Time to end politics without purpose, South West Greens were told at Party conference

Published: 24 Feb 2008

More and more people have had enough of politics without purpose and are joining the Green Party, South West Greens attending the party’s recent conference were told as they prepare for next year’s European elections.

Strongly attended by South West Green Party members, the 2008 Spring Conference, held at Reading Town Hall offered an opportunity to look to the future and greater Green representation at local, national and European level.

With the European elections approaching in 2009, and a General Election anticipated soon after, the Green Party stands to make considerable gains across the board.

Cllr Ricky Knight, the lead candidate for the South West in the European election and a regular at conference, was enthusiastic about the positive atmosphere.

‘This is my ninth conference – I’m becoming a bit of an addict!’ said Ricky. ‘Certainly it’s an effective antidote to any rural fears of being alone. This year, there were many more sessions aimed specifically at election preparation and practical campaigning skills – very useful and very necessary.’

‘But I need inspiration too’, he added. Inspiration which came thick and fast; Dr Caroline Lucas, South East MEP, principal speaker and parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion addressed a packed audience of Party members and media [1], speaking passionately about the urgent need for a drastic change of direction in government.

‘We have had enough of the yawning gulf between rhetoric and reality; enough of the drifting duplicity at the heart of government – and enough of a politics without purpose’, said Dr Lucas. ‘It is because elected Greens make a real difference that more and more people are joining us, and ever more people are voting for us.’

Those who attended conference will be taking their new-found knowledge and enthusiasm home with them and using it to help spread the Green word. Chloë Somers, a first-time delegate at conference and a long-list South West candidate for the European election, commented on the sense of expectation which was present.

‘People are beginning to realise that we have to make changes now’, she said, ‘and that the best way to do that is to vote Green. The more Green legislation we have, the easier it will be for people to not only think green, but act green. We are the only party who offer real progress and a sustainable future’.