Analysis of by-elections from 28/9/17-and five top reasons why green politicians should never join Labour
Readers, the results of this week's local by-elections were as follows:
Barnsley MBC, Kingstone: Labour 740 (57.5%, -2.4%), Liberal Democrats 247 (19.2%), Conservative 113 (8.8%, -3.5%), Green 87 (6.8%, -4.1%), BNP 75 (5.8%, -5.2%), Demos Direct Initiative 25 (1.9%). All changes are since 2016.
Breckland DC, Thetford Priory: Labour 503 (57.7%, +29.5%), Conservative 257 (29.5%, -4.4%), UKIP 112 (12.8%, -24.3%). Labour gain from Conservative.
Durham UA, Trindon & Thornley: Labour 1150 (65.4%, +15.2%), Independent 351 (20.0%), Liberal Democrats 117 (6.7%, -3.7%) Conservative 112 (6.4%, -12.8%), Green 29 (1.6%).
East Staffordshire DC, Stretton: Conservative 762 (47.2%, +2.1%), Save Our Stretton 455 (28.2%), Labour 311 (19.2%, -0.4%), UKIP 52 (3.2%, -24.4%), Liberal Democrats 36(2.2%).
Harlow BC, Toddbrook: Labour 702 (52.2%, +1.7%), Conservative 486 (36.1%, +11.2%), UKIP 98 (7.3%, -17.4%), Green 41 (3.0%), Liberal Democrats 19 (1.4%). All changes are since 2016.
Harrogate BC, Washurn: Conservative 363 (74.5%, -0.4%), Labour 61 (12.5%, -0.9%), Green 44 (9.0%), Yorkshire Party 19 (3.9%). All changes are since 2016.
Highland UA, Tain & Easter Ross: Independent (Rhind) 1266 (49.4%, +33.0%), SNP 612 (23.9%, +0.0%), Liberal Democrats 372 (14.5%, -5.0%), Conservative 233 (9.1%, -6.9%), Independent (Holdsworth) 68 (2.7%), Libertarian 13 (0.5%). Independent gain from Liberal Democrats.
Lancaster BC, Halton with Aughton: Labour 247 (27.4%, +18.0%), Green 245 (27.2%, -0.9%), Conservative 236 (26.2%, +2.0%), Liberal Democrats 174 (19.3%). Labour gain from Independent.
Northampton BC, Eastfield: Labour 493 (50.5%, +13.5%), Conservative 288 (29.5%, -4.1%), Liberal Democrats 195 (20.0%, -16.7%).
Northampton BC, Nene Valley: Conservative 803 (52.5%, +11.7%), Labour 343 (22.4%, +7.6%), Liberal Democrats 293 (19.2%, +9.3%), Green 91 (5.9%).
St Edmundsbury DC, Chedburgh: Conservative 372 (65.8%), Labour 128 (22.7%), Liberal Democrats 65 (11.5%).
St Edmundsbury DC, Hundon: Conservative 357 (80.4%, +17.2%), Liberal Democrats 86 (19.4%).
Apart from a slight dent in their vote in Barnsley, Labour is back on track just after the end of their latest conference-especially with their two-vote victory in Halton with Aughton in Lancaster over the Green Party; the Conservatives were a mere 11 votes behind Labour and even the last-placed Liberal Democrats finished just 8.1% behind the victorious Labour candidate. Close four-way races are getting rarer and rarer in by-elections, even in highly competitive places like Lancaster, and with this latest victory Lancaster returns to overall control by Labour. Labour's capture of a seat in Thetford, Norfolk, is also an important gain, especially with Labour's mantra currently not going down particularly well in small market downs. Thetford sits in South West Norfolk, where in 2017 a Labour recovery due to UKIP's collapse was cancelled out by an equally strong Conservative surge, leaving the seat to remain as solidly Conservative as usual.
St Edmundsbury as a district has a habit of frequently returning at least a few Conservative councillors unopposed, especially in outlying villages in which both of its by-elections took place. Chedburgh (fka Chevington) and Hundon have had unopposed elections more often than not since the creation of St Edmundsbury council in 1974, and the Chedburgh by-election was the first contest in that council ward in 14 years. Both by-elections resulted in strong Conservative wins, unsurprisingly, but at least there was democracy in action. Rural areas are notorious for returning considerable numbers of guaranteed wins at election time-especially for Conservative candidates. Localism is strongest in these areas, as proved by an excellent performance by a Save Our Stretton candidate in East Staffordshire, which was however not enough to win the by-election, and an excellent capture by an Independent in the Highlands, the largest and most sparsely populated area of Great Britain. The other by-elections delivered rather predictable results which follow normal area patterns and general trends already seen in British local by-elections of late.
Recently, a left-leaning youthful Green by the name of Josiah Mortimer, who is editor of Left Foot Forward, publicly announced his defection to Labour, despite Labour's mantra and fundamental politics being incompatible with green politics on so many levels, especially regarding environmentalism and economics. Here are five reasons why green politicians of should never join Labour:
1. Labour's core mantra economically is incompatible with green politics. Labour economics, even under Jeremy Corbyn, is still based on unsustainable and environmentally destructive, and fails to factor in indicators not related to GNP/GDP. Green politics takes into account human emotional needs as well as economic performance, and the fact the economy is already big enough for everyone to have a fair share.
2. The Labour Party is undemocratic and top-down compared to the Green Party's democratic and grassroots ethos. Real democracy exists in the Green Party-members have a genuine voice in policy and direction and more freedom. This is not the case in Labour; Labour leaders set policy in practice and Labour members have very limited freedom in practice. In fact, Labour members have been stripped of voting rights, and even expelled, simply for posting one or two Tweets in support of the Green Party.
3. Labour is just talking greenwash-they have not become greener! Labour's continuing support of Trident, for example, is a key example proving that Jeremy Corbyn is just stealing green ideas to make Labour more credible to environmentalists. Green politics is more than about environmentalism and sustainability, though-it is about peace, grassroots democracy, and respect for the rights of both humans and animals alike.
4. Labour is too tied up with the trade unions, some of whom have interests detrimental to the environment. The Green Party, not being attached to trade unions in any fundamental way, is freer to decide the best way forwards to protect our planet and future generations.
5. Labour is not committed to fundamental reforms needed in British democracy. Labour does not support Proportional Representation or taking the big money out of British politics-the Green Party supports both of these initiatives.
Barnsley MBC, Kingstone: Labour 740 (57.5%, -2.4%), Liberal Democrats 247 (19.2%), Conservative 113 (8.8%, -3.5%), Green 87 (6.8%, -4.1%), BNP 75 (5.8%, -5.2%), Demos Direct Initiative 25 (1.9%). All changes are since 2016.
Breckland DC, Thetford Priory: Labour 503 (57.7%, +29.5%), Conservative 257 (29.5%, -4.4%), UKIP 112 (12.8%, -24.3%). Labour gain from Conservative.
Durham UA, Trindon & Thornley: Labour 1150 (65.4%, +15.2%), Independent 351 (20.0%), Liberal Democrats 117 (6.7%, -3.7%) Conservative 112 (6.4%, -12.8%), Green 29 (1.6%).
East Staffordshire DC, Stretton: Conservative 762 (47.2%, +2.1%), Save Our Stretton 455 (28.2%), Labour 311 (19.2%, -0.4%), UKIP 52 (3.2%, -24.4%), Liberal Democrats 36(2.2%).
Harlow BC, Toddbrook: Labour 702 (52.2%, +1.7%), Conservative 486 (36.1%, +11.2%), UKIP 98 (7.3%, -17.4%), Green 41 (3.0%), Liberal Democrats 19 (1.4%). All changes are since 2016.
Harrogate BC, Washurn: Conservative 363 (74.5%, -0.4%), Labour 61 (12.5%, -0.9%), Green 44 (9.0%), Yorkshire Party 19 (3.9%). All changes are since 2016.
Highland UA, Tain & Easter Ross: Independent (Rhind) 1266 (49.4%, +33.0%), SNP 612 (23.9%, +0.0%), Liberal Democrats 372 (14.5%, -5.0%), Conservative 233 (9.1%, -6.9%), Independent (Holdsworth) 68 (2.7%), Libertarian 13 (0.5%). Independent gain from Liberal Democrats.
Lancaster BC, Halton with Aughton: Labour 247 (27.4%, +18.0%), Green 245 (27.2%, -0.9%), Conservative 236 (26.2%, +2.0%), Liberal Democrats 174 (19.3%). Labour gain from Independent.
Northampton BC, Eastfield: Labour 493 (50.5%, +13.5%), Conservative 288 (29.5%, -4.1%), Liberal Democrats 195 (20.0%, -16.7%).
Northampton BC, Nene Valley: Conservative 803 (52.5%, +11.7%), Labour 343 (22.4%, +7.6%), Liberal Democrats 293 (19.2%, +9.3%), Green 91 (5.9%).
St Edmundsbury DC, Chedburgh: Conservative 372 (65.8%), Labour 128 (22.7%), Liberal Democrats 65 (11.5%).
St Edmundsbury DC, Hundon: Conservative 357 (80.4%, +17.2%), Liberal Democrats 86 (19.4%).
Apart from a slight dent in their vote in Barnsley, Labour is back on track just after the end of their latest conference-especially with their two-vote victory in Halton with Aughton in Lancaster over the Green Party; the Conservatives were a mere 11 votes behind Labour and even the last-placed Liberal Democrats finished just 8.1% behind the victorious Labour candidate. Close four-way races are getting rarer and rarer in by-elections, even in highly competitive places like Lancaster, and with this latest victory Lancaster returns to overall control by Labour. Labour's capture of a seat in Thetford, Norfolk, is also an important gain, especially with Labour's mantra currently not going down particularly well in small market downs. Thetford sits in South West Norfolk, where in 2017 a Labour recovery due to UKIP's collapse was cancelled out by an equally strong Conservative surge, leaving the seat to remain as solidly Conservative as usual.
St Edmundsbury as a district has a habit of frequently returning at least a few Conservative councillors unopposed, especially in outlying villages in which both of its by-elections took place. Chedburgh (fka Chevington) and Hundon have had unopposed elections more often than not since the creation of St Edmundsbury council in 1974, and the Chedburgh by-election was the first contest in that council ward in 14 years. Both by-elections resulted in strong Conservative wins, unsurprisingly, but at least there was democracy in action. Rural areas are notorious for returning considerable numbers of guaranteed wins at election time-especially for Conservative candidates. Localism is strongest in these areas, as proved by an excellent performance by a Save Our Stretton candidate in East Staffordshire, which was however not enough to win the by-election, and an excellent capture by an Independent in the Highlands, the largest and most sparsely populated area of Great Britain. The other by-elections delivered rather predictable results which follow normal area patterns and general trends already seen in British local by-elections of late.
Recently, a left-leaning youthful Green by the name of Josiah Mortimer, who is editor of Left Foot Forward, publicly announced his defection to Labour, despite Labour's mantra and fundamental politics being incompatible with green politics on so many levels, especially regarding environmentalism and economics. Here are five reasons why green politicians of should never join Labour:
1. Labour's core mantra economically is incompatible with green politics. Labour economics, even under Jeremy Corbyn, is still based on unsustainable and environmentally destructive, and fails to factor in indicators not related to GNP/GDP. Green politics takes into account human emotional needs as well as economic performance, and the fact the economy is already big enough for everyone to have a fair share.
2. The Labour Party is undemocratic and top-down compared to the Green Party's democratic and grassroots ethos. Real democracy exists in the Green Party-members have a genuine voice in policy and direction and more freedom. This is not the case in Labour; Labour leaders set policy in practice and Labour members have very limited freedom in practice. In fact, Labour members have been stripped of voting rights, and even expelled, simply for posting one or two Tweets in support of the Green Party.
3. Labour is just talking greenwash-they have not become greener! Labour's continuing support of Trident, for example, is a key example proving that Jeremy Corbyn is just stealing green ideas to make Labour more credible to environmentalists. Green politics is more than about environmentalism and sustainability, though-it is about peace, grassroots democracy, and respect for the rights of both humans and animals alike.
4. Labour is too tied up with the trade unions, some of whom have interests detrimental to the environment. The Green Party, not being attached to trade unions in any fundamental way, is freer to decide the best way forwards to protect our planet and future generations.
5. Labour is not committed to fundamental reforms needed in British democracy. Labour does not support Proportional Representation or taking the big money out of British politics-the Green Party supports both of these initiatives.
Thanks Alan for this. I'm very glad Josiah Mortimer has joined the party he always truly belonged in. I always felt from his articles that he had an agenda around changing the Green Party rather than promoting Green policies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alan for this. I'm very glad Josiah Mortimer has joined the party he always truly belonged in. I always felt from his articles that he had an agenda around changing the Green Party rather than promoting Green policies.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Robert-I never trusted him that much and he never wrote about environmentalism or green politics whilst in the Green Party.
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