2 Spring 4-5 We’ve Conference updated our 2017 Deadlines Policy process 6 exposes secret cemetery 3 go global! privatisation plan GreenActivist Latest news for members I www. greenparty.org.uk I February 2016

7 Internal new 10 Reform of 11-12 Notices vacancies Conference and Opinion on the Green campaigns Voting working 13 POLICYFEST Party Executive section! group 2016 (GPex) 8-9

14-17 Party for 20-21 Autumn 23-26 Your reports against Conference 2016 contacts in the 18-19 Party A Progressive 22 By-Election Alliance results 27 Advert GREEN ACTIVIST | DECEMBER 2016 | page 2 conference Spring Conference 2017 – Liverpool Deadlines for submitting motions and amendments A motion was passed at Autumn Conference 2016 which changed the agenda deadlines for conferences as follows: If you have any questions about the agenda process or deadlines below, or if you are interested in chairing or co-chairing plenary sessions or workshops at conference, please contact: [email protected]

Date Agenda process stages 12 January 2017 Pre-Agenda deadline (midnight) Final date for posting of motions and policy papers to the members’ website 26 January 2017 First Agenda deadline (midnight) Final date for notification of text of motions and policy papers to SOC 9 February 2017 Publication of First Agenda 16 February 2017 Final Agenda deadline (midnight) Final date for posting of amendments to the members’ website 23 February 2017 Final text of amendments to SOC [email protected] (midnight) 9 March 2017 Final date for Late Motions to Conference (See Section A, clause 9 of the SOCC as updated after Autumn Conference ‘16) (midnight) 16 March 2017 Publication of the Final Agenda

COMMITTEE ELECTIONS Nominations open on 16 March (coinciding with publication of the Final Agenda) and close at 18:00 on 1 April. Nomination forms will be available on the SOC page of the members’ website. Any questions to [email protected] CONTACT Contact Standing Orders Commitee with any queries on the Agenda (motions to conference): [email protected] Contact Louisa Greenbaum, Conferences Co-ordinator, with any practical queries: [email protected] See next page for more details about Conference GREEN ACTIVIST | DECEMBER 2016 | page 3

conference Greens Go Global!

programme Getting involved

A draft Congress timetable can be found on There are several ways to get involved in the #Greens2017 website. The programme Congress. If you would like to run a fringe, will include: or ‘parallel’ session, you can apply to do so • Joint plenaries with guest speakers by filling in the online form on the Congress website. The deadline for applications is 15 ext Spring, the Green Party of on the topics of ‘Fighting for hope: from to 1.5 degrees’, ‘Green December. England and will be hosting We are also looking for volunteers to help the first ever joint Congress between Political Democracy from Grassroots to N Government’ and ‘Fighting Inequality by with the running of Congress. Contact Louisa. the and the European Green Empowering People’ [email protected] to find out Party from Thursday 30 March to Sunday 2 more. April 2017 at the ACC in Liverpool. The event • A packed programme of parallel will also incorporate our Spring Conference sessions open to all attendees on a Practical Information (Friday 31 March - Sunday 2 April) and with a wide variety of topical subjects predicted attendance of over 2,000 this will • Facilitated ‘Open Space’ discussion There are plenty of accommodation options probably be the largest gathering of Greens ever! sessions in Liverpool and you can find details of them on our website here. We have reserved 300 • Joint sessions for diversity groups, eg Registration rooms at a preferential rate of £65-£70 at European Green Seniors meets GPEW three Premier Inns in the city, and we have Green Seniors Registering for our conference will also give also block booked the local Youth Hostel – you access to the joint Congress. As most • Training sessions on eg empowering all details on the website. You’ll also find Congress sessions will be open to members female politicians practical information about Liverpool and how of all parties, we are encouraging GPEW to get there on the website. We are offering a • Music from the Fab Beatles and Seize members to attend from Thursday when liftshare scheme, and if you book your train via the Day plus film screenings and other the official opening will be held. There is no the excellent Loco2 website, 1% of the ticket entertainment options in the evenings. extra cost for this day. GPEW members and prices is donated to the party! supporters should register via our website • A full itinerary of ‘extra-curricular’ There will be a creche available for children here. We would encourage you to book before options for delegates to book in for, aged between 1 and 11. Details here. January 15 in order to guarantee your place, before, during and after Conference – We look forward to meeting you in as tickets will be limited. walking tours, excursions, etc Liverpool at this unique event! GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 4 policy process We’ve updated our Policy Process – how it works and how you can get involved Sam Riches, Green Party Policy Committee

Here’s a quick quiz. Suppose you have a to be changed – unless a future motion to great idea for a new Green Party policy, or conference changes that! would like to see an improvement made to The newly revised process aims to actively existing policy. What should you do? reward efforts to research high quality supporting evidence, and also to encourage A. Phone the Green Party office and tell significant consultation both within and the staff all about it beyond the party’s membership. The overall B. Walk up to or Jonathan shape is similar to the old system, with Bartley after a public meeting and give discussion online, a First Agenda with a them a letter detailing your exciting chance to propose amendments to motions, plan and a Final Agenda that is used at Conference, but now all deadlines are calculated C. Email the Policy Development specifically for each Conference. Also, we Committee and say that you want to have increased the number of co-proposers meet them for a talk needed from 4 to 12 individual members (or D. Propose a motion to Conference motions can be proposed by a local party, regional party or recognised group within Score: A 0 points, B 0 points, C 0 points, D the party, following formal discussion and 100 points and a gold star. decision-making) – research across a number Yes, it’s that time of year again. Forums for of recent Conference agendas showed that the discussion of ideas for motions to Spring the threshold of four signatories was far too Conference 2017 – which will be held from low, and the motions which passed tended to Thursday 30 March to Sunday 2 April 2017 have been co-proposed by considerably more in Liverpool – are now open on our website: named individuals than the bare minimum. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference/ We have not changed the basic principle Our policy process was substantially that any member can float an idea for a revised through a motion passed at Autumn motion, and as before it must be posted in the Conference 2016, but bringing a motion to appropriate area of the members’ website by conference is still the only way for policy the published deadline (and not sent to the GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 5 policy process

We’ve updated our Policy Process – how it works and how you can get involved (cont.) national office, the leadership team or the on Thursday 2 March 2017; you need three from Policy Development Committee policy@ Policy Development Committee in hopes that other members to co-propose an amendment greenparty.org.uk as soon as possible. they will follow it up!) The deadline for floating with you. Finally, there is also a new category – the an idea for Spring Conference 2017 (the Pre- A key point is that in order to get a motion Late Motion – for significant issues that arise Agenda deadline) is 23:59 on Thursday onto the First Agenda it must be set out with after the Pre-Agenda deadline. Emergency 12 January 2017; then the final version of specific information on what it is you are motions still exist, but we want these to each motion must be submitted to Standing trying to change - including the exact text you be used to react to situations that really Orders Committee through the online proposal want to have debated and where it is intended are emergencies; Late Motions will be the system (which will be made available in due to stand if the change is voted through. You preferred way to respond to events that arise course) by the First Agenda deadline, which don’t need to be this precise to meet the Pre- or change significantly after the Pre-Agenda is 23:59 on Thursday 26 January 2017. We Agenda deadline, but you will need this level deadline, and a specific discussion forum will encourage proposals by a local or regional of detail in the submission by the First Agenda opened on the members’ website for these party, or a recognised group, but if you decide deadline. motions. There will be quite a high hurdle to to propose as an individual member you’ll In addition, if you present your finalised get a Late Motion debated – simply having need 11 co-proposers, and each individual motion along with the formal endorsement missed the Pre-agenda deadline will not be can only co-propose four motions in total. of a local party, regional party, Policy Working sufficient! We look forward to seeing how this Standing Orders Committee will draw up the Group or recognised committee or group, with works in practice. First Agenda for Spring Conference and publish some high-quality evidence to support the The full process for submitting a motion it on the members’ website, whereupon any motion, and a record of the consultation you to Conference is outlined on the members’ member can draw up an amendment to any have undertaken both inside and outside the website at https://my.greenparty.org.uk/ motion. A significant change to our system party, then Policy Development Committee content/policy-process and the pages is that there is now a requirement to post may agree to Accredit the motion. This is a linked to within that text. We recommend the a draft of your amendment (in a dedicated new concept – our aim is to be able to flag downloadable presentation available at the forum which will be opened in due course) by to Conference that particular motions are well top of that page as a good starting point for the Amendment deadline - this will be 23:59 -researched and worthy of close attention. understanding how the new process works, on Thursday 16 February 2017. Following We always have more motions coming to and the principles of policy-making in the online discussion of your text, including with Conference than there is time to debate Green Party. the proposers of the original motion, the them, but Accredited motions will have an You can add your idea for a motion to finalised version of the amendment must be enhanced status in the Conference agenda. Conference by 12 January here. submitted to Standing Orders Committee by We encourage people considering submitting the Final Agenda Deadline - this will be 23:59 motions for Accreditation to seek advice GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 6 local party news

how a lone green Green exposes secret cemetery councillor can make a privatisation plan big difference

Paul Woodhead of Cannock Chase District Council has successfully lifted the lid on a secret decision by his Labour-led council to try to privatise burials and cremations.

The minutes of the Cannock Chase Council to see the Cannock Chase solicitor: “Surely cabinet revealed that it had not budgeted the names could be redacted without affecting enough money to develop its own cemetery the content of the report?” argued Paul. in the town. The solicitor agreed but said that it was the The Council had bought the site of a disused £300,000 budget shortfall that could not be colliery for £500,000 and had a budget of revealed. £1.5 million to turn it into a burial ground and “But then any public procurement process crematorium. But it then discovered that it would have to be confidential,” said Paul. was actually likely to cost another £300,000. The solicitor finally accepted Paul’s argument Rather than find the money from its own and gave the go-ahead for him to use any of funds, the council leaders revealed in the the information in the ‘confidential’ minutes, ‘confidential’ section of the minutes of their whose confidentiality will now have to be cabinet meeting that they had decided to hire lifted. a private firm to build, run and operate the Paul said: “Next stop is to ensure the cemetery. scrutiny meeting is held in public. The authority Paul decided to call the decision in to the solicitor has gone away again to research this scrutiny committee so that the decision would and advise the council accordingly.” get a second hearing by a different set of confidential part of the minutes, other than it All of which goes to show, said Paul, that councillors and he won enough votes from would embarrass the Labour administration. even a lone Green councillor can shine a light councillors of other parties to succeed. So he approached the democratic services on the dark places of council decisions by He then wanted to publicly reveal the Labour manager. This officer said the document was asking the question others don’t bother to ask. Council’s secret privatisation plan. There confidential because the companies involved Robert Lindsay seemed no reason that the details were in the in the discussions were named. Paul went off . GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 7 party vacancies

INTERNAL VACANCIES on the Green Party Executive Committee (GPEx)

GPEx SECRETARY GPEx PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR GPEx EQUALITIES & DIVERSITY and GPEx LOCAL PARTY SUPPORT ASSISTANT This is a vitally important role, helping the COORDINATOR Party’s Executive Committee to function One outcome of our determination to consider efficiently. It essentially entails taking the Two GPEx coordinators, Dee Searle and Equality & Diversity issues in everything we minutes at our physical meetings (every six Thomas French, have recently resigned (see do has been to significantly increase the weeks on Saturdays 1.30-5pm in ) GPEx Report on page 14 for details). We are workload of our E&D Coordinator, Charlene and during tele-conferences, and ensuring seeking members to fill the vacancies on the Concepcion, such that an assistant is they are written up, circulated and uploaded committee by co-option. required to share this demanding position. to the Members’ Website in a timely fashion. The successful candidates will become This is an exciting opportunity for someone to You will need to be very well organised and fully functioning members of the committee work alongside the E&D Coordinator and play able to record concise and accurate minutes taking on the roles and responsibilities of a vital role in helping to improve equality and with action points. You will often be asked to the positions available, with the exception of diversity across the Party. deal with confidential material so discretion is not having voting rights in instances where The job description for the E&Q Coordinator essential. Like most positions in the Party the proposals are tabled for a ballot. The positions is here. role is voluntary, but expenses for travel etc. will come up for election at the autumn 2017 If you are interested and want to are available, as are reasonable adjustments Conference. discuss please contact Charlene at equality@ under the Equality Act to enable disabled These are very exciting and rewarding roles greenparty.org.uk or send a brief description members to apply. at the heart of the Party’s organisation, but of your relevant experience, and why you For further details or if you’d like to are equally very demanding and responsible, would like the role by 23.59 Tuesday 20 discuss please email GPEx Chair Clare Phipps requiring a great deal of time and commitment. December. at: [email protected] – or send a brief We will be seeking people with experience description of your relevant experience, and and skills related to the jobs applied for. why you would like the role by 23.59 Tuesday Job descriptions for the two positions can 20 December. be found here (Publications Coordinator) and We would like to warmly thank the outgoing here (Local Party Support Coordinator). Secretary Craig for all his brilliant Send for an application form to: chair@ work in the role. greenparty.org.uk The deadline for completed application forms is 23.59 Friday 6 January

Charlene Concepcion GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 8 campaigns

NEW GREEN PARTY CAMPAIGN to worsen, it’s never been more important to We’ll drive positive change on things like: work together as a global community. We need SUPPORTING REFUGEES • Tackling and keeping to reach out to people who need to be treated fossil fuels in the ground like citizens of the world now more than ever, building bridges rather than borders. • Bringing railways back into public We want to help you mount a local campaign ownership; reducing road traffic to reach out to local refugees and support • Defending and helping refugees to them in your area. We will help you: settle into our communities • Lobby your local authorities to make • Opposing airport expansion, air a binding commitment to take in and Jenny Jones visit the now pollution, fracking demoished refugee camp in Calais. unaccompanied children • Promoting positive, Green alternatives • Build links across your communities to and solutions. ensure refugees get housing, education and friendship ... including ideas supplied by you! We Citizens of • Support us in changing family want to support you in raising the profile of the reunification laws, so that relatives Green Party’s activism in your local area, while fleeing for their lives can join their amplifying our parliamentary work. When our the World families in the UK. leadership is mounting campaigns nationally, you are the people lobbying MPs, organising in Russell Warfield,Campaigns Officer We’re putting together a resource pack your communities, and building capacity from [email protected] to help you do all of this, showing your the grassroots. community that Greens and refugees are both Through monthly emails, we’ll provide In her speech at this year’s Conservative party proud citizens of the world. you with a range of ways and resources to conference, said: “if you believe participate in campaigns – from photo petitions you are a citizen of the world, you are a citizen WANT TO TAKE MORE ACTION ON to direct action. We will listen to the issues of nowhere”. important to you and your local communities, Over half the world disagrees with her. THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO YOU? shaping campaigns together, setting priorities, According to the BBC World Service, 51% of and sharing our combined knowledge and people think of themselves as a citizen of the Join us in our new experience to maximum effect. world, above being a citizen of their country. Together, we can make sure that the Green Greens completely understand this. In Campaigner Network Party’s positive vision for the future reaches an increasingly connected world facing more people in more communities, all year Russell Warfield,Campaigns Officer. challenges which don’t respect borders, round – not just during election periods. This [email protected] driving divisions between neighbours and changes lives, builds support and gives people nations makes no sense. We’re building a network of thousands of Green more reasons to vote Green. To join please But with Brexit fuelling a surge in hate Party activists across the UK, campaigning on email Russell Warfield on: crime, and a refugee crisis which continues a range of crucial Green issues. [email protected] GREEN ACTIVIST | DECember 2016 | page 9 campaigns Campaign School: The new elections training programme Chris Williams & Cami Ouzerdine, Campaign School Organisers

cover everything our active members need are you excited to know, including building and managing a about seeing more team and the most up to date techniques in voter persuasion through top notch literature greens elected to our and door knocking. Our participants will also receive ongoing support to ensure election councils? success. This is a superb training programme Campaign School is the Green Party’s to significantly increase your local party’s first ever training scheme to train the chances of election wins in 2017, 2018 and campaign managers and field organisers onwards. of tomorrow. Campaign School is aimed We received well over 100 applicants for at sharing some of the best campaign and just 25 spaces for the first Campaign School activist development techniques from across but we hope to launch Campaign School 2 in England, Wales and further afield. due course. You do not need to be a seasoned Modelled on the overwhelmingly successful campaigner but someone willing to learn and Victorian State Greens Campaign School in campaign to elect more Greens in your area. , the Green Party aims to train a To read more about Campaign School, cohort of up to 25 Campaign Managers to to plan ahead for the next one, visit the highest possible level. Delivered across www.greenparty.org.uk/campaignschool and 12 months, starting with a 4-day residential please share this with other great people in in January 2017, Campaign School will your local party. GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 10 internal democracy Join the Reform of Reform of Conference Voting Working Group Conference Voting PAUL JENKINS, Co-Internal Communications Coordinator Working Group A motion from last conference mandated decided to include a member from the Green Currently only Conference attendees get a the creation of a working group to come Party Disability Group (Paul Weaver), since vote, but this might be extended via the use up with proposals for new ways of voting whatever method of voting is chosen, it must of online voting for instance, or would regional on conference motions which would be accessible, hence the need for someone or delegate conferences be better options, enable the whole of the membership well-versed in this field. or perhaps you think the system is fine and to participate. The working group has Ronald reported that Policy Development there’s no need to change it? been tasked with presenting five proposals Committee would like to include people who If you’d like to be part of this working group, to the Party on how we should decide haven’t been involved in the policy making please tell us, in no more than 200 words, conference policy motions, with one option process and haven’t been to conference, what you can bring to the group and why being the status quo. These proposals will which led to a discussion of how to reach out you’d like to be part of it. then be put to a vote of the whole Party. to people. Not everyone uses the Members’ The motion specified that the working Website, reads their emails or reads Green For further details or to apply group should be composed of the motion Activist. We talked about contacting local Email: [email protected] proposer (Peter Allen), a member of GPRC and regional party coordinators, as some FAO Ronald Stewart RCVWG (Nicole Haydock), Internal Communications members may read local Party emails but not Post: FAO Ronald Stewart RCVWG, Coordinator (Paul Jenkins), Equality national ones, or may be reached via local Green Party, The Biscuit Factory, Unit 201, & Diversity Coordinator (Charlene Party meetings. A Block, 100 Clements Road, London Concepcion), and members of Policy We will also want to communicate via SE16 4DG. Development Committee (Ronald Stewart) and on social media, and will set up an official Conferences Committee (Neil Basil), followed Internal Communications Facebook page and by a further six members to be selected from account – not just for the Party to talk the membership of the Party. to the members but for members to talk to the Five of us met in Birmingham on 22 Party and each other. October, with Neil Basil on a very ropey We will keep you informed of the group’s Skype connection. We discussed the selection progress with further reports in Green Activist process for the six additional members and and other channels. GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 11 notices & opinion

and distribute appropriate publicity materials, and below the level of the central Party. and will start e-mailing our brand new monthly The English regions and the nation of Wales newsletter to our members in the New Year! To have always made sense as the level at which join our mailing list please email: to undertake this organisation because every [email protected] four years there is a need to pull together and This January we’re inviting members to campaign in the European Elections. organise a local GPW ‘coffee & a catch up’ The decision for the country to leave the meet up. The aim is to encourage Green Party EU throws this organisational imperative out Women members to build up local support the window. There are still some exceptions and meeting networks as the central GPW – London as a region and Wales as a nation group meets only twice a year. both retain elections which operate at that If you would like to organise a meet up and same level, and as such there remains a good receive a self-help pack please email: reason to retain these as cohesive groupings. [email protected] However, there no longer remains a need to Green Party Women separate Tring and Leighton Buzzard from The Green Party Women Committee Amersham and Milton Keynes – all of which Green Party Women welcomes Green Party Sabrina Poole & Vicky Pearson (co-chairs). are near each other, and could benefit from members of all genders to join our group. Clare (secretary), Marna, Louise, RoseMary, collaboration, but two are in Eastern Region The group aims to make links between the Debbie and Equalities Spokesperson Sarah and other two are in South East Region. Why Party and women’s groups and organisations Cope would you tie Oxford to Dover without any nationally and internationally, to promote the shared electoral process to undertake? They women-friendly policies and approach of are so far apart and travel between them so the Party, and to work generally to promote What impact will difficult that it seems self-defeating to retain women’s and gender rights. We welcome Brexit have on our this arrangement. trans women and those with woman as part There are alternative structural of their identity, and we’re actively working to Party organisation? arrangements to consider. The metropolitan recognise these groups in our campaigning. mayoral elections give an organisational basis DOUGLAS ROUXEL We work by submitting and promoting for something larger than a local party but policy and campaign proposals to the Party The Green Party of England and Wales smaller than the central party, as do counties, and promoting Party policies to women’s has long adopted the European Election or groups of counties. What is clear, is that groups and beyond. boundaries as the principle factor in Brexit will challenge the way we organise We participate in women’s and other dictating the way in which the Party internally to get the best results as a Party as political and cultural events. We draft, prepare organises above the level of local Party much as it will our strategy and policies. GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 12 party notices join the Society of Green Party Lawyers Daniel Jones, Drystone Chambers Personal email: [email protected]

The Society of Green Party Lawyers was launched on 1 December 2016 in to provide practical, legal support for the Party. Green Party members include solicitors and barristers who practice across a range of specialisms as well legal academics, lay magistrates, law students, and others with significant experience in the law. Many are active in local and regional parties but could Jenny Jones, Baroness of Moulscomb, the Green Party’s elected member of the . also use legal skills and experience to help in other ways. For example, the committee who have the responsibility for re-drafting the Can you help organise the selection of the Party’s constitution recently contacted me to see if there was a lawyer who could assist next Green member of the House of Lords? them. Fortunately, we do have a leading public The Green Party of England & Wales (GPEW) needs to appoint three members to the House law QC who was happy to do so. of Lords Selection Committee, which is responsible for organising the selection procedure We are not part of the formal party structure for a Green Party candidate to be ready to join Jenny Jones in the House of Lords, in the event but are open to all party members who have that we are offered another seat. Details of the committee’s formal responsibilities are in the legal training or experience. We aim to put you Constitution on the members’ website. in touch with a member of the Society who is Applicants should be fully paid up members of GPEW, with good computer skills and good willing to assist (strictly in relation to political attention to detail. Experience of committee work and/or interviews and appointments would matters, no advice free advice on divorce or be helpful. A commitment to fulfilling the work of the committee diligently, fairly and speedily dodgy washing machines) or, where more is essential. You would need to be able to spend a few hours a week on this voluntary role until appropriate, by recommending good lawyers the process is completed. outside the Party. So, if you are a lawyer To apply, please submit a short statement (400 words maximum) expressing the reasons for and wish to join then please contact me. your interest in the role and outlining any relevant knowledge and experience. It would be useful NEED LEGAL ADVICE? If you are from a to know, for example, about your involvement in the Green Party, your perceptions of how the local party or working group with a matter party might use the platform provided by the House of Lords, and any experience regarding the of policy or party business where legal input process of interviews and appointments. Please also attach your CV and send to: would be helpful, then we would be happy to [email protected], hear from you and will do our best to help. Deadline for applications: midday on Friday 19 December 2016. GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 13 policyfest 2016 Policyfest 2016 – a great start to this new initiative Sam Riches, on behalf of Policy Development Committee (photo) Over 40 members of the Green Party from around England and Wales met in Manchester on Saturday 19 November to take part in the first GPEW Policyfest – a chance for the members of the ‘policy community’ to meet together outside the time constraints of Conference, to discuss approaches to policy in an informal atmosphere.

The day started with an overview of the also looked at how to run an effective Policy a much-needed one focused on our policy new and improved policy process which Working Group (PWG) and ways of promoting around Europe. It was also especially helpful was passed at Autumn Conference. A handy discussion between PWGs. to have representatives of the Green Party PDF download is available on the members’ On the latter point there was general Regional Council, Standing Orders Committee website at https://my.greenparty.org.uk/ agreement that the basic idea of Policyfest and Disputes Resolution Committee present – content/policy-process along with some was a sound one, and that it would be good there was a real sharing of knowledge as a beautiful flowcharts that explain the process, to arrange a similar event in June or July, result. as well as a link through to an extensive after the County Council elections. We will Feedback received on the day included: written commentary for those of us who prefer ensure the next event is well publicised with ‘Face to face discussion is vital – not enough detailed explanations. more notice to all PWGs and other members time for this at Conference’; ‘Great to see the We then had a range of breakout group of the party who are interested in policy level of knowledge, expertise and respect discussions, covering topics including policies development. among participants’; ‘Good opportunity to for a world of Brexit and Trump, how we There was a good range of PWGs represented engage and share. Learnt much about process can make Policies for a Sustainable Society at the event – with Climate Change and Tax & and improving policy’. We’ll also carry out an (‘PSS’: our externally-accessible ‘book’ Fiscal Policy sharing the honours for the most online survey of everyone who booked for this of policies which is published at https:// members present – and we will aim to get at event, and we’ll aim to publish a full report policy.greenparty.org.uk/) fit for purpose, least one member of each PWG along to the on the members’ website and hopefully hold a how to ensure that statements made by our next event. You can find the current listing at fringe session talkback at Spring Conference spokespeople and publicly-elected Greens https://my.greenparty.org.uk/policy/policy- Huge thanks to everyone who contributed are consistent with PSS, and how to prepare working-groups; we should shortly be able to make the day such a success – we’ll look our policies for a snap General Election. We to add two more PWGs to the list, including forward to building on this in the coming year. GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 14 party reports Green Party Executive Committee Report

New faces Liaison Officer. Sam Murray joins Hannah Each autumn, half of the Executive Ellen Clare as a newly elected co-Chair of the Committee positions come up for grabs, . For a full listing of GPEx see the and we saw some major changes in this Contacts Directory at the end of the magazine. year’s elections. After several years at the helm, Richard and CAROLINE LUCAS Resignations Mallender decided not to re-stand for Chair, Co-Leaders and was given well deserved acclaim Local Party Support Coordinator Thomas at Conference for having valiantly and French has a new full-time job and proficiently steered the Party through some of resigned from the committee on the basis the most exciting but demanding years in its that he would no longer be able to devote history. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude the time necessary to perform the role for a performance which went well beyond the adequately. call of duty. Publications Coordinator Dee Searle Exactly the same applies to Natalie Bennett, resigned from the committee citing two basic our out-going leader, who is replaced by the reasons. co-leadership team of Caroline Lucas and 1 Financial liability – the way the Party is Jonathan Bartley. We’re also very sorry to CLARE PHIPPS Chair currently constituted, if it suffered a major lose the wisdom and talent of the co-Deputy financial disaster which resulted in liquidators Leader Shahrah Ali, but delighted to see seeking to recover outstanding debts, the re-elected to the position. assets of elected GPEx members (and We have new faces job-sharing the roles possible GPRC) would be liable to seizure. So for Campaigns, Internal Communications and by serving on the committee, GPEx members Management, whilst Jennifer Nadel joins the are putting their savings, property and other External Communication team, and Jessica material assets at risk. Northey joins on International. As Dee’s assets are shared with her Our finances remain in safe hands with the partner, she felt it was neither fair nor election of Emma Carter, likewise Elections reasonable to be sharing this risk. There are with the re-election of Judy Maciejowska, and several other members of GPEx in a similar Kieren Merrett is confirmed as our Trade Union TAMSIN OMOND and ELISABETH WHITEBREAD position expressing deep disquiet at the Campaigns Coordinators GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 15 party reports (cont.)

situation so the pressure is on to resolve this External Communications have led long-standing problem. But it’s not a simple the development of a Political Strategy, problem. It requires Conference to approve a incorporating a Messaging Strategy and change to the Party’s constitution, and may the development of a clear and compelling add a significant financial burden on the Party. narrative. This project has been ongoing 2 The second reason cited by Dee for for over a year and is nearing completion. leaving concerned how many important Meanwhile Campaigns and Elections have decisions and initiatives take place with little EMMA CARTER also produced strategies, which complement or no participation from many members of Finance Coordinator the others, creating a well-planned future for the committee. A review of this situation is the Party over the next few years. planned in the very near future. To significantly boost our ability to We also saw the departure Craig France, successfully implement these plans we are whose outstanding performance as GPEx also hiring a Head of Communications. Secretary will be greatly missed. GPEx extends its thanks to Dee, Thomas and Craig for their hard work and valuable Day to Day contributions to the Party at the national level. Our new Chair, Clare Phipps, got off to a flying start, producing a greatly improved GPEx Handbook for everyone and introducing Strategies an innovative new system for members to A number of major strategies are approaching KIERON MERRETT report their activities such that everyone can completion, to be rolled out next year, kicking Trade Union Liaison Officer see each other’s progress and gain a good off an overall plan for the Party right up overall view of the committee’s work. Clare to the next General Election in 2020 (with is also proving to be a very effective Chair of contingencies for a snap election). meetings and facilitator of the members. Our CEO, Nick Martin, has produced a most Internal Communications are working on comprehensive Organisational Strategy major improvement to the Members’ Website, – a result of a wide, intensive consultation and meanwhile have introduced Report Button programme involving Party members at all to the discussion forums to help keep the levels, and beyond. It focuses on elections and dialogue friendly and constructive. membership, the latter being all important as For more details of the wide array of it drives everything in the Party. Hence there GPEx activities, agendas and minutes of will be an emphasis on helping local parties our meetings, members’ reports and other to retain existing and recruit new members. TOM CHANCE and LIZ REASON documents can be found on the Members’ Towards that end, recruitment is underway Management Coordinators website here: https://my.greenparty.org.uk/ to hire a Membership Development Manager. node/97/resources GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 16 Party reports Report from Standing Orders Committee (SOC) MARTIN HEMINGWAY, Co-convenor SOC [email protected]

Standing Orders Committee (SOC) is although other factors may cause us to adjust unavailable, making it difficult to list the most obvious to members at Conference, the order set by the ballot. All SOC decisions follow up actions, but we have now received supporting the Chairs during policy are detailed in our Report to Conference and the transcripts of conference. Revisions to the debates, and on the SOC stall answering may be challenged and amended in the first Constitution, SOCC and the Code of Conduct a huge range of questions from attendees. plenary session. Ultimately it must be passed were completed soon after Conference, but for Conference to continue. replacing the old versions on the Members’ conference agendas Website proved stickier. SOC’s biggest role is the preparation of rulings We are all new to the procedures outlined conference agendas, including the process of Outside of conferences SOC responds to above for managing the agenda process facilitating motions from an idea to the Final requests for rulings on issues causing – since this was managed by the previous Agenda. The policy process, recently updated, uncertainties in Party operations. Recently convenor – but are working to ensure things is available on the Members’ Website here we’ve provided rulings for the Executive go as smoothly as possible. https://my.greenparty.org.uk/policy/policy- Committee relating to electing a Deputy process and is further explained on page 12. Chair, Welsh Party leader renumeration, and next conference After the deadline for submitting motions limited liability. Also for Regional Council Our next conference is combined with the we assess them for compliance with the on parliamentary candidate selection, and and the Global Greens criteria set in Standing Orders for the Conduct a local party near Richmond about standing Congress, resulting in reduced plenary time. of Conference (SOCC Section D(8)). Were they a candidate. The full text of all rulings are SOC only want reports that are required for discussed on the pre-agenda forum? Do they included in our Conference Report, and our Spring Conference (SOC, PDC and Disputes have enough proposers? These are common reasoning can be questioned at Conference. Resolution Committee (DRC)). Others received problems for motions to be ruled out of order. Autumn Conference 2016 saw the sudden may be printed if not over-long, but will not be The motions are then published in the First retirement of the existing convenor and the discussed. We also ask to avoid speeches that Agenda on the Members’ Website, and are election of a new SOC. Of those re-elected should be devoted to policy making. open to amendments from the membership. I had been on SOC for two years, Jenny I have been involved with the Global Greens SOC then meet again to assess the Marklew for one year, and Jill Mills for six in revising their procedures and timetabling. amendments’ compliance with the criteria. months. Jen Law and Kat Boettge are new Having the two together creates enormous A prioritisation ballot is sent to all members to SOC. In our first meeting Jenny and I were opportunities for creating links between inviting them to rank the approved motions elected as co-convenors. Greens across the world. in order of preference. The results act as a Our first problem – the memory stick guide to SOC when ordering the motions, recording conference decisions was GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 17 party reports • Wellbeing: GPRC has become concerned PolCom is for: that it acts as an advisory body Green Party that some posts on the members’ website on messaging and strategy, keeping most and on other sites (e.g. Facebook) have a discussions to issues such as “how are we Regional negative effect on the well-being of the responding to X?” or “should we sign up to Council (GPRC) party. We’re pleased that the Internal Y?” As part of this process we have also Freda Davis, Comms Coordinators have installed a Co-Chair of GPRC ‘report’ button on the members’ website created a new subgroup of PolCom – the so that users may call attention to Rapid Response Group. This consists of GPRC is made up of 20 elected members, unacceptable postings. We’re interested External Communications, our leadership two from each of the English Regions plus in hearing the views of members regarding team, MEPs, and Members Wales https://my.greenparty.org.uk/myparty/ how we can ensure that online discussion and has been formed in case we need to issue regional-council. Its remit is to be a forum for is compatible with the Code of Conduct. a quick response to a national emergency or dialogue, to keep an eye on Party well-being, political crisis. with roles in policy, candidate selection and If there are any issues you’d like GPRC to Our discussions over email have mainly party discipline, and to support and advise address, please contact your regional GPRC focused on three issues: the re-election the Executive Committee (GPEx), particularly rep, or email [email protected]. of Corbyn, the continuing fallout from the on political strategy. Work since Autumn uk. For more information on GPRC’s work, see EU referendum, and the election of Trump. Conference has included: our annual report in the Final Agenda Autumn These discussions have helped our politicians • Approving policy statements: New Conference here: https://my.greenparty.org. discuss and align their messages on each policy can only be made by Conference, uk/news/final-agenda-autumn-conference- topic and have also provided some useful but sometimes the Party needs to make 2016-published ideas that are feeding into the new Messaging statements in between that are extensions Strategy being developed by the Party which or interpretations of existing policy. GPRC Political we hope to have finalised by the end of 2016. works with the Policy Development Group Current Policy Committee members to respond rapidly to such requests. Committee https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/record-of- • Members of UK and EU Parliament Matt Hawkins, External policy-statements.html • London Assembly Members Communications • Association of Green Councillors • Strategy: GPRC is encouraging GPEX to Coordinator • Co-Leaders produce a political strategy. We have also Since Autumn Conference Political • been debating, and asking for clarification Committee (PolCom) has, under the • Wales Leader on proposals. new Chair of External Communications • GPRC Co-chairs • Elections: GPRC has produced new Coordinator, been reassessing its role and • Young Greens Co-chairs guidance on selection procedures, which mode of operation. We have signed off new • Chief Executive will help local parties navigate through Terms of Reference which mean we will now • Executive Committee – Chair and the process. https://my.greenparty.org. only be meeting face-to-face four times a coordinators of External Communications; uk/elections/general-election-2015/ year – the next meeting will be in January. Elections; Policy Development; Equality & becoming-a-candidate We have also done some work to agree what Diversity 8

GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 18

topical debate For further debate on the subject go to: http://www.greenworld.org.uk/article/progressive-alliances against

Progressive Alliance A gift to the Conservatives Richard Jenking, Green activist in Cannock Chase. The party achieved its first ever district Councillor 15 months after their formation.

For those who may have been on saying that a Labour Government would be then need to target our resources effectively another planet, let’s recap what has propped up by the SNP. They’d use the old where we could make a breakthrough and just happened in America. The public argument about a Labour led Government when those breakthroughs come hang on to were given a terrible choice and made a being held to ransom by Welsh and Scottish them for dear life; like Brighton. terrible choice. The system demands that Nationalists. They know that argument plays I understand the imperative to deny the only two viable candidates get to slug it well in English seats. They will ‘remind’ Conservatives another term, but that can’t be out to become President. These candidates Labour voters that their party is now in a pact done by trying to fix the First Past the Post are chosen by whittling down potential with the LibDems who lied to get elected and (FPTP) system so it works. If anything, we ‘candidates on the right and left until only two who they will paint as extreme want dozens and dozens of parties to stand main candidates remain. There are of course left. An electoral pact would be a gift to the in each constituency and for the winning post other candidates, but no one thinks they will Conservatives. They’d be able to link all to drop to the low 30%. When that happens be elected. Overall it’s an awful system and unpopular policies to the whole ‘Coalition’ FPTP becomes harder to justify and we may I’m sure no one would want to replicate it in and know that each party within that coalition get the fairer voting system we demand. the UK. Or would they? will also be attacking their partners and will There may be occasions where standing There seems to be a growing clamour exploit that division. aside in by-elections could be the correct for a progressive election pact to defeat the If we, the Green Party, want to make a tactic. I’d support a local party who decided Conservatives. Behind the scenes deals difference. There are no short cuts. It would be to go down that path. But we shouldn’t designed to whittle-down the progressive great to think that in some constituencies that be pushing the idea of a pact for a General candidates to slug it out with Conservative. Labour and the LibDems will stand aside for us Election. We should be encouraging our local What could possibly go wrong? Can you and the opposition vote will be split between parties to stand if only to gain experience. imagine how the Conservatives would seek the Conservatives and UKIP and we’ll march My local Green candidate at the last General to divide this progressive alliance? Last year to power. But that is fantasy politics. We can Election gained valuable experience and that the Conservatives used one very successful only win seats by building a strong base of helped him become a local councillor the tactic; they scared potential Labour voters by local councillors to build the public’s trust. We following year. GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 19 topical debate For further debate on the subject go to: for http://www.greenworld.org.uk/article/progressive-alliances

Why Progressive Alliances Are Key Davy Jones, co-chair Brighton & Hove Green Party, writes in a personal capacity

We live in scary times: BREXIT, Donald marginal. We ran a good campaign picking purpose would be to unseat a Tory MP and Trump as US President, Marine Le Pen up over 7% of the vote. But Labour lost by make a Tory Government less likely. There can leading the French presidential polls less than 1000 votes, mainly because their be no ‘top down’ template, and it will generally and climate disaster coming ever closer. insipid national campaign failed to inspire only happen when there is real pressure from One thing we can be sure of: ‘Business as their traditional supporters to vote. But there is the non-aligned for it. Usual’ is not going to cut it as a response from little doubt that a single progressive candidate And the prize? Agreement amongst those the Green Party. That’s why the discussion on stood an excellent chance of defeating the involved in such alliances that the candidates Progressive Alliances is so crucial. successful Tory MP. Multiply that by a few and parties they vote for commit to introducing ‘The Tories only won 24% of the eligible dozen other marginals round the country and PR. A fair voting system would not only allow votes at the last election and Trump only 25% the path to defeating the Tories becomes clear. but encourage people to campaign and vote in the US. Yet both have won power through Support for progressive alliances is for different parties on the Left – without the unfair electoral systems. If the proposed strongest amongst those not in political risk of a split vote letting the Tories back in. Boundary Review changes are passed, we parties. Many unaligned progressives despair Are progressive alliances easy? No. Are they face the stark prospect of a Tory government at the inability of the non-Tory parties to guaranteed to happen? No. But unless we through to 2025 and beyond. And we may also get their act together. There are two local campaign for them and lead by example (as lose our Green MP. campaigning groups in Brighton & Hove our members have in Richmond & Kingston Electoral reform may not be the hottest topic alone organising around this theme trying to and in Lincoln), we can be sure that they in pubs across the land. But there is growing pressurise parties to listen. won’t. recognition amongst other political parties Progressive alliances will of their This is not about losing our Green Voice. On and progressive individuals that First Past the be different across the country depending the contrary, that voice has never been more Post (FPTP) is a key prop to keep the Tories in on local political circumstances. Some areas needed. But the current electoral system power. To achieve Proportional Representation may decide it’s not for them. Elsewhere, it prevents it from being adequately expressed. (PR), we need first to defeat the Tories at the might be uniting around one candidate or in And part of our specific Green Voice is showing next General Election. others, perhaps not prioritising campaigning leadership and putting the interests of people At the last election, I was the Green candidate – wherever possible using a bottom-up “open and the planet first. in Brighton Kemptown – a close Tory/Labour primary” process to make the choice. The GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 20 autumn conference 2016 C motions (Policy) NUMBER TITLE RESULT C1 Opposition to the Conservatives’ Trade Union Act Passed C2 Amending our Terrorism Policy Referred back C3 Cost and timescale of nuclear power Passed Result of C4 Recognising Trans identities Passed C5 Statutory right of access to workplaces for Trade Unions Passed unanimously plenary C6 Updating our policy on unpaid carers Amendments 1-3: Passed Amended Motion: Passed sessions C7 Animal welfare in food processing Passed WHERE APPROVED C8 House of Lords Reform Amendments 1-3: Fell MOTIONS ARE DEBATED Motion: Passed AND VOTED ON C9 Opposition to the Government’s Prevent Strategy Passed C10 Labelling of animal-derived food products Passed C11 Change our policy on GMOs Referred back C12 Decriminalise abortions Amendment 1: Passed Amended Motion: Passed Full text and synopses C13 Ending Discrimination in blood donation Passed of the motions are in the C14 Introducing a Heritage Policy [Enabling Motion] Passed (Fast tracked) Final Agenda here: https://my.greenparty.org. D motions (Organisational) uk/news/final-agenda- autumn-conference- NUMBER TITLE RESULT 2016-published D1 Reform of Conference Voting Passed D2 Updating the Policy Process Passed D3 Extend the deadline for the Governance Review Working Group Amendment 1: Out of order Motion: Passed D4 Legal guidance for internal complaints of Sexual Harassment Passed D5 Spring Conference 2017 Passed D6 Include ethnic minorities in provision for extended call for nominations in General election selection Referred back D7 Remove gendered pronouns from the constitution Passed D8 Revised Code of Conduct Amendment 1, 3-6: Passed, so Amendment 2: Falls Amended motion: Passed D16 Proposed amendment to the Standing orders for Party Discipline [Fast Track] Passed (Fast tracked) D17 Update GPRC Standing Orders [Fast Track] Passed (Fast tracked) GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 21 autumn conference 2016 Emergency motions passed by Autumn Conference 2016

but this was never published and has since been The secretive preparation of 1 Fracking shelved. and Transformation Plans is an appalling abuse Conference deplores the decision made by North Conference instructs: Elected Greens to of our democratic rights and is being met with Yorkshire County Council on 23rd May 2016 to call on the government to publish that review, protests at local authorities’ Health & Wellbeing approve Third Energy’s planning application and to scrutinise it, if and when it is published. Board meetings, Clinical Commissioning Group to frack at Kirby Misperton. This decision was The GPEx Policy Co-ordinator to review the Green meetings and the offices of NHS England - all made despite overwhelming public opposition Party’s workers’ rights policies and if necessary organisations with a role in the development from all sectors of the community in Ryedale form a policy working group to ensure that our and implementation of Sustainability and and the rest of North Yorkshire, and despite there policy sufficiently addresses the issues related Transformation Plans. being genuine reasons why the application could to the ‘gig economy’ and increasingly casualised Conference instructs the Green Party have been turned down. The opposition was employment. campaigns team, external communications supported by many protectors from other parts team and the Green Party Health of northern England and further afield. 3 NHS Spokesperson to urgently generate campaign The dangers of fracking to humans as well 44 area ‘footprint’ ‘Sustainability and materials and media messages in support of as the environment are serious, numerous and Transformation Plans’, being drawn up in these local campaigns and protests. well documented, therefore this Conference conditions of secrecy imposed by NHS England, instructs the GPEW Leadership and GPEx to will accelerate NHS cuts and privatisation. NHS 4 make anti-fracking a priority campaign. Improvement has instructed NHS organisations The Green Party sends its heartfelt support to Dr to list services which could be axed or Jill Stein, who on August 6th 2016 was adopted 2 Deliveroo centralised, making ‘rapid progress’ during the by our sister party, the Green Party of the United Conference notes that: In August, Deliveroo current financial year. States (GPUS) as its official candidate for the drivers staged a successful strike against changes The people of Grantham and the surrounding forthcoming election of the next President of the to their pay and conditions which could have area are campaigning to reverse the recent USA, and that we offer her every assistance at resulted in them earning less than the minimum withdrawal by United Lincolnshire Hospitals our disposal in this crucial contest. Jill, a retired wage. The emerging ‘gig economy’ allows Trust, due to staff shortages, of full A&E services medical doctor, environmental campaigner and employees more flexibility, but also makes it easy at their hospital; this is the newest of a host of musician, has been a member of the Green Party for employers to exploit their workers through local campaigns across England to protect and since 1998. A dedicated and tireless activist in bogus self-employment and the circumvention reinstate full acute and emergency services at the struggle for the creation of a sustainable of legislation such as the minimum wage. district general hospitals, and to protect other society based on ecological values and social Current workers’ rights legislation is ill-equipped NHS services from cuts and privatisation. justice, Jill has stood in a number of elections, to deal with new employment models such as The people of North Oxon are campaigning including in the Presidential election of 2012. those used by Deliveroo and Uber. In late 2014, against the closure of a full maternity service at To request Caroline Lucas to personally under the Coalition government, a review was Horton Hospital in Banbury and the threat to its convey Conference’s wishes to Jill Stein launched of the law around employment status, A&E Services. personally on Skype or by some similar means. GREEN ACTIVIST | DECember 2016 | page 22 By- elections Principal Authority By-elections October Summary Date Region Principal Authority Ward Green Green Green Green Won by Gained from/held Vote % change place 29/09/16 EA North Norfolk D.C. Glaven Valley 11 1.4 -2.5 5 LD Hold 29/09/16 EM Derby City (U.A.) Allestree 115 3.1 3.1 4 Con Hold 29/09/16 SE Dacorum B.C. Adeyfield West 17 1.6 1.6 5 LD Con 06/10/16 LON Haringey L.B.C. St. Ann’s 323 17.5 -3.8 2 Lab Hold 06/10/16 NW Bolton M.B.C. Rumworth 126 4.5 -0.5 4 Lab Hold 06/10/16 WALES Caerphilly U.A. Gilfach 7 1.6 1.6 4 Lab Hold 13/10/16 LON Lewisham L.B.C. Brockley 631 25.4 -7.0 2 Lab Hold 13/10/16 LON Lewisham L.B.C. Evelyn 119 6.2 -6.6 5 Lab Hold 13/10/16 NW Cumbria County Windermere 46 2.4 2.4 4 LD Hold 13/10/16 NW South Lakeland D.C. Windermere Bow. N 37 5.0 -0.9 3 LD Hold 13/10/16 NW Lancaster City Westgate 26 2.4 2.4 6 Lab Hold 13/10/16 SW Poole U.B.C. Broadstone 57 1.8 -5.1 4 LD Con 20/10/16 EA Braintree D.C. Bumpstead 23 4.2 4.2 5 Con Hold 20/10/16 EA Braintree D.C. Witham North 227 25.1 4.7 3 Lab Con 20/10/16 EA St. Albans B.C. Clarence 98 6.1 -3.7 4 LD Hold 20/10/16 EM Kettering B.C. Rothwell 75 5.2 0.0 4 Con Lab 20/10/16 SE Medway U.A. Strood South 74 3.9 3.9 4 Con UKIP 20/10/16 SW Weymouth & Portland Wey Valley 74 9.7 -6.1 4 Con Hold 27/10/16 SE Rother D.C. Darwell 69 8.4 -6.6 4 Con Hold 03/11/16 LON Hackney L.B.C. Hoxton West 123 8.8 -10.0 4 Lab Hold 03/11/16 NW Lancashire County Burnley Central East 84.0 4.3 4.3 4 Lab Hold 03/11/16 SE Medway U.A. Rainham Central 61 2.6 -5.2 5 Con Hold 03/11/16 SE Reigate and Banstead Kingswood B. Heath 55 4.8 4.8 4 Con Hold Average Green vote share and % change: 6.8 -1.1

The greater resources and numbers of around 46,000. After extensive research and greater levels of activity in electioneering, experienced activists available to the consultation the Party is rolling out a major new campaigning, policy development and so on. Conservatives, LibDems and Labour puts organisational strategy focused on improving The new Campaign School is the first of a host us at a serious disadvantage. our internal structures, communications of new initiatives which will create an ever- Our membership is three times what and techniques. This will help the Party to expanding number of members highly trained is was in early 2014, pre #GreenSurge at better engage with its members and inspire in the art of winning elections. Alan Borgars your CONTACTS in the green party GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | 23 elected European Parliament members House of Commons

JEAN LAMBERT, MEP London KEITH TAYLOR, MEP South East , MEP S. West • [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • @greenjeanmep • @GreenKeithMEP • @MollyMEP • facebook.com/GreenJeanMEP/ • facebook.com/greenkeithtaylor • facebook.com/MollyMEP • www. jeanlambertmep.org.uk/ • www.keithtaylormep.org.uk/ • www.mollymep.org.uk

CAROLINE LUCAS MP House of Commons, London Assembly Leadership London SW1A 0AA • [email protected] • @carolinelucas • facebook.com/carolinelucas.page • www.carolinelucas.com House of Lords CAROLINE LUCAS MP and JONATHAN BARTLEY Co-Leaders • [email protected] SIÂN BERRY Assembly Member Assembly member • [email protected] • [email protected] • @sianberry • @carolinerussell • facebook.com/sianberrygreen • facebook.com/caroline.russell.35 • www.london.gov.uk/people/ • www.london.gov.uk/people/ assembly/sian-berry assembly/caroline-russell JENNY JONES Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

• @GreenJennyJones AMELIA WOMACK, Deputy Leader • https://jennyjones.org/ • [email protected]. uk • www.greenparty.org.uk/people/ deputy-leader-amelia-womack. html GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 24 green Party of england & wales CAMPAIGNS: Tamsin Omond & green party regional council • [email protected] Elisabeth Whitebread SOUTH WEST • [email protected] Jenny Rust: The Biscuit Factory, Unit 201 A GPRC CO-CHAIRS: Block, 100 Clements Road, London ELECTIONS: Judy Maciejowska Freda Davis and Mike Shipley • [email protected] SE16 4DG • [email protected] Oliver Dowding: • [email protected] EAST MIDLANDS • www.greenparty.org.uk EQUALITIES & DIVERSITY: Mike Shipley: • oliver.dowding@sheptonfarms. • facebook.com/thegreenparty Charlene Concepcion • [email protected] com TheGreenParty • [email protected] • @ Sue Ledger: WALES • youtube.com/greenpartyew Chris Simpson: EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: • [email protected] CHIEF EXECUTIVE: Nick Martin Penny Kemp, Jennifer Nadel & Matt • [email protected] Hawkins EASTERN Liz Carlton: MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT Jim Scott: • [email protected] • [email protected] OFFICER: Henry Gates • [email protected] FINANCE: Emma Carter Phil di Palma: • [email protected] WEST MIDLANDS • phil.dipalma@norwichgreenparty. • [email protected] : ELECTORAL RETURNING OFFICER: org John Allison-Walsh INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: • [email protected] LONDON • [email protected] Peter Barnett & Paul Jenkins Peter Underwood: Natalie McVey: • internalcommunications@ NATIONAL ELECTION AGENT: • [email protected] greenparty.org.uk • peter.underwood@greenparty. Chris Rose org.uk YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE INTERNATIONAL: • [email protected] Freda Davis: Derek Wall & Jessica Northey Clare Keogh: CONFERENCES AND EVENTS [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] CO-ORDINATOR: Louisa Greenbaum NORTH EAST Matt Edwards: • louisa.greenbaum@greenparty. LOCAL PARTY SUPPORT: vacant Sandy Irvine: • [email protected] org.uk MANAGEMENT: • [email protected] GOVERNANCE ASSISTANT: Tom Chance and Liz Reason Rachel Featherstone: Lyuba Herbert • [email protected] • [email protected] • Rachel.Featherstone@greenparty. POLICY DEVELOPMENT: Sam Riches org.uk & Samantha Pancheri NORTH WEST • [email protected] green party executive Kathy Booth: PUBLICATIONS: vacant • [email protected] CO-LEADERS: TRADE UNION LIAISON: Nicole Haydock: Jonathan Bartley & Caroline Lucas Kieron Merrett • [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] SOUTH EAST DEPUTY LEADER: Amelia Womack LEADER: David Newman: • amelia.womack@greenparty. Alice Hooker-Stroud • david.newman@southeast. org.uk • [email protected] greenparty.org.uk CHAIR: Clare Phipps YOUNG GREENS CO-CHAIRS: Susan Tibbles: • [email protected] Hannah Ellen Clare and Sam Murray • [email protected] GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 25

committees Joseph Harmer, Michal [email protected] • [email protected] Chantowski, Sam Murray, John 0238 0970379 • facebook.com/LGBTIQAGreens Street, Miriam Kennett • @LGBTIQAGreens DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE GREEN PARTY TRADE UNION • https://lgbtiqa.greenparty.org.uk CAMPAIGNS COMMITTEE GROUP Handles all complaints of disciplinary Tamsin Omond & Elisabeth YOUNG GREENS nature that have not been resolved • http://gptu.greenparty.org.uk/ Whitebread • www.younggreens.org.uk/ at Local or Regional Party level. • [email protected] General enquiries: • facebook.com/younggreens • [email protected] • @younggreenparty South East (Chair) Leo Littman Alice Kiff, Britta Goodman, Rebecca • http://younggreens.org.uk/assets/ Johnson, Matthew Edwards, Andrew Joining GPTU: membership@gptu. templates/london2012/images/ Yorkshire & Humberside (Deputy Tobert greenparty.org.uk Ann Forsaith icon-youtube.png Chair) Facebook: http://facebook.com/ CONFERENCES COMMITTEE GreenPartyTradeUnionGroup Co-Chairs: Hannah Ellen Clare East Midlands Jim Norris Tom Milburn, Neil Basil, Jenny Twitter: http://twitter.com/ • [email protected] / Vernon, Ricky Knight Eastern Simon Wilson & Melina GreenPartyTU [email protected] Lafirenze DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE GREEN PARTY WOMEN Sam Murray Bernard Eckbery South West Richard Peacocke • http://greenpartywomen.org.uk/ • [email protected] / • [email protected]. co-chairs@greenpartywomen. [email protected] Wales Dorothy Wilson uk org.uk • facebook.com/pages/Green-Party- Treasurer: Arran Rangi Ed Carey, Chit Chong, Anthony (Tony) West Midlands Mike Shone Women/ • [email protected] Pearce, Adam Mcgregor • http://greenpartywomen.org. North West John Coyne Social Media: LaurenDavies POLICY COMMITTEE uk/www.youtube.com/user/ • [email protected] Conference Ruthi Brandt Sam Riches & Samantha Pancheri greenpartyew • [email protected] GREEN SENIORS Equality and Diversity: Amber Goneni There are vacancies for London and Maureen Childs: • [email protected] the North East Lee-Anne Lawrance, Ronald Stewart, Stuart Jeffery, Miriam Kennett, • [email protected] Events: Hannah Graham STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE • http://www.greenseniors.co.uk/ Simeon Jackson • [email protected] Martin Hemingway, Jenny • http://greenseniors.blogspot. Marklew, Jill Mills, Jennifer Law, EQUALITY & DIVERSITY co.uk/ International: Tariq Khan Katharina Boettge COMMITTEE GREENS FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION • [email protected] • [email protected] Charlene Concepcion Press: Alice Kiff • [email protected] • https://gap.greenparty.org.uk/ GREEN WORLD EDITORIAL BOARD [email protected] • [email protected] Editor: Libby Peake Teresa Ravenshaw, Sue Macfarlane, • facebook.com GreensForAnimal • [email protected] Florence Scott, Yasmin Gasimova, Protection Membership and Trade Union: Paul Fez Endalaust • @Greens4Animals Valentine Rebecca Johnson, Emily Blyth, • [email protected] Diana Korchien, Francesca Gater, GREENS OF COLOUR Christopher Ogden, Dee Searle common interest groups • http://greensofcolour.weebly.com/ Regional Senate Co-Chairs • [email protected] Kat Driscoll INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE GREEN PARTY DISABILITY GROUP • facebook.com/Greens-of-Colour Derek Wall & Jessica Northey • [email protected] https://disabilitygroup.greenparty. • @GreensofColour • internalcommunications@ org.uk/ Aaron Parr greenparty.org.uk Convener Paul Weaver LGBTIQA+ GREENS • [email protected] Chair: GREEN ACTIVIST | december 2016 | page 26

policy working groups NAME MANAGER CONTACT INFO Animal Protection TBA [email protected] Policy Working Groups discuss current Green Party Citizen’s/Basic Income Clive Martin [email protected] policy in relation to policy developments in the [email protected] wider world and assess the need for additions and changes to our current policies. They also work on Climate Change David Flint [email protected] major amendments to policy chapters. To find out Co-Operatives Ed Jones [email protected] more or join a working group please get in touch Sven Rufus svenrufus@rufus-.co.uk with the person listed here as the contact name for the group. Crime & Justice Rebecca Novell [email protected] Democratic Reform & Public If you belong to a working group not listed Administration Rob Telford [email protected] here, or would like to set up a new group, contact the Policy Development Co-ordinator: Disability Marion Turner-Hawes [email protected] Paul Weaver [email protected] Drugs Shane Collins [email protected] Economics Miriam Kennet [email protected] Education Jennifer Law [email protected] Energy Ceri Jones [email protected] Equality and Diversity Fiona Costello [email protected] Food & Farming Ellie Crane [email protected] Forestry Isabel Bottoms [email protected] Health Stuart Jeffery [email protected] Heritage Helen Geake [email protected] Housing Tom Chance [email protected] Intellectual Property David Morgan [email protected] Jobs & Industry Jonathan Essex [email protected] Monetary Reform Daniel Key [email protected] Peace & Defence Rebecca Johnson [email protected] Population Nicky Watson [email protected] GreenActivist Rural Affairs Mike Shipley [email protected] Editor: Peter Barnett Tax and Fiscal Policy Brian Heatley [email protected] Sub-editors and proofing:Paul Jenkins, Dee Transport Alan Francis [email protected] Searle and Jenny Rust Design: Cherry Puddicombe Waste Ed Cook [email protected] Contact: [email protected] Wildlife and Habitats Jane Carruthers [email protected]