INTRODUCTION

A green affordable London Life is a struggle for ordinary people in London. If it’s not chaos on our transport network, it’s the high cost of living, the daily battle to make a living wage, or crazy levels of rent and mortgages. Most Londoners work too hard, pay too much and earn too little to enjoy our city properly. Our policies for London will make London greener and also make life for the people of our city more affordable. For the Greens, these things go hand in hand. Our homes are leaking cash as well as carbon with some of the worst insulation rates in the country and more than 1 in 20 families living in fuel poverty. By providing free insula- tion for all homes we can help both homeowners and tenants save money on their bills and reduce their carbon footprint at the same time. Instead of building new nuclear power stations, whose waste has to travel past Londoners’ backyards, we can generate electricity and heat locally, and use more of our natural renew- able resources to make London more self-sufficient and more secure in its energy supply. Rather than a new motorway bridge in East London, we need a public transport system that is cheaper and better run, so that people can choose to leave their cars behind. And we need to redesign our city so that local shops and services are within an easy walk for all and cre- ate streets that are as friendly to cyclists as those in Copenhagen. Too many Londoners struggle on the minimum wage, while research shows that a real, liv- ing wage of £7.20 is currently needed to get by in our city. We would make sure public em- ployees all receive this amount and step up efforts to force all employers to follow our lead. We have a different vision of a more secure and resilient basis for London’s economy: one that will last beyond high oil prices and which will also provide good jobs and the local shops and services we need for a healthy city. Locally-produced food, locally-owned small businesses and new green industries will all be helped to flourish by the Greens. Greens on the have taken the lead in promoting a quality of life agenda for London, to begin to realise the modern, high-quality, sustainable transport, public serv- ices, housing and vibrant local communities we all deserve. Our vision is clear: a city arranged and run on a human scale that enriches the lives of every- one and leaves no-one on the edges. A greener city, a healthier society, a more secure future and more affordable lives for ordinary Londoners. Help us bring this vision closer by voting Green in the Mayor and Assembly elections on May 1 2008.

Siân Berry, Mayor of London candidate for the Green Party Key green policies for London: • Free insulation for every home that needs it. • Cut bus and tube fares. • Insist all employers pay a London Living Wage • More affordable housing - 60% of all new homes • Affordable premises for small shops and businesses • No airport expansion • Rail and tube franchises back under public control • Public transport not new roadbuilding • Solar energy on 100,000 roofs • 20mph speed limit on all residential roads • Safer Neighbourhood policing around the clock CLIMATE CHANGE LOCAL ECONOMY

police and fire services becomes a zero- trading systems (LETS), community Walking the walk carbon public body. Putting people banks and time banks. From Stern to the Intergovernmental Panel • Skills training for Londoners to • Push for local authority control over on Climate Change and the UN, one manufacture, install and maintain green before profit business rates and preferential rates for authoritative report after another warns of energy systems. London’s economy is increasingly dependent small businesses. the certainty of man-made climate change • Switch to cleaner vehicles, reduce traffic on large, multinational financial institutions • Encourage government procurement to and the danger of delay or prevarication. and promote massive increase in at the expense of locally favour local providers and use ethical Global temperatures are rising, leading to walking and cycling. produced goods and services. Large criteria. extreme weather conditions, species • Protection for green space and increased corporations can relocate globally to • Encourage more companies to have extinction, higher sea levels, and loss of tree planting. wherever labour costs are lowest. The results ethical audits, calling for stronger social livelihoods for millions of farmers world- • Make it easier for householders to gain for Londoners are lack of job security, greater and environmental reporting for large wide. planning permission for small-scale income inequalities and high house prices. corporations. Greens in the London Assembly have renewables. The Green vision is for a London where each ensured a dramatic boost in the resources • Oppose airport expansion and promote area benefits from a strong local economy available for tackling climate change in the reduction in flying. and local services. FOOD previous four years. Greens have used their WASTE The Green strategy will create 100,000 new influence over the Mayor’s budget to deliver jobs in transport and the environment Two-thirds of London’s waste is currently a comprehensive Green Homes Service to sectors and include: provide advice and practical support to all sent to landfill in the surrounding regions. Londoners wanting to make their homes If London’s waste authorities fail to divert JOBS Healthy and local London’s food supply is currently highly greener, to provide cut-price insulation for a significantly higher proportion of waste • “Jobs for Londoners” initiative, to unsustainable and does not provide healthy Londoners and major investment in cycling from landfill, they could face fines of up to develop training and secure jobs, food for the people who need it most. and walking. Greens pledge to build on these £2.4 billion by 2020 under the EU Landfill especially for unemployed people. Directive. These current arrangements are Around eighty per cent of London’s food achievements in the next term. • Provide 10,000 places on training clearly unsustainable and ineffective. supply is imported from abroad and one The Green Party’s plan for a low-carbon courses in home energy assessment third of all household waste is food-related. London: installation of insulation and green At the same time, four out of every ten Lon- Greens support the establishment of a single energy measures. • Extend the free home insulation scheme don children live below the poverty line and to everyone who needs it. Waste Authority for London. This would • New jobs in creative industries, are unlikely to have access to nutritious food. enable London to manage its own waste manufacturing and local public services. The Green strategy for healthy food for all • Solar electricity and heating on 100,000 problem, improve strategic planning, roofs in by 2015. WAGES Londoners: increase accountability, and achieve greater • Ensure all new developments that the efficiencies. • Work to end poverty pay and get all • Campaigning for a GM-free London, and Mayor has direct control over are carbon private and public employers in the a ban on all GM in school meals. The Green Party will: neutral. whole of London to pay the London • Organic, vegetarian and vegan options • Use planning powers to introduce a • Adopt a London Zero Waste strategy, to Living Wage as a minimum. in schools, hospitals and other public ‘renewables escalator’ for new buildings minimize waste and maximize • Major public information campaign to services. recycling, with targets for completing - requiring progressively higher propor- encourage greater take-up of benefits to • All junk food and drinks vending key stages. tions of locally-produced renewable boost London’s poorest local economies machines removed from schools. energy. • Work to end incineration in London and and tackle poverty. • Action to improve access to affordable, invest in new sustainable waste • Low cost loans and paperwork help • Pension fund reform, linking pensions healthy, nutritious food in poorer areas. for householders who want to install technology to create renewable energy. to public finance, not dependence on the • Work to make London a fair-trade city. renewable energy. • Encourage retailers and manufacturers stock market. • Cut emissions from buildings by intro- to reduce packaging and use recycled, • Tackle the exploitation of low-paid • An updated Food Strategy to promote carbon reduction measures. ducing a street-by-street programme recyclable materials. migrant workers. across the whole of London to deliver • Support the recycling industry, • Decent living wages and conditions for LOCAL EMPOWERMENT energy improvements. including paper-recycling mills, those working in the food sector. • Farmers’ markets expanded to sell other • Follow Green Homes Service with Green electronics recycling, plastics recycling • Extend free-range poultry policy across local goods and produce. London’s Schools Service to provide advice, plants, and re-use/refurbishment plants public sector and at public events. historic markets promoted and expertise and support for emissions - all creating new green jobs. re-established. Local delivery and “shop • Promotion of organic and locally-grown reduction in London’s schools. • Ensure all London households get local” schemes promoted. food. comprehensive weekly doorstep • Step-up the Mayor’s Climate Change • A plan to help at least 30 per cent of Action Plan reduction target to 85% by recycling and composting collections. • A site-here-to-sell here policy. To encourage local production for local London farmers go organic by 2012. 2025. • Produce a public information campaign needs, local authorities and businesses on the benefits of re-using materials. • 1,000 new allotment plots by 2012 and • Bring in investment to fund the creation will be encouraged to source their goods protection of existing ones. of a decentralised energy network across • Support legislation to eliminate the use locally and only go outside the London • Work to increase number of farmers’ London. This could operate on a similar of free, throwaway carrier bags. economy if absolutely necessary. basis to the funding of transport markets, to at least two per borough • Start a “money-back” scheme for • A London Co-operatives Unit to support, London-wide. infrastructure, where the Mayor can containers returned to retailers. raise capital for major work through develop and help establish workers • Support for food co-ops and community issuing bonds. • Promote business recycling, including co-operatives in London. food initiatives. for pubs and clubs. • Lead by example by working to ensure • Work with local communities to develop • Active support for people to grow food the GLA Group, including transport, • Campaign to end the scandal of nuclear local credit unions, local exchange and compost at home. waste transport through London. TRANSPORT

TAMING THE CAR - CONGESTION & ROADS • Create a Paris-style mass cycle hire Greens will get you • Maintain the new higher congestion scheme by 2009 and include all Olympic charge for the most polluting vehicles. venues by 2012. places • Develop more sophisticated road pricing • Deliver free on-road cycle training for We continue to waste millions of hours to target the most congested streets in London’s children, subsidised training waiting for buses, tubes and trains, or London. for adults of all abilities and compulsory putting up with wrong information or traffic cycle training for highway engineers • Reduce traffic 20% by 2012 in every and transport planners. going nowhere reliably. Privatisation has town centre in London through a lowered standards, making public transport package approach to smarter travel • Continue the London Freewheel as an less safe, less reliable and more expensive. measures, with travel plans for all annual event, but also organise a similar Private profits are being put before schools and large businesses, mass participation, London-wide “cycle to work and school” day. passenger safety and the public good. Often, personalised travel advice and car clubs. flying is cheaper than taking the train. • 20mph default speed limit across • Display cycling maps, including family- friendly routes, at key locations such as Achieving a major cultural shift from London with named exceptions for key main roads. stations and town centres as driving to cycling, walking and public prominently as bus maps. transport is central to the development of • Take all illegal drivers off London’s roads and set up a special investigation team • Deliver the Legible London project London as a sustainable, thriving and throughout London. This creates a set of liveable city. to both prosecute drivers who are repeat offenders and pursue all hit and run pan-London pedestrian maps/signs, on The Green programme for transport in drivers. the street and on the web, to promote London includes: walking. • All new black cabs to be low emission • All pedestrian crossings to PUBLIC TRANSPORT - TRAINS, BUSES & FARES vehicles. green man meet national standards on crossing • Work to ensure all tube services and • Drop the Thames Gateway Motorway times. Installation of green man cross- London rail services are brought back Bridge proposal for a new six lane road ings at all signalised junctions which are into public ownership and run directly and spend the money on sustainable likely to be used regularly by pedestri- by TfL. transport instead. ans. • Protection from station closures and • Extend the Low Emission Zone to all • Create a Central London Pedestrian Zone proper staffing of stations - working light goods vehicles to protect the health to link Regent’s Park to the North, Hyde alongside the Campaign Against Tube of Londoners by meeting our European Park to the West, Battersea Park to the Privatisation. Union targets for improving air quality. South, and St Paul’s to the East. This • All new tube/rail/DLR stations and all • Abolish all the big one-way systems in would include, widening pavements, major refurbishments to be zero-carbon. London by 2020, beginning with a dozen enforcing 20mph, marking the zone of the worst. on new pedestrian wayfinding maps, • All electricity for tube/rail/DLR to be • All new developments in London to be restricting vehicle access, clearing street from renewable sources, with the aim clutter, and improving disabled access. of sourcing all that energy from within virtually car free (parking for disabled London by 2025. people and car club vehicles only) except • Encourage local authorities to adopt the where there are minimal public ‘Naked Streets’ approach on streets with • Investment in new tramways and or- transport links. high pedestrian use, by removing bital rail routes for outer London. • Action to get freight off roads and onto barriers that encourage the • All new buses to be electric hybrids rail and water, making full use of Lon- prioritisation of vehicles - and to from 2009 onwards. A continuation of don’s canal network. redefine our sense of collective the project to shift buses and coaches to responsibility, especially towards hydrogen fuel from renewable sources. • A “Road Safety Unit” of at least three disabled people. police officers in every borough. • Put speed limiters on all London buses AVIATION and TfL vehicles, along with the HUMAN SCALE - CYCLING & WALKING majority of black cabs and mini-cabs. Air travel is subsidised to the tune of £9 Work in partnership with public and • A concentrated package of new billion per year, yet is the fastest growing private sector to install them on other facilities and other measures to treble source of greenhouse gas emissions. cycling around town centres by 2012. vehicles. Green Party policies include: • No TfL or Met Police vehicles to use • Increase cycling from 2% to 20% by 2025. • Close City Airport and turn it into an bio-fuels unless it comes from certified eco-housing village and Green Indus- sources which meet strict criteria. • Ensure the budget for the completion of tries Park to provide sustainable em- • Affordable fares: Freeze peak tube fares the London Cycle Network Plus (LCN+) ployment for East London. to a high standard in all 33 boroughs and cut bus fares and off-peak tube • Continue to fight expansion of Heath- fares. with effective removal of all barriers and strong network links between boroughs. row and Stansted. • Permit transferable travelcard within • A congestion charge for air traffic and low income households. • New cycle parking for 500,000 bikes by 2012, with new facilities at work, near action to make rail travel cheaper and • An end to travel discrimination against shops and in London’s schools/colleges. more convenient than flying. disabled people. Seamless bus/rail/tube • A ban on night flights. transfers for the disabled, with at least • Greater provision for transporting cycles 50 per cent accessibility by 2015 and full on trains and taxis, to help improve access by 2020. integrated public transport and seamless low-impact travel. PUBLIC SERVICES HOUSING

to deliver training, leisure and support • Use the Mayor’s strategic housing pow- Public ownership projects for young people. Green, affordable ers to ensure the provision of high qual- and accountability • An action plan for more affordable, high homes ity, truly affordable homes for Londoners quality childcare. in order to A decent quality of life for all Londoners Everyone should be able to live in an • An action plan to improve public requires good quality and accessible public affordable, secure and decent home - but • set targets to end homelessness. services. services for older people. London’s unbalanced economy and • make full use of empty buildings. • A comprehensive advice and benefit Public services need to be efficient, housing market make this impossible for effective and well-resourced. They also need service for older and vulnerable citizens. • oversee the renovation of substandard a great many Londoners. At the same time, higher levels of public funding - from central • A GLA strategy to improve services estates and housing. current economic and planning policies fuel government and from local public funding and service-access for disabled people • ensure sufficient new home-building sources. More public services should be the overheating of London’s economy at the - drawn up with the full involvement of to tackle the housing crisis, subject to provided locally, and be free at the point of London’s disability groups. expense of other regions, causing protection of green spaces. use. unmanageable housing pressure on London • A quarterly GLA Community Groups • enable those who wish to move across Greens will always fight to save threatened Forum on Public Services, so all of and population loss in other regions. We local services across London - such as health London’s community and minority advocate a more balanced approach to London to take up available social centres, nurseries, schools, libraries, post groups can give their views. regional development, which will relieve housing. offices and advice centres. We campaign • A London Public Services Standard - housing pressure on London. • Supporting retention and expansion of against privatisation, which puts profit to ensure decent standards of local council housing, by restoring the grant before the public service ethos, undermines The housing crisis is largely due to Labour public services for all. local, public control and threatens local jobs. failing to replace the 1.5 million homes, a to local government and putting a stop • Introduction of a new Capital Standard to privatisation and the loss of social Quality public services cannot be provided if large proportion of them in London, that Programme to ensure that all litter and staff are poorly paid or have insecure terms were part of the housing stock of local homes through “right to buy”. fly-tipping is removed within 24 hours and conditions. Investing in public services authorities through the right to buy of being reported. • Higher targets for more sheltered and must also mean investing in public sector legislation. As a result there are accessible housing. EDUCATION staff, with secure employment and a living approximately 1.5 million people registered wage. We will work with trade unions to Though the Mayor and Assembly do not • Borough-level targets to match supply on the waiting lists of local authorities. defend, maintain and improve public have overall responsibility for schools policy, with need across the full range of Greens will press Government to services in London. Greens are opposed to the development and tenures and household sizes. expansion of City Academies. They are con- fundamentally reform the Right to Buy Key elements of the Green commitment to SUSTAINABILITY system - to end discounts for Right to Buy high quality public services for Londoners: trary to our policy on non-selective publicly-funded education accountable to and ensure all receipts are used to build new • Extend the free insulation scheme to PUBLIC OWNERSHIP local control. We are against the social housing on a “one sold - one built” everyone in London to encourage energy • Ensure decent high-quality public establishment of Trust schools, which basis. efficiency. services and amenities are within potentially give external interests undue • A London strategy to end fuel poverty, walking distance for everyone. weight in state education by allowing Urgent action is needed to improve with targets for fuel poverty reduction • More free health services. business, religious and other parties to take housing for Londoners - including greater positions on school boards. re-use and renovation of unused buildings and monitoring. • Invest in local libraries, to provide an improved stock and services to meet Education is lifelong. Further, adult and and the building of sustainable new homes • New requirements for all new housing diverse local needs. higher education should be open and which meet Londoners’ needs, not the developments to say they must affordable to people throughout their lives, interests of property developers. Greater • Re-introduce free, easily accessible • include at least 60 per cent truly supported via a system of grants. Elected public toilets, with attendants, across action is also required to tackle London’s governors representing communities, affordable housing, even in small-scale London. chronic homelessness problem and to students and teaching unions should sites have secure parking for bicycles. • Protect waterways and all green open provide appropriate shelter for people manage all sectors of education. • Ambitious targets for car-free housing, spaces - parks, playing fields and nature sleeping rough in the capital. On faith schools, Greens argue that schools reserves. giving more space to house people, less These problems can only properly be should provide education about other for car-parks. • Action to bring the Royal Parks under cultures and religions in order to help addressed by a co-ordinated, London-level the democratic control of the Greater children to understand the way that other approach. London Authority. people live and to respect others’ choices. The Green Party advocates: ACCOUNTABILITY We are not in favour of public funding for • A London-wide Youth Investment Fund schools run by religious groups. PROVISION HEALTH EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

LOCAL PROVISION • Support for ethnic minority projects Healthy people, • Increased local provision and local A fairer London and initiatives which strengthen local economies. access to services. London’s great diversity of people and strong NHS culture should be celebrated. At the same Protecting Asylum Seekers • Community health centres to help bring time, a decent quality of life for all requires Health is the cornerstone of a decent quality As one of the world’s richest cities, London more healthcare provision out into local greater equality between Londoners. of life. London’s huge health inequalities are should offer its support to people fleeing areas but avoiding the involvement of Everyone should have the right to be treated a reflection of its scandalous divide between persecution and oppression. Asylum seekers profit-making corporations. equally and fairly - regardless of ethnicity, rich and poor. It has been said that for each are victims, and not to blame for the gender, age, belief, sexual orientation, station we travel East on the Jubilee line • Healthcare workers, patients, carers, and problems they have fled from. Greens disability or other status. A lot more needs to between Westminster and Canning town, local residents involved in setting health campaign to ensure that they feel welcome, be done to tackle racism, discrimination and priorities through local decision-making have their rights respected and their needs the inhabitants have one year lost from their inequality - and to ensure greater respect for met. Greens will work for: life expectancy. bodies. human rights. • Greater public understanding of the Many Londoners are not receiving adequate CAMPAIGNING Greens want the following action on plight of asylum seekers. health service provision and do not get • Outright opposition to the Private human rights and equalities: • Proper national funding for boroughs to enough exercise for a good standard of finance initiative (PFI) and Foundation • Establish a London Youth Assembly meet the needs of asylum seekers. health. Green policies seek to reduce these hospitals. Both will lead to an uneven and support similar initiatives in each imbalances. In addition, a Green Mayor service and threaten the quality of local borough. • Schemes which draw on asylum seekers’ would campaign strongly alongside trade skills to enhance community contact hospitals. They will undermine public • More resources to end child poverty and and understanding. unions against the closure of vital local provision and public accountability only pensioner poverty in London. services. • Global justice, and opposition to arms to increase public debt. • Recognise the enthusiasm, expertise and trading and war - which lead people to It is not good enough to treat people when energy of older people and provide those • Hospital cleanliness has deteriorated flee their homes. they are unwell. We also believe that since private firms were given the task who receive their first Freedom Passes preventing illness by helping Londoners live of cleaning them. We would step-up with a pack giving information on healthier lives is central to the role of the in-house cleaning of hospitals to opportunities for voluntary work in the Mayor’s Health Equality Agenda. Greens will drastically reduce rates of hospital- community. continue to defend, and take every step to acquired infections, such as MRSA. • To ensure all London policies meet restore, an NHS that is publicly-owned and the demands of the Disabled People’s • Patient fora were a good method of DEMOCRACY AND free to all at the point of use. We see access Manifesto for London, and full, regular accountability for NHS trusts. We would to healthcare as a basic human right, not a consultation with disability groups. work to keep remaining forums alive OPEN-NESS commodity to be bought or sold. • Improved provision of translation and and campaign for the reinstatement of advice services and English literacy and The Green Party’s plan for a healthier London: those that were closed down. numeracy for all citizens. COMMITTED TO • London has a mobile and diverse • Arts funding should benefit all Holding the Mayor • Ensuring the Mayor’s Health Inequalities population. Healthcare needs to be Londoners, and not just a privileged few. Strategy addresses all the factors caus- accessible to migrants and includes That means supporting the to account ing poor health among Londoners. ensuring that refugees and asylum greatest possible diversity of art and The current set-up at City Hall places too • Better, publicly-funded health services, seekers are provided with healthcare as cultural projects and initiatives. much power in the hands of one person. with more services free at the point of is their human right. • Funding for a non-profit community Greens will push for additional powers for the Assembly in holding the Mayor to use - including prescriptions, eye-tests DARZI PLAN AND POLYCLINICS. arts centre in every local area, equipped with affordable space for performances, account. These include: and dental treatment, and better access Change is important if the NHS is to be to contraception and family planning rehearsals and meetings, as well as a • Giving the elected Assembly the power responsive to the needs of local people and low-cost café. Offering a service to all to amend the Mayor’s strategies. services. London’s growing population. Polyclinics are sectors of the community would be a • Enhancing the Assembly’s powers to • Greater action on the social factors lead- an idea whose time has come - as another condition of funding amend the budget. tier in healthcare, not as a replacement for ing to poor health, including unemploy- Tackling racism and hate crimes. ment and poor education and housing. GPs or to act as a cloak allowing creeping • Giving the Assembly “call-in” powers private involvement. Community health cen- London has benefited from its great ethnic over mayoral decisions, as in local • Specific measures to ensure health serv- diversity for centuries. It is one of London’s authorities. tres, providing some care traditionally pro- ices meet the needs of disabled people. greatest qualities - yet racism still needs vided in hospitals in a setting that is closer • Ensuring LDA and planning decision tackling. Greens want: • Better treatment and prevention of HIV/ to home, should complement existing local meetings are held in public. AIDS with action to help reduce social services rather than replace them. These • Tougher action on racist crime and • Press Government for further powers to religiously-motivated and homophobic exclusion. must be created through public finance and be devolved from Central Government to violence. • Tougher action to tackle London’s poor run by the NHS, rather than given to private the GLA. air quality - a major cause of respiratory companies to manage with less concern for • Work with local communities and anti- • Lobby for the GLA to be given powers to illness. health than for returning profits to their racism groups against racism at work raise funds through income tax, on the and in all our institutions. • Promotion of the benefits of regular ex- shareholders. model of the , and eco-taxes - rather than be dependent on ercise, especially walking and cycling. raising Council Tax. POLICING AND DRUGS

which rehabilitate offenders and give Crime and security greater victim support. Drugs Fear of crime is common among • Tougher action on domestic violence, AFTER PROHIBITION, CONTROL AND Londoners today - and sometimes fear of racist and homophobic crime, and corpo- REGULATION terrorism. Recorded crime is declining, yet rate crime. fear of crime remains high. Greens seek Drug use, and the consequences of their • Tough action on human traffickers and both to minimise risk and address the prohibition on London’s culture, economy support for the victims. underlying causes of crime and violence. and crime rate are undeniable. Green London’s extreme rich-poor divide and • Ensuring that big commercial events policies aim to minimise the harm to those social exclusion may contribute to the and large sporting events pay their own who use drugs and reduce the harm to conditions in which anti-social behaviour policing costs. society at large resulting from, in particular, can prevail or serious lawlessness fester. LIBERTY drug-related crime. 57 per cent of all crime Police racism has not been properly ad- • Combat police racism and and 80 per cent of burglary in the UK is to dressed, leaving many Londoners suspicious discrimination with a more diverse feed a heroin or crack drug habit. A green of the police and poorly protected from police force. drug policy will lead to a large drop in crime. crime. The police will only gain the trust of • A call for full independent enquiries into Whilst the reclassification of cannabis has the community if they become representa- deaths in custody and police shooting of led to a drop in arrests for possession, it still tive, accountable and approachable. civilians. leaves the supply in criminal hands. Prohibi- The Green Party’s strategy for policing • Protection of civil liberties and repeal of tion ensures that the drug trade, worth £8 includes: the draconian Serious Organised Crime billion in the UK each year, stays in criminal COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING and Policing Act (Socpa). hands. There is no access to the small claims • A police force which is genuinely • An end to arbitrary ‘Stop and Search’ courts, so disputes are often settled with vio- responsive to the concerns of all lence and weapons. This has led to an influx • Appointment of the Police London’s communities. Commissioner by the MPA, not by the of guns and knives into urban communities. • Deliver effective community policing Home Secretary. The Green approach to drugs would be to with Safer Neighbourhoods Teams on STOP AND SEARCH move cannabis dealers off the streets and duty around the clock, not just at certain into licensed premises, with clear rules on times of the day. Police statistics demonstrate that the black population in London are four times more age limits and information on potency. We • Ensure effective Safer likely to be stopped than the white would lobby for a drug commission to decide Neighbourhoods Panels in every population, with no corresponding on regulation, and treat heroin addiction as neighbourhood to provide proper difference in the arrest rate per category. a medical issue, rather than allowing it to accountability over local policing. (MPA, 2005) become a crime problem. • Ensure continued funding for Greens call for an end to the permanent The Green approach includes: independent Community Consultative state of emergency: anti-terrorist Section Groups. • Regulation and control over the sale of 44 ‘stop and search’ powers may only be cannabis for medical and recreational • Open more local police stations. invoked in specific places and times where use. • Shifting 20 per cent of all police officers specific intelligence justifies, rather than out of patrol cars and onto bicycles, for round the clock since 7/11. • A local democratic tax on cannabis sale, closer access to the streets. The uptake Independent oversight over Section 60 ‘stop where the purchaser chooses a local of police cycling is an initiative in which and search’ (non-terrorist) powers where project to receive a percentage of the Greens played a key role. there is fear of “serious violence” giving the profits. SAFETY reasons for their use. • Licensed cannabis supply based on the • Designing out crime - SHOOT-TO-KILL Dutch coffee shop model. with people-friendly streets and estates, Lessons must be learned from the fatal • Decriminalising recreational drugs such better lighting, prompt repairs, with Stockwell shooting of an innocent Brazilian, as ecstasy and psychotropic mushrooms. more caretakers and staff on estates Jean Charles de Menezes, by armed officers and railway stations, and attendants in in 2005. In 2003, the Metropolitan Police • Providing heroin on prescription as a parks. adopted rules of engagement, known as route into a range of other consensual • Invest in high-visibility policing instead Kratos, that would enable an officer to treatments. of more CCTV or helicopters. shoot-to-kill solely on the basis of a remote • Improving information and health command (Stockwell One, 2007). Greens call • Action on gun crime - cutting off gun education relating to all drugs. upon the Met to discontinue the shoot-to- supply and improving witness kill option under Kratos. Lethal force may • A ban on advertising and sponsorship protection. remain an option outside Kratos, but only of tobacco, cannabis or other currently • Stop the current trial of tasers for the under the legal protections afforded by the illegal drugs. Territorial Support Group. European Convention of Human Rights. • More restorative justice initiatives, ENVIRONMENT ANIMALS

canals for freight transport and leisure, Turning London but not where that would have an Opposing cruelty adverse impact on ecology or Animals are capable of feeling physical pain green archaeology, or cause foreshore erosion. and mental distress just like us. It is a It is impossible for Londoners to have a • All riverside developments to encourage fundamental belief of the Green Party that decent quality of life if the environment is biodiversity and enhance the riverside animals have the right to live free from polluted, noisy, poorly maintained and landscape. suffering and harm caused by human under threat locally and globally. OLYMPICS/PARALYMPICS exploitation. The Green Party strategy for London’s London has less than four years to go before environment includes: Greens will champion the following: the 2012 Games. • New development on “brown-field” land • A GLA animal protection Key Green demands: only - subject to biodiversity audit. strategy for implementation across the • Promises on the environment to apply capital • Strong enforcement of a veto on new across all three stages - construction, out-of-town retail developments and the • A staff team for London’s animal games and legacy. introduction of a presumption against protection officer, with a dedicated pet private parking for new retail • Make the games, including the legacy shops officer. developments. phase, zero carbon instead of the low- carbon aspiration in the bid. • Work to get an animal protection officer • Affordable premises for small shops and in every borough. businesses in new retail developments, • Green space to be restored promptly amounting to fifty per cent of total retail after the Games or not used at all. • Make catering procurement decisions floor space. • All workers on the Olympics (includ- that reduce the consumption of meat and dairy produce. Use of organic, free- • Use of planning powers to ensure ing contract workers) to be paid a living provision of local sports and leisure wage or better. range products would be encouraged when meat, milk or eggs were required. facilities. • All Olympic merchandise to be sweat- • Preservation of threatened, important free. • Produce comprehensive information historical, architectural and community • Where grassroots sports facilities are on vegetarian and vegan diets for all buildings. to be used ensure affordable prices at boroughs and authorities so that all Lon- • All the Mayor’s planning meetings to replacement facilities. don’s schools, hospitals and prisons can be held in public. Objectors will have • Ensure high levels of social and offer vegetarian and vegan options. the same right to present their case as affordable housing in the Olympics • Promote a cruelty-free economy and developers. Village after the Games. cruelty-free practices - and advocate that • No to airport expansion, which causes • Food served on site to be free of cruel practices, such as the production of noise, pollution, climate change and unnecessary packaging and, where pâté de foie gras and kangaroo meat are destruction of the green belt. possible, be locally produced, fair trade banned. and organic. • Defence and expansion of London’s • Work to establish a free veterinary/ green spaces - by opposing • No restriction on spectators bringing in animal health service for London. environmentally damaging planning their own food and drink. proposals and employing well-trained • Tough standards for pet shops, London-

managers to improve biodiversity. wide, with regular veterinary inspec- Greening the Thames Gateway • A major tree-planting scheme to ensure tions. No pet fairs. street trees in every street. • A properly funded, established and fully • Facilitate animal blood banks. protected Green Grid Network of linked • Work to remove motor traffic from open spaces as part of the basic • Make London a centre for non-animal London’s parks. infrastructure. medical research. • Ensure that street lighting is directed • A thorough assessment of flood risk for • Cruelty-free rules on GLA purchasing, down at the street, rather upwards, all developments. including non-animal tested cleaning thereby making the stars invisible. • High quality and fully integrated local products. • To avoid siting mobile-phone masts public transport, with high targets for • Action to end London’s fur trade. where there is community opposition or car-free housing. a health risk. • Humane, non-lethal control methods • Ambitious local unemployment • Use planning powers to promote green/ wherever possible where animal reduction targets, geared and monitored living roofs. populations are controlled. Oppose the to ensure greatest local benefit. use of hawks to control pigeons. • All new waterside developments to • New pedestrian and cycle bridges across incorporate public access to the water • Ban all animal circuses in London. the Thames. front, to create continuous waterside • Increase the number of officers in the pathways, and allow cycle riding where Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit. it is safe to do so. • Greens encourage the greater use of Green Votes Count

A proportional representation voting system is used in the London election, so every vote counts. Under this system Greens consistently get elected. When elected, Greens work for far- reaching change to the political system - for real democracy. Greens were elected in London’s proportional elections to the in 1999 and 2004 and to the London Assembly in 2000 and 2004. In the 2006 local elections, we gained council representation Siân Berry, Jenny Jones, , across six London boroughs. Green candidate Green Party, Green Party, for Mayor London London Assembly Assembly

This space has been left blank for three policies to be decided by London’s children.

Siân Berry, the Green Party Candidate for Mayor is supported by Harry Bear MP, the first bear to be elected to Parliament. Mr Bear is backing Siân because she has pledged to listen to the voices of children and to let them have their say in running London when she is Mayor. Find out more about Harry Bear MP at: www.harrybearforparliament.org.uk And, if you are a child with a good idea for London, tell Siân’s team by sending an email to [email protected]

This manifesto is also available from the website and from the address below in large type and on audio tape. London Green Party, 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ london.greenparty.org.uk

Promoted by Dean Walton on behalf of Siân Berry and London Green Party, all at 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ. Printed by PMS Design & Print, Recsyn House, 10 Willow Way, Sydenham, London SE26 4QP on 50% recycled and 50% FSC Certified paper.