After carrying out an informal analysis of candidates answers to our election questions Green Left believes the candidates below are those closest to the ecosocialist views of Green Left . Green Left has only identified these candidates on the basis of 4 of the issues covered in its questionnaire and therefore makes no comment on candidates' position on other issues. There is a full commentary in the article below.
Leader : Shahrah Ali, Deputy Leader: Andrea Carey Fuller, Chair: Ashley Routh & Benjamin Smith, Trade Union Liaison Officer: Matthew Hull & Paul Valentine or Theo Simon, Campaign Coordinator : Hannah Graham, Publications Coordinator : Julia Lagoutte, International Coordinator : Alice Hubbard & Sam Murray or Claudine Letsae.
Green Left is pleased to see many ecosocialists standing as well as these above in all the posts and we do urge people to visit our excellent Election Blog to read all the answers to our 10 point Questionnaire , find links to the campaign sites of the leadership candidates and information on each candidate standing https://
Over
the last year or two there has been concern that the Green Party has been
moving towards a more centrist position on key questions so this leadership
election is a chance to gauge the health of the eco-socialist current within
the party. Two of our questions directly
relate to that issue.
Leader
Asked
if they were an eco-socialist, leadership candidates offered varied responses.
Shahrar Ali gave an unequivocal answer, ‘Yes, climate change action needs
radical social, economic and democratic change’; Sian Berry said system change
is the core of eco-socialism and co-candidate Jonathan Bartley added action on
climate cannot be separated from the economic system. Rosemary Sexton did not use
the term eco-socialist but said, ‘social justice and environmental justice are twin pillars of the Green
movement.’ She added that it was hard to care about consequences of climate
change when you’re worried about paying the rent or putting food on the table.
None
of them mentioned capitalism in their answer.
On
the connected issue of a Just Transition and support for those campaigning for
green jobs Bartley & Berry said the Campaign Against Climate Change et al
were key factors in the movement Greens wanted to build and workers must be
protected in transition; Sexton called for engagement with people affected in
industries becoming obsolete so that solutions can be found together; Ali
responded that a move from a neo-liberal to a sustainable and carbon neutral
economy needed trade union and campaigning organisation support.
Opposition
to the Green Party adopting the IHRA definition is a key policy of Green Left
and the issue is likely to be debated at the Autumn Conference. Sexton made a general statement opposing the
oppression of minorities and said that in holding governments to account that
this should not become a vehicle for racist tropes. She did not take a position
on adoption of the IHRA. Bartley and Berry both supported the IHRA having done
so in their councils ‘as a way to avoid anti-Semitism’ within ‘legitimate
campaigning’ opposing actions of the Israeli government. They supported
BDS. Ali conversely said that he opposed
the IHRA definition as it would prohibit BDS and label criticism of Israel as
anti-Semitic.
Lastly
Ali, Bartley and Berry supported the proposed motion opposing nuclear power.
Sexton said she would not support the motion as in line with ‘that majority of
climate and energy scientists and the IPCC, this would be incompatible with
climate change commitments.
On
the basis of the above Shahrar Ali is closest overall to Green Left’s positions
on these four key questions.
Deputy
Leader
Amongst
Deputy Leader candidates Tom Pashby on eco-socialism says, ‘I am an
eco-socialist and an anti-capitalist’; Andrea Carey Fuller says as an
eco-socialist she stands for climate justice, human rights, social justice and
devolved resources; Cleo Lake says
eco-socialism is understanding that most of the world is in poverty and cannot
thrive, ‘nature thrives but is under attack from ecocide’, Nick Humberstone
says that he doesn’t have a personal definition of eco-socialism and ‘probably
would identify myself as an eco-socialist’; Amelia Womack says she has
consistently and proudly stated that she is an eco-socialist and that social
justice and equality are intertwined with solutions to the climate crisis.
On
Just Transition, Carey Fuller says it is about protecting current workers and future
generations whilst we switch from fossil fuels . The Lucas Green Deal is the
only one which will halt climate change – Labour’s million jobs plan is
‘greenwash’. Pashby says action on
climate change without Just Transition would be against the party’s
values; Lake argues we can’t take
control of government unless we work with a coalition of trade unions setting
clear lines on ‘wellbeing and environmental non-negotiables’; while Womack says
she has supported the campaigns mentioned and that the need for a Just
Transition needs to be at the heart of the GP’s messaging. Humberstone admits
he doesn’t know much about the campaigns which perhaps highlights that we’re
not supporting them enough. He supports an economy that works for everyone.
On
the IHRA Womack does not oppose the definition but says the Queens Speech
statement on BDS has to be challenged, ‘It is important we protect Jewish
people and their rights as well as criticising leaders who are destroying
Palestine’; Lake says that it is important to understand UK Jewish perspectives
by working with Jewish Greens as a priority and policy should be membership
driven in consultation with them. Humberstone states that he supports BDS and
the IHRA. Cary Fuller says she is a co-proposer of the motion opposing the IHRA
definition and reaffirming support for BDS. Pashby understand that people say the
IHRA is not perfect but supports it as the best working definition of
anti-Semitism.
All
support the nuclear power motion except for Humberstone who says he approaches
every policy with an open mind he would currently ‘probably’ support it but
it’s difficult without knowing the specifics.
Carey
Fuller’s answers are closest to GL’s positions on the four main questions
House
of Lords
Amelia
Womack’s answers have already been commented on but there are other candidates
to consider for the House of Lords. On Eco-socialism Molly Scott Cato
says she is not a great one for labels but has learned a lot from Marx, Keynes
and Polanyi – probably a ‘guild socialist’ on William Morris lines. Rupert Read
thinks his being on the board of ‘Capitalism, Nature, Socialism’ answers the
question; Andrew Cooper says it is unlikely that the present system, to say the
least, will solve the crisis so system change is needed.
Read
states that Just Transition is the ‘best chance we have of moving to a truly
sustainable economic system’ and to do that we have to challenge existing
social stratification. Cooper says as GP
Energy Spokesperson he has engaged with these organisation and would continue
the work towards shared values and objectives.
Scott Cato focuses on the message that in leaving nobody behind the
government should pay for reskilling and employment conversion and unions
involve in national plans for the sustainable transition. We should speak out
of unions protecting the jobs of current workers is at the expense of future
generations.
None
of the candidates oppose the IHRA definition.
This
is a hard one to call regarding closeness to GL’s position.
GPEx
Chair
Chair
of GPEx
is a powerful position so has been included in this review. Ewan Jones and the
Benjamin Smith and Ashley Routh partnership say they are eco-socialist. Adrian
Spurrell says he is a Green and there’s no separation between the economy,
society and the environment. Liz Reason
doesn’t use labels.
On
Just Transition Jones says it is vital and he commits as Chair to empowering
the Trade Union Liaison Officer to build strong alliances with trade unions and
campaign with them within agreed policies.
Smith and Routh have no direct experience of the campaigns, knowledge
only from reading, but find no substantive disagreement. Spurrell wants to remove the ‘them and us’
and work for fairer distribution of income and power. Reason expresses
disappointment at trade union campaigns failure to address green issues in a
meaningful way.
The
IHRA produces a split in the Smith and Routh partnership with Smith opposing
and Ashley saying it could do with revisions to clarify misconceptions. Spurrell
does not clearly support opposition to the IHRA but says he opposes annexation
and does not believe criticism of the Israeli government is anti-Semitic. Jones
will lead GPEx in implementing whatever policy is agreed. Reason says, ‘Of
course, I oppose the oppression of all minorities.’
They
all support the nuclear motion but Spurrell also takes a swipe at Chinese
ownership as another reason to oppose.
Ewan
Jones’ commitment to empowering the Trade Union Liaison Officers puts him ahead
of the field in GL policy terms.
Campaigns
Co-ordinator
Campaigns
Co-ordinator is another key position, particularly as this has been a neglected
area outside election work.
Hannah
Graham declares herself an eco-socialist and says we cannot stop climate change
under capitalism as the need for growth will lead to producing and consuming
more and more. Daniel Laycock thinks it means fighting for climate and social
justice, including proper education, BAME communities, NHS funding, green
economy etc. Britta Goodman says she is
only truly comfortable with the Green label but does see the need to
restructure society.
Goodman,
regarding Just Transition, would like to see closer links with the trade union
movement as it is the only way to a sustainable society. Laycock says the aim
should be a Green New Deal and we should reach out to these campaigns and
organisations to put structures in place like the Lucas Plan. Graham says we
should advocate the Just Transition framework to secure workers’ rights and
livelihoods when shifting to sustainable production.
On
the IHRA Graham is somewhat ambivalent saying she does not support it in its
‘entirety’ and says the Green Party have faltered in our weak positioning and
support for candidates on the issue.
Laycock makes a broad statement of support for the oppressed. Goodman
says that as a German she stays out of debates around anti-Semitism as aware
that the Nazi past makes many Jews uncomfortable.
All
candidates support the nuclear motion.
On
balance, Hannah Graham is just ahead in terms of GL policies on the principal
topics.
International
Co-ordinator
It
is good to see plenty of competition for International Co-ordinator including
two job shares.
Frank
Sheridan does not state that he is an eco-socialist but says that social,
economic and democratic inequality are products of a flawed system. The Erwin
Schaefer and Alex Horn partnership are split with Schaefer saying he is an
eco-socialist and public utilities should be under public control and Horn
saying, ‘No, I am in favour of a mixed economy.’ Alice Hubbard and Sam Murray say they are
‘Proud Eco socialists’ and list a number of international politicians they have
worked with: ‘Eco socialism for us recognises that system change is necessary
to fight climate change.’ Claudine
Letsae says that she is a human rights campaigner and sees that economic, social
and cultural rights are needed to bring about equity.
All
the candidates support Just Transition with Sheridan and Hubbard and Murray
emphasising the global and international aspects. Letsae says the party has
missed too many opportunities for the right campaigns that would have great
impact on people’s livelihoods.
On
the IHRA only Letsae opposes the IHRA definition as it is flawed from a Human
Rights perspective. Hubbard and Murray say careful and considered debate is
needed re adopting or not the definition but all groups facing oppression
should be able to articulate their experience.
All
support he nuclear motion except for a caveat from Alex Horn who says that we
need to consider the consequence of Germany’s closure of nuclear facilities in
more burning of coal.
Green
Party Trade Union Liaison Officer
Lastly,
we will review the candidates’ answers for Green Party Trade Union Liaison
Officer, a post that is alleged to face abolition, so it is good to see that it
is seen by the membership as important enough to attract three candidates.
Unsurprisingly
all three support Just Transition and the Green Party’s work with trade
unions. On being an eco-socialist Paul
Valentine and Matthew Hull (Joint candidates) take the strongest
anti-capitalist position so far ‘We believe that
confronting and defeating the oppression of people and planet requires
uprooting the capitalist social order. Capitalism’s impulse to open new markets
and frontiers of extraction is responsible for the climate crisis, and this has
to be tackled head-on.’ Kefentse Dennis
says that it is all about ‘Understanding how to work, live and play sustainably
and equally within a finite world.'. Theo Simon hesitates to define it in 50
words but ‘The main levers of production,
transport, land and infrastructure need to be publicly owned and democratically
managed, along with financial institutions.’
Theo Simon says the IHRA definition is too ambiguous regarding
criticism of the Israel state. Kefentse Dennis says he is in favour of the IHRA
as it says ‘criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against other states
cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic’, Valentine and Hull don’t answer directly
but support campaigns rooted in the diaspora communities. ‘These campaigns may use a variety
of tactics, including using boycotts, divestments and sanctions, as a
legitimate means of applying pressure.’
All support the nuclear motion.
On the basis of the replies it is too close to call between Theo
Simon and the Paul Valentine and Matthew Hull partnership.
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