Alan's Green Thoughts

Last week's narrow Brexit vote was not merely the result of anti-immigration feelings. It was also the result of feelings of decades of disillusionment with politics, alienation from the benefits and wonders of a modern, advanced society, and mistreatment by an out of touch elite. It resulted in the biggest working-class revolt in Britain since 1945, when the Conservatives under wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill were decisively booted from office by the electorate just after he had helped Britain and the Allies win the Second World War and defeat the Nazis. The electorate wanted assurances that things would change and that there would be secure employment and opportunities, and it was Clement Attlee and Labour who gave it to them. And 71 years later, much of the working-class population (and many other people dissatisfied with the faults of the EU and the perceived narrow-mindedness of the current establishment) of Britain have played a key part in bringing ab...

Yesterday, Spain went to the polls for another general election even though it was only held because the Cortes could not form a government after the last election of December 2015, causing King Felipe VI to invoke his right to dissolve the Cortes after 3 attempts to find a Prime Minister to govern for the next term failed. Despite the fact that this election occurred only six months after the last one, and the fact not much had actually changed, voter turnout increased albeit only by 1/6th of a percent. In seat terms, though, very little change occurred. The Partido Popular, still led by Mariano Rajoy, won 14 extra seats but this was not enough to put it in a firm position to form a stable government, as the Citizens Party only lost 8 seats and will likely again refuse to cooperate with the PP for reasons of differing principles. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE, lost a further five seats whilst surprisingly, a pact between United Left and Podemos, called Unidos Podemo...

It is official-by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%, a wider margin than was predicted, voters in the UK have voted to leave the European Union, on a turnout of 72% and with 'Leave' finishing over one million votes ahead of 'Remain'. The impact was rather immediate, with the pound hitting its lowest value against the Euro and US dollar since 1985 and with David Cameron promising to resign as Prime Minister this October, which will in all likelihood trigger a snap general election later this year. In light of all the socio-economic statistics which would favour Britain remaining an EU member, and so many economists and campaigners calling for a remain vote, why did it happen? 1. Rebellion against 'the Establishment' by disillusioned and poorer voters. The council areas that gave the heaviest Leave votes by a considerable margin share key characteristics with each other. Hartlepool, Boston, and Thurrock, for example, which all voted to leave the EU by a more than...

Just four days remain before the all-important EU referendum vote on 23rd June comes for the United Kingdom, although many voters have already cast postal votes. I believe that some important questions still need to be answered, however. 1. How close will it be in the end? Very much so-even in light of recent events which some believe have swung opinion more back towards remaining in the EU, polls have consistently been neck-and-neck between the remain and leave sides of the EU referendum, with a significant portion of undecided voters in each poll (usually 8-10%), and I believe they will remain so in the final days leading up to the vote. 2. Could Welsh and Scottish voters end up deciding the final result? Yes, given that it is known that Scotland and Wales have generally been more pro-EU than England (particularly true in Scotland). Even in London, English voters are very divided over the EU referendum issue, depending on their circumstances. However, given how well Sco...

The results of the Tooting parliamentary by-election were as follows: Rosina Allin-Khan (Labour), 17,894 (55.9%, +8.7%) Des Coke (Christian Peoples' Alliance), 164 (0.5%) Alex Glassbrook (Liberal Democrats), 820 (2.6%, -1.3%) Howling Laud Hope (OMRLP), 54 (0.2%) Zirwa Jawaid (Independent), 30 (0.1%) Elizabeth Jones (UKIP), 507 (1.6%, -1.3%) Ankit Love (One Love Party), 32 (0.1%) Akbar Ali Malik (Immigrants Political Party), 44 (0.1%) Graham Moore (English Democrats), 50 (0.1%) Esther Obiri-Darko (Green Party), 830 (2.6%, -1.5%) Zia Samadani (Independent), 23 (0.1%) Bobby Smith (Give Me Back Elmo), 9 (0.03%) Smiley Smillie (Independent), 5 (0.02%) Dan Watkins (Conservative), 11,537 (36.1%, -5.8%). Sadly, on the same day this by-election took place, Jo Cox, who had only been elected as Labour MP for Batley & Spen 13 months ago, died after being shot and stabbed just outside a constituency surgery she was holding in Birstall, West Yorkshire. Tributes ...

The results of yesterday's local by-elections were as follows: Essex CC, Basildon Laindon Park & Fryerns: UKIP 2034 (42.6%, +8.3%), Labour 1600 (33.5%, -4.4%), Conservative 878 (18.4%, +2.9%), Green 264 (5.5%, +3.3%). Lambeth LBC, Gipsy Hill: Lab 1220 (43.4%, -24.7%), Green 1184 (+32.4%), Con 210 (7.5%, -5.8%), Liberal Democrats 84 (3.0%, -1.7%), UKIP 73 (2.6%, -1.8%), Independent (Robin Lambert) 24 (0.9%), TUSC 19 (0.7%). North East Lincolnshire UA, South: Lab 758 (47.4%, +4.9%), UKIP 462 (28.9%, -3.4%), Con 312 (19.5%, +0.8%), Green 40 (2.5%), TUSC 26 (1.6%, -0.5%). All changes are since 2015. Southwark LBC, Surrey Docks: Lib Dem 1523 (51.7%, +22.8%), Labour 629 (21.1%, -0.9%), Con 380 (12.9%, -6.3%), Green 218 (7.4%, -6.4%), UKIP 187 (6.3%, -9.5%), Independent (John Hellings) 10 (0.3%). We almost secured a surprise win this week as we actually did last week, but despite achieving a swing of 28.5% against Labour we could not quite win the ward of Gipsy Hill, even wi...

In recent news, the island nation of Malta became the very first country to pass an Autism Acceptance Law (not merely a law to improve awareness of autism) which involves the creation of an Autism Advisory Council which must have autistic representatives, improvement of diagnostic techniques, and promotion of autistic people's right to self-determination. However, despite its promises and its recognition of the importance of respecting the potential of autistic people like myself, it fails to tackle the major issues autistic people face in Malta just as they do in Britain and elsewhere-high levels of unemployment and a lack of respect for autistic self-identity by the non-neurodiverse population. In Britain, the unemployment rate for autistic people, whichever position they occupy on the spectrum, exceeds 80%; by comparison the population in Britain as a whole has on average an unemployment rate of only 6% as of 2016. I myself have experienced both of these issues. This is why th...

For those of you who are interested in the Green Party Leader/Deputy Leader contest, whether you are in the Green Party or not, here are some questions you might be asking about it and specifically my bid to become the next Green Party Deputy Leader? 1. When will we know who is standing and when will the results be released? Nominations close on 30th June, so you will know in July. The results will be announced at the beginning of September just before the Green Party's Autumn Conference in Birmingham. 2. How do I vote in this election if I am not already a Green Party member? You need to be a Green Party member in order to vote in these internal elections. To join the Green Party (if you are not already a member), use this link: https://my.greenparty.org.uk/civicrm/membership/joining 3. How long have you been a member of the Green Party (in relation to Sian Berry not being eligible to stand for leader), and could you tell us about your experience? I have been a member ...

Readers, the results from by-elections of 2nd June featuring Green Party candidates were as follows: Rushmoor BC, Aldershot Park: Labour 525 (45.9%, -8.7%), UKIP 314 (27.4%), Conservative 264 (23.1%, -7.6%), Green 41 (3.6%). This is a deferred election; therefore all changes are since 2012. Mid Suffolk DC, Barking & Somersham: Green 212 (34.5%), Con 210 (34.2%, -7.5%), Liberal Democrats 154 (25.1%, +13.2%), Lab 38 (6.2%). Lewes DC, Lewes Bridge: Lib Dem 545 (44.6%, +18.5%), Green 343 (28.3%, +10.0%), Lab 212 (17.4%, +0.9%), Con 117 (9.6%, -3.1%). Our strength continues to grow in Mid Suffolk, with Anne Killett's election giving the Green Party seven councillors in Mid Suffolk, the highest ever in Mid Suffolk Green Party's long history. Our by-election win was also helped by the absence of the local group Suffolk Together from this by-election, who used to have a significant presence in rural parts of Suffolk. Despite already having one councillor in the Lewes Bri...

Just over two weeks ago, I declared to you that I will run for Green Party Deputy Leader in 2016: http://greensocialistalan.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/i-will-run-for-green-party-deputy.html So, you ask, why would I be a good Green Party Deputy Leader? In summary, it is because I passionately care about green politics, because I believe green politics should be for all seasons and all weathers, and because I want to help the Green Party become a real force for change in Britain. I believe this can all be done by ensuring the Green Party can reach out more to urban and rural areas as well as metropolitan areas and university towns, show how green politics and green values can appeal to all of you regardless of where you are or who you are, by linking environmental concerns to key voter priorities such as the economy, crime, and our NHS, by improving organisation so that the Green Party will be available to vote in every constituency of England and Wales and in all areas, and by helping g...