Alan's Green Thoughts

Readers, the results of British local by-elections from the last 3 weeks of July are as follows: (11/7/19): East Riding of Yorkshire UA, Bridlington North: Liberal Democrats 1308 (42.7%), Conservative 815 (26.6%, -43.7%), Yorkshire Party 349 (11.4%), UKIP 196 (6.4%), Labour 135 (4.4%, -25.3%), Independent (Dixon) 125 (4.1%), Independent (Robson) 76 (2.5%), Independent (Milns) 58 (1.9%). Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative. Herefordshire UA, Whitecross: It's Our County 304 (60.7%, +13.0%), Liberal Democrats 141 (28.1%, +10.5%), Conservative 58 (11.2%, -3.4%). [UKIP did not stand] (16/7/19): Cardiff UA, Cyncoed: Liberal Democrats 1920 (55.3%, +18.0%), Conservative 838 (24.1%, -12.8%), Labour 560 (16.1%, -1.0%), Plaid Cymru 152 (4.4%). [Greens did not stand] (18/7/19): Ashford BC, Downs North: Conservative 229 (37.4%, -10.0%), Green 190 (31.0%, +7.5%), Liberal Democrats 70 (11.4%, -7.3%), Ashford Independents 67 (10.9%), UKIP 22(3.6%), Labour 17 (2.8%,...

As a practising Roman Catholic who has been a Green Party activist since 2012, it has interested me to see how, despite Green Parties across Europe having a stronger base than average in progressive cities with a high proportion of people identifying as having no religion or not stating their religion, green politics and values actually align very well with the seven holy virtues of Christianity, the cardinal virtues being affirmed by Saint Ambrose and the theological virtues being affirmed by Saint Thomas Aquinas. Here is how: Prudence: Reason and thought are not only desirable, but essential in ensuring we can protect and respect our planet's needs and fairly explain why we need to take measures in ensuring this; we are living things and depend on a stable planet to survive. Ecological wisdom is based on the importance of demonstrating such prudence. Justice: Green politics has social justice as one of its four core pillars. A sustainable future not only requires ...

The broken dreams of those who supported Alexis Tsipras-who was in 2015 acclaimed as a great white hope for a European fightback against international capitalism only for him to capitulate-decisively turned against Syriza in yesterday's Greek elections. It is amazing that in fact Syriza's vote share only decreased by 3.9%, meaning that they held onto 89% of their September 2015 vote share and finished second in all the Greek constituencies they did not take pole position in; in practice the splitting up of the oversized Athens B ("Athens Outer") constituency into Athens B1, B2 and B3, representing North, South and West Athens respectively did not have a significant effect. However, finishing second meant they lost the crucial 50 bonus seats given to whichever party comes first in a Greek election, which this year was New Democracy. The 50 bonus seats, which were initially scheduled for abolition for this Greek parliamentary election but were not due to the new elect...

Readers, the results from British local by-elections from 4/7/19, as well as one from 27/6/19, were as follows: (27/6/19): Mansfield DC, Sandhurst: Mansfield Independent Forum 227 (42.7%, +9.0%), Labour 177 (33.3%, -8.3%), Conservative 71 (13.4%, -8.9%), UKIP 56 (10.5%). Mansfield Independent Forum gain from Labour [Liberal Democrats did not stand]. (4/7/19): Chorley BC, Ecclestone & Mawdesley: Conservative 1055 (63.2%, +9.0%), Labour 611 (36.8%, +3.8%). All changes are since this May. [UKIP did not stand] Middlesbrough UA, Park End & Beckfield: Independent (Hill) 511 (53.0%), Independent (James) 303 (31.4%), Labour 115 (11.9%, +0.1%), Conservative 23 (2.4%, -1.6%), Liberal Democrats 13 (1.3%). Independent gain from another Independent. Rhondda Cynon Taff UA, Rhondda: Plaid Cymru 404 (42.1%, +16.6%), Labour 266 (27.1%, -15.1%), Conservative 145 (15.1%, +0.9%), Liberal Democrats 127 (13.2%, -4.4%), Communist 18 (1.9%). Plaid Cymru gain from Labour. Wiltshi...