For the first time ever, the Green Party is asking you, the party’s members, to make a key decision in a referendum about our future.
The decision you are being
asked to make is whether you want the Green Party to
stick with the current set-up of ‘Principal Speakers’; or
whether to have an accountable, elected leadership team,
with titles to match. The new system, of Leader and
Deputy, or Co-leaders, would be elected by all of the
party once every two years. They would both have a vote
on the Executive.
The Yes Campaign believes that this is a simple change that could help the party be more visible and more easily understood by the public.
Green Party Yes Campaigner, Caroline Lucas MEP, says: “We need to understand that most people don’t relate to abstract ideas – they relate to the people who espouse and embody them. I passionately believe that there are ways of exercising leadership that are compatible with green principles, which are not about top-down control, but about empowering and enabling others.”
Right from the start the Yes campaign has found support from members from across the country, including many new ones, who have declared their backing for change. As well as both our MEPs, more than 70% of the Party’s elected Councillors have also expressed their support for the Yes campaign. Many people from the wider Green movement have spoken out in favour of a change, including climate change writer Mark Lynas; Director of Friends of the Earth, Tony Juniper; Executive Director of Greenpeace, John Sauven; and Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, Jonathon Porritt.
Two of the key protesters that BAA injuncted in the run-up to this summer’s climate camp, John Stewart (of HACAN) and Joss Garman (co-founder of Plane Stupid), spoke of their frustration at the Green Party’s lack of elected leadership, recognising the crucial difference between the Party’s own unique role and that of a pressure group. Many key journalists have also declared warm support for what they see as a common-sense change, including John Vidal of the Guardian and the Independent’s Johann Hari and Mike McCarthy – well respected commentators with a long-standing interest in the Green Party’s political development.
They want to see us do better, and think this is a key step towards making this easier. The leadership proposal also includes the option, every two years, of electing Co-Leaders, instead of a Leader and Deputy Leader. Co-Leaders have a strong track record in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so we’re very pleased that Scots Green MSP Patrick Harvie and ex-MSP Mark Ballard say that they are in favour of a Yes vote. They believe that, for Scottish Greens, electing their leaders is an important way of ensuring democratic accountability, as their membership, rather than MSPs or journalists, decides who speaks for and leads their party.
Only the Green Party has the radical policies so desperately needed to make sure that we avoid the worst of climate change, and yet without an identifiable leadership team we’re just not communicating our message as urgently and effectively as we should.
And remember, whether you are in favour of a Leader and Deputy or prefer the idea of two Co-Leaders, you can only bring them into being by voting Yes.
We’re asking you to vote Yes, to help us to move the Green Party forward and on to the job in hand. But most important is making a decision that everyone takes part in. So please do vote. It’s your democratic right.
The Yes Campaign believes that this is a simple change that could help the party be more visible and more easily understood by the public.
Green Party Yes Campaigner, Caroline Lucas MEP, says: “We need to understand that most people don’t relate to abstract ideas – they relate to the people who espouse and embody them. I passionately believe that there are ways of exercising leadership that are compatible with green principles, which are not about top-down control, but about empowering and enabling others.”
Right from the start the Yes campaign has found support from members from across the country, including many new ones, who have declared their backing for change. As well as both our MEPs, more than 70% of the Party’s elected Councillors have also expressed their support for the Yes campaign. Many people from the wider Green movement have spoken out in favour of a change, including climate change writer Mark Lynas; Director of Friends of the Earth, Tony Juniper; Executive Director of Greenpeace, John Sauven; and Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, Jonathon Porritt.
Two of the key protesters that BAA injuncted in the run-up to this summer’s climate camp, John Stewart (of HACAN) and Joss Garman (co-founder of Plane Stupid), spoke of their frustration at the Green Party’s lack of elected leadership, recognising the crucial difference between the Party’s own unique role and that of a pressure group. Many key journalists have also declared warm support for what they see as a common-sense change, including John Vidal of the Guardian and the Independent’s Johann Hari and Mike McCarthy – well respected commentators with a long-standing interest in the Green Party’s political development.
They want to see us do better, and think this is a key step towards making this easier. The leadership proposal also includes the option, every two years, of electing Co-Leaders, instead of a Leader and Deputy Leader. Co-Leaders have a strong track record in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so we’re very pleased that Scots Green MSP Patrick Harvie and ex-MSP Mark Ballard say that they are in favour of a Yes vote. They believe that, for Scottish Greens, electing their leaders is an important way of ensuring democratic accountability, as their membership, rather than MSPs or journalists, decides who speaks for and leads their party.
Only the Green Party has the radical policies so desperately needed to make sure that we avoid the worst of climate change, and yet without an identifiable leadership team we’re just not communicating our message as urgently and effectively as we should.
And remember, whether you are in favour of a Leader and Deputy or prefer the idea of two Co-Leaders, you can only bring them into being by voting Yes.
We’re asking you to vote Yes, to help us to move the Green Party forward and on to the job in hand. But most important is making a decision that everyone takes part in. So please do vote. It’s your democratic right.
“This motion does not concentrate power in a single, all-powerful leader but will give a clearer focus for the public and help to bring the Greens more firmly into the political arena. I shall vote for change because I think it is now necessary.”
Jean Lambert MEP
“We need to ask ourselves what we want people to hear most loudly: that we are different or that we can make a difference.”
Siân Berry, Green candidate for London Mayor
