Does anybody here take the Greens seriously?

[Psamathe]

I genuinely can't remember the last time the Greens under ZP really highlighted a policy that addressed environmental policy. I don't know why they are doing this non-Green populism this far out from a general election.

I think he isn't a "Green", not concerned about environmental issues. He's hijacked the Green Party to pursue his own ideological agenda. He might succeed (to a degree) depending on what happens to Labour over the next couple of years.

I think the massive increase in the Green Party's membership is maybe from those deserting Blue Labour and Polanski is offering more of a socialist rather than environmental alternative. If Labour do return to being Labour then I wonder if many of those will move back to Labour and Green's might end up worse off than they were before (as those conserved with environment will have given up on them).

 

[icowden]

I think he isn't a "Green", not concerned about environmental issues. He's hijacked the Green Party to pursue his own ideological agenda. He might succeed (to a degree) depending on what happens to Labour over the next couple of years.

He's been a member of the party since 2017 and as deputy leader was pretty exercised about climate and workers rights. He's Jewish, gay and vegan. Seems pretty Green to me. I think as leader he has moved the direction of the party somewhat to fill it out in terms of policy, as the Greens were just seen as tree hugging climate nuts. He has been much better at engaging the media (as you might expect for a trained actor) than his predecessors, and generally the Greens are being seen as much closer to where the Labour party used to be on policies, but in a way that seems to chime with centrists - so no promises to massively hike income taxes, but focus on taxing billionaires, renationalising the water companies, subsidising net zero policies, wealth taxes and introducing PR.

 

[Ian H]

He's been a member of the party since 2017 and as deputy leader was pretty exercised about climate and workers rights. He's Jewish, gay and vegan. Seems pretty Green to me. I think as leader he has moved the direction of the party somewhat to fill it out in terms of policy, as the Greens were just seen as tree hugging climate nuts. He has been much better at engaging the media (as you might expect for a trained actor) than his predecessors, and generally the Greens are being seen as much closer to where the Labour party used to be on policies, but in a way that seems to chime with centrists - so no promises to massively hike income taxes, but focus on taxing billionaires, renationalising the water companies, subsidising net zero policies, wealth taxes and introducing PR.

I'd agree. Even a Green party is going to have to flesh out its policies beyond saving the planet. The notion of a right-wing, necessarily authoritarian Green party (there are or have been such things) is pretty horrible.

 

[matticus]

I think the massive increase in the Green Party's membership is maybe from those deserting Blue Labour and Polanski is offering more of a socialist rather than environmental alternative.

I don't think it's likely that many people are joining (or voting for) the Greens without some belief they are an enviromental alternative!

 

[briantrumpet]

I don't think it's likely that many people are joining (or voting for) the Greens without some belief they are an enviromental alternative!

Even if they are hiding it fairly well at the moment with nimbyism against solar and suggestions of subsidising carbon-based fuel.

 

[icowden]

I don't think it's likely that many people are joining (or voting for) the Greens without some belief they are an enviromental alternative!

Weirdly, I don't think that many people are against trying to do something about climate change. You have to be quite swivel eyed / in the pocket of big oil to say "we should just keep burning stuff".

 

[Pblakeney]

He's Jewish, gay and vegan. Seems pretty Green to me.

Nope. You've lost me there. None of that is "green". I'm not even sure that you have to left wing for them to apply.

 

[icowden]

Nope. You've lost me there. None of that is "green".

Have you met many vegans? The green party have long been supporters of the LGBT community.

 

[First Aspect]

Nope. You've lost me there. None of that is "green". I'm not even sure that you have to left wing for them to apply.

Veganism is arguably green, given the carbon footprint of meat.

 

[Pblakeney]

Veganism is arguably green, given the carbon footprint of meat.

That argument I will accept, if it is expanded on.
Sexuality being green is bollocks. There may be an overlap on the Venn diagram but that's like saying I can't be green as I'm straight.

 

[briantrumpet]

but that's like saying I can't be green as I'm straight.

Straight greens.

 

[briantrumpet]

Veganism is arguably green, given the carbon footprint of meat.

I don't think there's much argument about that (which I say as a meat eater).

Other than that I think Polanski's Greens are woke-ish, populist, not-right wing, Corbynish, not performatively cruel.

But their focus has little to do with an actual Green agenda. And I think that's a great pity, as it needs to be relentless in the face of planet-trashing right wing populism.

 

[First Aspect]

That argument I will accept, if it is expanded on.
Sexuality being green is bollocks. There may be an overlap on the Venn diagram but that's like saying I can't be green as I'm straight.

 

[briantrumpet]

Though, to be fair, if I upped my consumption of some of the foods low down on that list, my personal methane production would increase substantially.

 

[Psamathe]

Veganism is arguably green, given the carbon footprint of meat.

Reasons for being vegan can be varied. One vegan I know has adopted the lifestyle for reasons nothing to do with environment (though she would probably be supporting more left wing parties for reasons unrelated to environment). But I am vegetarian for reasons of sustainability. So can be but my impression is that it isn't necessarily.