or an official policy must ensure they make it clear that they are expressing disagreement as an individual and not as a representative of the Party or any part of it. However they must take care to maintain civilised standards of conduct and to not bring the Party into disrepute while doing so. 8.3 When formally representing the Party, members must ensure that their communications about Green Party political policies do not conflict with Green Party policy before these are communicated to members or non-members. If there is dissent from political policy, members should state the Green Party policy as well as their personal view. They should also take care not to add to formal Green Party communications their personal opinions and criticisms of others. 8.4 Unless an authorised communication is being made on behalf of the Party, members should make it clear their views are their own and not necessarily those of the Party. Members who use social media or online platforms and mention their membership of, or role in, the Green Party (or it is known to those viewing the member’s online activity) should post an adequately prominent online disclaimer to this effect. 8.5 Members who express opinions in a situation in which their membership of the Green Party is known must take care to not bring the party into disrepute. 9 Safe space & civility 9.1 The Green Party should be an organisation in which people can feel comfortable, feel welcome and enjoy being a member and taking part in its activities. Members' behaviour towards each other and non-members should therefore be: tolerant, considerate, respectful and civil.

9.2 The Green Party should also be a space that is as safe or safer than society as a whole. Therefore discriminatory, oppressive or abusive behaviour should be prevented and stopped when it occurs. The aim is to provide an environment free of this. Any form of such behaviour is a breach of this Code, as is failure by a person in a role with responsibility, such as a Chair, Moderator or similar to take appropriate action to prevent or stop it. Members should also be aware of risks and act to mitigate them.

9.3 Members should in all their interactions with colleagues, assume the best of them. 9.4 Members should not: shout at someone; be aggressive in their manner; make belittling, derogatory or disparaging remarks about another member; insult a member or disrupt a meeting or discussion. 10 Inclusion 10.1 Members should be inviting and inclusive to ensure members feel confident to join in and get involved. 10.2 Members should ensure that all members are encouraged to contribute to discussion and decision-making at meetings and that everyone is listened to properly, without being interrupted unnecessarily. Decisions should be made by consensus wherever possible. 10.3 Members should work collaboratively with all members of the Party. 10.4 Members should help other members develop skills to fully participate in democratic processes and Party activities. 10.5 Members should trust other members and supporters in the discharge of their responsibilities, allowing them room for initiative and judgement. 10.6 Members should seek support when they need it and offer it when appropriate. 10.7 Members should communicate with others with due consideration to time, place and manner. Acknowledge communications from others swiftly and give an expected time-scale for a full reply. 10.8 Members should thank or praise colleagues when appropriate for the time and effort spent on behalf of you or the Party. 10.9 Members should communicate sensitively and courteously at all times with other members, whether face-to-face, by phone, by email, letter or in social media. 10.10 Members should be aware when contacting other members that they may have jobs, family or other constraints on their time and be patient in expecting a response. Members should also not put undue pressure on others to volunteer their time or overburden them with work or responsibility beyond their capacity. 10.11 Members organising or chairing events and activities have a responsibility to be aware of the needs of those involved and a duty of care to act sensitively, civilly and inclusively. They also have a duty of care towards those participating in such events or activities that they not be put in harm’s way through negligence or failure to assess risk. 10.12 In addition, members should be afforded adequate and timely access to information about planned meetings or activities that they could take part in or observe; and equal access to information or papers being used during a meeting or activity they are taking part in, including minutes, that would enable them to participate on an equal basis with other members present. This requirement does not apply where a legitimate disciplinary sanction has removed these rights from a member. 11 Diversity 11.1 Members should welcome diversity in the Party and strive to accommodate the different needs of members wherever possible. Welcoming diversity encompasses respect towards and active consideration of people's individual differences as well as their diverse cultural backgrounds. 11.2 Members responsible must actively take steps to ensure events and activities are as accessible, inclusive and welcoming as is reasonably possible to both members and the public, as appropriate, taking into account both anticipatable and known general and individual needs. 11.3 Members must not behave in a discriminatory manner towards someone on the basis of any protected characteristic that person may have. 12 Differences 12.1 As the Green Party welcomes people from a wide range of backgrounds, members may encounter people who hold differing political or philosophical worldviews. Freedom of belief and the right to change that belief is a fundamental human right. Members should therefore show tolerance and respect towards people that hold political or philosophical worldviews that differ from their own. 12.2 The Philosophical Basis and the Constitution of the Green Party require that the legitimate interests of all people be taken into account and that decisions be made by consensus if possible. Any time a group of people gets together members should expect - and not be intolerant of - differing ideas regarding how to approach problem solving, objective setting and work methods. This is not in and of itself a bad thing and should be managed by members in a cooperative, inclusive and collaborative manner. Positive dialogue should be encouraged and angry abuse must be prevented. 12.3 When a dispute exists members are expected to take special care to behave in a civil manner towards other members and take even greater care than normal not to indulge in behaviour that could be perceived as provocative, intimidating or offensive. 13 Infighting & cliques 13.1 Members should not use criticism to hurt, humiliate or belittle, undermine or otherwise attack someone. 'Attack the argument, not the person' is an approach that should be followed in debating situations. 13.2 Members are entitled to disagree but should not treat others adversely or with discourtesy or open hostility due to political opposition. 13.3 Members should refrain from criticising other Party members publicly, including any situations where non-members may be present. If criticism is felt to be necessary, it should be done sensitively and constructively by those given that responsibility. Criticism should be of actions and behaviour or statements etc., not of the person. Avoid labels, name calling and stigmatising a person. 14 Vexatious or malicious complaints Making a clearly vexatious or malicious complaint; using a complaint as part of a pattern of harassment; clearly abusing the complaint system to attack a personal enemy or political opponent or another person within the Green Party are all forms of unacceptable behaviour. 15 Smears and rumours 15.1 Members must not spread malicious rumour or unfounded negative gossip or hearsay about other members. 15.2 Members must use the appropriate internal procedures to address concerns, grievances and complaints. The Party also has a Whistleblowing procedure. Complaints should be dealt with through a proper complaint procedure and not discussed as part of an ordinary meeting agenda, nor made publicly, nor used to bring the Party into disrepute. 15.3 Members should take care to not commit a disciplinary offence in the course of responding to a disciplinary offence committed by another member. Members should not resort to unacceptable conduct in any circumstances. 16 Confidentiality Members should respect the constraints of confidentiality when it is agreed by all parties to the matter under consideration, or when confidentiality has been imposed by the appropriate person(s) or body via due procedure. Challenges to confidentiality must be made via appropriate channels. This duty does not override member's whistleblowing rights. 17 Transparency 17.1 Members should remember that as elected Green Party representatives their actions in their private lives can affect the reputation of the party both positively and negatively. 17.2 Members should disclose anything in their personal history that could potentially bring the Party into disrepute before they stand for election to any office within the Party or for selection as a candidate to represent the Green Party externally in any capacity. This includes opinions that are incompatible with Green Party ethics or philosophy. Disclosures should be in confidence and via appropriate procedures. The duty to disclose is an ongoing duty that persists after being selected or elected. 17.3 Members, who are involved in any way in arranging the selection, appointment, co- option or election of someone to either hold office internally or represent the Green Party externally, must ensure disclosures are obtained as set out in the preceding clause. 18 Procedure and authority 18.1 Members who take office internally at any level of the Green Party must do what is needed to meet the legal obligations of the Party and to that end keep adequate records of their decisions and communications. Failure to provide records of decisions and other information to members, as required by the GPEW Constitution, is unacceptable conduct. 18.2 Decisions should be recorded and kept for future reference and should either be adhered to and implemented or changed democratically and the change recorded. Members must follow agreed procedures. It is not acceptable conduct for a member to ignore or to seek to abuse or subvert due procedure (as interpreted by Standing Orders Committee). 18.3 Records of which responsibility or authority has been allocated to which people must be clear. Members must have the requisite authority when acting on behalf of any part of the Party and must not exceed it. It is unacceptable for a member to pass themselves off as acting as an authorised representative of the Party if they do not have the authorisation and have not followed the approved procedure for this. 18.4 Members must check with the relevant budget holder before committing Party resources other than those for which they have responsibility. 18.5 Members breach this Code if they approve expenditure or financial commitments that put their local party, or any other part of the Party, at risk of insolvency or engage in false accounting. 18.6 Members breach this Code if they break electoral law or allow members or supporters to. 18.7 Procedures agreed by members must be fair and transparent, in line with requirements set out in the GPEW Constitution. 18.8 Members have a duty to make themselves familiar with all procedures and policies relevant to their role in the Green Party. 19 Conflict of interest 19.1 All written communication sent ‘on behalf of the Green Party’ must not be for personal gain or in conflict with GPEW core values. This applies to e-communications as well as paper- based material. 19.2 The use of Party headed notepaper and the Party logo whether on paper or in e- communications should only be for legitimate Green Party communications agreed by the appropriate body. 19.3 Members should take great care when accepting offers of money from, or entering into financial transactions with, members or supporters, friend or relatives and should record carefully the exact terms on which an agreement has been reached, as well as ensure the process is as open and transparent as possible. 19.4 Members must not take part in a decision that benefits them personally or financially. 19.5 Members have a duty to consider recusing themselves from a decision in which they have an interest and must also declare that interest. For example, candidate selection, target ward selection, disciplinary process, awarding a contract to supply goods or services, recruitment or any other decision.