Northern Ireland Green Party Leadership Hustings

The Green Party in Northern part of Ireland has a foot in two camps. It's officially part of the Irish Green Party but it also has to deal with the UK government so it has a relationship to the Scottish, English and Welsh Green Parties too. At their recent conference they made a number of decisions, like opposing AV in the coming referendum, and adopting a new leadership structure.

They are currently conducting their first leadership election and the two candidates, Steven Agnew and Cllr Cadogan Enright, have very kindly agreed to take time out of their busy schedules to let me interview them. I've saved one question for a post of its own, look out for that!


Could you tell me something about yourself outside of the Green Party?

Steven Agnew: I have a two year old son and he is my best escape from politics. He’s an absolute dream. He smiles a lot and cries little. If I don’t have another child it will be because I know I can’t get this lucky twice. He has slept through the night since he was four moths old (apart from when he was teething) and he still sleeps from 7pm until 8am. I suspect that every parent reading this now hates me.

Before being a parent and getting into politics full time I went to a lot of gigs. I still do when I can but am now much more choosy about which gigs I go to. I like either heavy, punk influenced guitar music or stripped down singer/songwriters, particularly Elliott Smith and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

I also starred in an independent film called “I Wanted to Talk to You Last Night” made by my good friend Michael MacBroom. During the summer I played a cameo role in his second film “Endless Life” which will hopefully get some kind of release next year. I have also sang onstage with a few local bands, but I would neither consider myself a singer or an actor.


Cadogan Enright: I am married 30 years and have 5 children between 27 and 4 years of age. My wife Brenda has stood for election for the Green Party in Belfast, as has one of my sons Peter in the Republic. My father had a British Military background, and my mother a Bio-Chemist daughter of an Irish Cabinet Minister of very long standing who had led the war of Independence. After 1 year of primary school in Belfast, I was raised in Africa in the 1960’s by my Irish / British parents and we only returned to NI in 1972 following the Biafran War and a brief sojourn in London.

I left school in 1974 and worked mostly in England until 1977. I got a mature students grant (I totally support the students rebellion - in my day you got a grant that you could live on and your fees were paid) and studied in Derry City and Dublin Computer science and Commerce. Subsequently worked in the Republic, France, NI, Russia (back in the USSR), Britain, USA, Germany, Russia (post coup) mostly developing computer software and re-organising companies to make them more competitive. Qualified as an Accountant along the way.

I spent 10 years reorganising business systems in major multinationals from the mid-90's like Diageo, Cadbury Schweppes, Elan, Aerospace etc and set up my own business in Dublin which was finally killed off by the Irish credit crunch in 2008. We moved home to NI in 2003 and currently run a "Fairtrade and Local Caf矇" in Market Street in Downpatrick where I am a Green Councillor.


Please describe your political experience or history to date.

Steven Agnew: I joined the Green Party in 2003 after meeting then leader John Barry at a protest march against the invasion of Iraq. I would not have considered myself to be interested in the politics of Northern Ireland which was limited to the arena of ‘the trouble’. I was interested in human rights, animal rights and social justice issues such as homelessness. These issues did not seem to fit into the political discourse in Northern Ireland. John seemed to be able to articulate my interests into a coherent political philosophy and soon. I was campaigning for him in North Down where four years later we would get our first seat in the Assembly. I hope to retain that seat next year.

In 2007 I stood as a poster candidate in East Belfast but it was in 2009 when I stood for the Party in the European elections that my political career really took off. A strong media campaign coupled with the message that the Greens were big players in Europe led to the Party getting its biggest vote to date in a Northern Ireland election. Along with the election of Brian Wilson as MLA, this campaign gave the Green Party the credibility that it been previously lacking.

In May of this year I stood in North Down in the general election. It was a tough campaign and I learned the importance of having a good campaign team around you, something I had during the European elections but lacked for this one. I now have a very strong team in place for the Assembly and local government elections next year and am raring to go.


Cadogan Enright: I joined the Greens on the 1990’s in Dublin in Fingal – Trevor Sargent’s constituency – Trevor has a great leadership style of permitting and facilitating people to become involved. I worked on policy documents like energy Download, building control, water (with my wife), economics, Northern Ireland, planning etc etc. I was also involved in Trevor’s election campaigns and helping greens get elected at local Government level. We moved to NI and in 2003/4 I set up the Green Party in South Down (see downgreens.com). I was election agent for our 3 successful council candidates in 2005 and for our successful Regional (MLA) candidate Brian Wilson in 2007.

I have been on the NEC in Ireland for many years, being nominated initially by Fingal and representing NI since the NI party merged with the Irish party in October 2006. I stood in this years Westminster Elections and am standing next May in the Local and MLA elections.

We have copied the Fingal approach to party organisation in my local party, and as Chair I have tried to emulate Trevor Sargent's approach locally. We travel down to Fingal for elections in the Republic, and they travel up for elections here. This connection probably explains why our local party is the only one really thriving to date in NI – but we have promising signs now in Antrim and other areas developing.


What do you think the priorities of the Greens should be in the coming years?

Steven Agnew: In Northern Ireland the first task is to increase our number of councillors, retain our Assembly seat, and hopefully gain one or two more. If we do that we will have cemented our place in Northern Ireland politics but should we lose our Assembly seat and fail to gain any others we will struggle to make any impact for many years to come.

In terms of our message I think it is important that we use this election to put to bed the myth that the Green Party is a single issue party and assert are credentials as a party of the left fighting for social justice.

While it is our responsibility to keep climate change on the agenda now that all other parties have abandoned it in the midst of the economic crisis, we must address the people’s concerns about job insecurity and show how Green Party policies really will help improve their lives.


Cadogan Enright: I had fond hopes during the 1990’s that the need for a Green Party would disappear during my political lifetime and felt fairly sure up until five years ago that our policies would be subsumed by the other parties in countries across Europe and that, in particular, the influence of the EU would steam-roller resistance.

I now feel that the maxim “think global act local” is the way for the long haul, trying to win dozens of small victories locally which others can use as a precedent. E.G. beach by-laws minerstown, Greens announce victory at tyrella beach, Greens welcome news on strangford seals, massive fish kill quoile, Annalong river scandal, Lough

I feel the policy we developed in 2005 in NI of attracting independents, and adding our vote to them to get elected was a waste of time and 20:20 vision. We were never able to integrate the independents and are now paying the price of not developing our own candidates and local parties properly on NI, something I have been trying to ensure we do in my own area where we have a slate of political virgins stepping up to the plate next May who have been campaigning actively for several years as you can see from my website.

Following our election success in 2007, I argued strongly that our priority needed to be the building up of the party around the province. I felt that an over-concentration of our resources in staff at our Stormont-financed offices would mean nothing if we came to the next elections and found ourselves with no organization in the vast majority of constituencies around the province. Sadly, this is the situation where we now find ourselves in today. Employing even a part-time organizer could have transformed the party over these last few years.


Could you outline what lessons Greens should learn internationally from the experience of the Irish Greens in government?

Steven Agnew: I am proud of the achievements of the Irish Greens in government. There is no doubt that the current Irish government is unpopular, but we knew our vote when we went into government with Fianna Fail, a party whose policies we had opposed for many years.

We were a party with six TDs in government with a party with over seventy yet we managed to secure the Civil Partnership Act despite much opposition. We increased investment in renewable energy and electric vehicles, and we extended the broadband network to many rural communities. One of our major achievements was the reform of the planning system which had allowed the building of what are now ghost villages during the housing boom. The Green Party has ensured that the type of irresponsible rezoning that was one of the major causes of Ireland’s economic crash will not happen again. We get very little credit for this as few recognise its importance.

But there are lessons to be learned. In the first year we were seen as too cosy in our relationship with Fianna Fail. I remember when Bertie Ahern announced his resignation; Green Party Leader John Gormley was at his side. This literal closeness suggested that the Greens were all too comfortable in government with Fianna Fail. I think Nick Clegg is making the same mistake, although in his case I believe that his and Cameron’s ideologies are not that dissimilar. We changed tact somewhat after the first year and Dan Boyle, the Party’s Chair, became the voice of protest at the senior Party level.

Any party going into government as a junior partner will find it difficult. The question every member has to ask themselves is “is it more important that the Party stick to its principles or is it worth making compromises if we can make a real difference to people’s lives?”. I believe the compromises were worth it, though no member is happy with the ECB/IMF imposed budget that has just been announced.


Cadogan Enright: On the positive side, making a clear list of the deliverables and making program-managers responsible for their delivery during the course of the government was a good idea.

However it is clear that our Fianna Fail partners managed to long-finger a lot of our important legislation and we should not have let them. EG Incineration Aarhus convention, Party Political Funding Reform. We are still awaiting the publication Climate Change Bill and it will be pretty scandalous if it does not get passed before the Government falls in February or March. FF have allowed us to get issues that they see as “damaging” – only damaging to their supporters though – not to ours! Hunting, animal welfare and Lesbian and Gay Partnerships being legally recognised.

I also feel that there was a long list of “no-cost” items in our programme for Government that could have been delivered given the lack of interest in FF is such items – competition between Mobile Phone companies North and South – feasibility studies for reactivating railways severed by the partition of Ireland, failure of the banks in the RoI and NI to compete effectively driving up costs and other regulatory style issues. Even simple issues like making Irish Language TV available in NI as per the peace agreement took way too long – and even now is only promised when digital takes over from Terrestrial TV.

The purchase of the NI Grid by the RoI was a big gain, enabling the Grid to be re-engineered to accommodate much higher levels of renewables and greater links to Britain and the rest of Europe.

Clearly as a member of the NEC during I carry collective responsibility here, and I particularly regret the vote to support the rescue of the Irish Banks. Even if we had left Anglo Irish bank out on the basis that it borrowed abroad, lent abroad and had no infrastructural benefit to the Irish Economy the IMF rescue and the damage to the economy in the Republic would have occurred.

The terms agreed with the EU central bank clearly favour big German bond-holders who lent to Anglo. An average borrowing rate of 5.8 to 6% was an insult given that Ireland is paying it to the very German banks that lent to Anglo. Clearly with the EU central bank rate at 1% Ireland's borrowing rate should have been no more that 3%. That being said the manufacturing and exporting base of the Irish Economy is hale and hearty so all is not lost.

I also regret our inability in Government to throw our weight about on issues that cropped up after we went into Government. For instance the Irish Government is clearly either breaking or about to break the Bern Convention on the Badger Cull issue. Our Minister could quite simply rule the application for a new cull licence out or order based on International Law – there are some things you don’t need to tip-toe around the civil service on. See here.

stay tuned for part two...

You ask the questions: Adrian Ramsay

The last in my little series on the candidates for the Green Party executive elections. Adrian Ramsay - who's running for deputy leader of the party and is likely to be one of a select band of Green MPs after the next election answers the questions that you put (via me).


What are the candidates' own personal experiences of leadership in the Party, both in themselves and of others in the Party. - Gordon Hodgson

Over the last ten years I have played a leading role in building Norwich Green Party from a dormant local party when I joined to being the first local party to become the second largest party on a principal authority council this year. I am now Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the 13-strong Green Party Group on Norwich City Council. A wide range of leadership skills have been necessary to achieve this, especially team building, enthusing current and new members and helpers and strong organisation.

In all areas of the country where we have elected councillors there are individuals who have played a leadership role on the ground in securing the election of Greens and in working to get Green policies implemented. Seeing people like Elise Benjamin, Andy Cooper and Jon Barry making a real difference in their areas was part of what inspired me to stand for election as a councillor and build up a strong local party in Norwich. Our MEPs and London Assembly members also play leading roles in the party and are inspiring champions of Green policies. The work done by all these individuals shows that green leadership can and must be about inspiration and working effectively with others.


If you had to choose between spending £500 on placards for a big national demo (which may get TV coverage and we wouldn’t want to be outplacarded by the SWP) or £500 on a newsletter for a winnable target ward, which would it be and why? - Sue Luxton

I would go for the newsletter in a winnable ward because it would have the biggest impact on securing the election of more Greens and putting us in a position to implement more Green policies, as well as increasing our credibility as a party. That said, it is important for the Green Party to be well-represented at national demonstrations on key issues and I am pleased that Caroline Lucas is often asked to speak at such demonstrations. I believe that we have a supply of placards with the Green Party logo at the top and bottom but where the main message in the middle can be adapted at little cost from demonstration to demonstration according to the issue of the day!


Did you support our candidacy in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election? Please explain why you held your position. In what circumstances do you believe that the national party should have the right to prevent a local party from standing in elections? - Matt Hodgkinson

I was against us standing in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election. I felt that, in the absence of Labour and LibDem candidates, there would be a strong expectation from the media that we would take many of these votes and I knew it would be difficult for us to deliver this in a constituency where we do not have a history of campaign on the ground. I also felt that it was best to group ourselves with the serious political parties that did not want to play David Davis’s game than with the also-rans that did stand.

Because of the national attention on this by-election and the way in which some other parties and the media would inevitably use the results to draw conclusions about the political mood of the country as a whole, clearly the Green Party as a whole had a big interest in whether or not we stood in this seat (far more so than for this seat in a General Election). I have heard different interpretations of the current rules about when GPRC can prevent a local party standing in a by-election, suggesting that clarification is needed. I would like to see a situation where decisions on elections such as this, where the national party has a major interest, are made jointly between relevant individuals and bodies in the national party and the local party. I appreciate that the details of such a system would be crucial. I know that Elections Committee will soon be considering a draft new strategy on Parliamentary by-elections and it could perhaps consider at the same time and alongside GPRC how the decisions over particular by-elections should be made.


What policies would you support to address issues of domestic violence? - Natalie Bennett

I was disappointed to see that our existing policies say very little about this important issue. Having researched the issue, and from my limited experience in the field as a councillor, I would recommend the following:

More support services: far more Government funding to provide a comprehensive network of refuges and services for victims of domestic violence. At the moment, around one third of local authorities have no domestic violence services. This lack of services and refuge is one of the greatest obstacles to women finding the support they need. Measures are also need to provide better support and services for children staying in refuges with their mothers.

Preventative measures: prevention of domestic violence needs to start early with education in schools about the issues, the early warning signs and how to deal with domestic violence.
Successful prosecutions: only a small percentage of domestic violence arrests reach the prosecution stage. Policies are needed to ensure that domestic violence is addressed seriously and sensitively by both the police and the criminal prosecution system, and that victims feel safe and confident enough to proceed with prosecution.

Joined-up approach: domestic violence is a serious issue that can only be tackled through a joined-up approach, with Government departments working jointly with the police, the criminal justice system, and the education system to ensure it is addressed seriously and effectively at all levels.


Will an academic and cultural boycott of Israel speed up or delay a settlement? - Alan Howe

That sounds like an essay question for a Masters’ degree course in International Relations! There are obviously strong views on each side and it would be very difficult to come to a firm conclusion without a great deal of research and analysis. All I can say is that I don’t have strong views on this complex and sensitive issue and would not have an axe to grind in either direction if elected as Deputy Leader.


For a number of years, the Green Party's membership was growing, albeit from a low base. Over the last year or two, this trend appears to have reversed. What, as part of the leadership team, would you do to address this extremely serious issue? - Matt Selwood

Peter Cranie informs me that (according to the Electoral Commission website) our membership went up by 400 between 2006 and 2007, although I appreciate that this is still nothing to be complacent about. The Executive has already done some good work on this by, for example, encouraging members to join and renew by Direct Debit. This will see a significant increase in the membership renewal rate in the future.

In terms of encouraging new members, I don’t think there’s an easy answer about what can be done at a national level to significantly increase our membership. Good media interviews by our leadership team and other speakers plus strong attendance and stalls at demonstrations, festivals and other events that likely new members will be at will certainly help. The only proven way to secure significant increases in membership is where local parties are very active on the ground in campaigns and target ward work. In Norwich, for example, our membership has quadrupled in the six years since we gained our first council seats – because potential members want to know that they will be part of a serious, successful and well-organised political party. At a national level we need to project the same image.

If elected as Deputy Leader I would work with the Local Party Support Co-ordinator to spread best practice on recruiting new members and active helpers in local parties.


I voted for a leader and I meant a green, enabling leader. How would you ensure you were an enabling leader? - Shan Oakes

I would make a concerted effort to have a good working relationship with all members of the Green Party Executive to try to ensure we work well as a team. I would play a role in our efforts to communicate how elected Greens are making a difference on the ground. This is an important message for the public but it is also one of the best ways of inspiring members (including councillors and potential councillors) to make a difference in their area.

We also need to do more to spread best practice as far as winning elections is concerned. The relevant Executive members have started work on this but we need to do more to communicate how our current success stories have come about. With my experience in Norwich I am well placed to help with this.


Everyone has a sense of humour - how would you describe yours? - Douglas Coker

This is probably best answered by saying what makes me laugh: satire (especially Bremner, Bird and Fortune), various sitcoms (especially Only Fools and Horses) and the antics of my nieces and nephew.


You might also like to check out the online hustings for the leadership candidates and this post on the positions of equality and diversity and chair. You might also like to know there is an "official" online hustings now available here.

Who'll be the next Green Party Chair

Following on from the online hustings for the leader post and equality and diversity here the candidates for Green Party Chair, a key position on GPEx in my view, on how they see the role;


Question 1: What do you feel the main priority of the Chair of GPEx should be?

Jim Killock: The main priority has to be to get the party working together and focused on the elections.

We have our biggest elections coming up, and our biggest opportunities politically. Breaking through at Westminster will change the party’s future prospects dramatically, so we have to do all we can to make sure that happens.

The big challenge to making all this happens is always finance, and membership. However, I feel the main task is to take advantage of our rising support, and the enthusiasm out there for green politics, and harness this support in terms of new members and new funds. The party will grow now we have Direct Debit, the question is how fast and how well we involve and empower our new members with tools and projects.

James Humphreys: The Chair has a practical role in making sure that GPEx works effectively – preparing for meetings, chairing them properly, following up on action points and making sure that decision-making is transparent and open to everyone in the Party.

There is also a representation role – in the media, but also behind the scenes with organisations such as the Electoral Commission and the BBC, so that the Green Party gets a fairer deal. And the Chair also needs to be able to resolve tensions or disagreements within the Party, so that we can concentrate on increasing our impact.


Question 2: The Green Party has many different strands within it. Sometimes there can be a tension between a chair's role in officiating impartially over, in this case, GPEx and the fact that they will naturally be likely to personally favour one position more than another. How do you propose to square this circle between having your own strong opinions and arbitrating over the formal running of GPEx?

Jim Killock: I believe I am fair to people, and always look at what the underlying issues are when people take differing positions. It is usually clear where the balance of opinion lies in GPEx, so the important job for the chair tends to be making sure that everyone’s concerns are dealt with, rather than simply overriding any minority views.

In general, GPEx has had a very difficult job, as it has lacked good information on finance, membership and local activity. This is inevitable when party management is entirely voluntary, as only the most pressing tasks are completed.

I sincerely believe that with our increased number of professional staff, decent information can reach those with responsibility on GPEx and GPRC and better, more effective decisions will be made.

James Humphreys: The Chair cannot be partisan: they have to work for the Party as a whole, not taking sides but seeking ways in which differences can be minimised or resolved.

As a civil servant, I had plenty of experience under both Conservative and Labour of setting aside my personal views to serve the government that had been democratically elected, and would have no difficulty in doing the same as Chair of GPEx. For example, I was not part of the “Yes” campaign for the creation of a single leader but now that the Party has decided on this course, I would be whole-hearted in working to make this a success.


Question 3: The Party has a number of democratically elected bodies which all have their own particular role within the organisation. The relationship between the roles of GPEx, SOC and GPRC specifically has not always been clear, even to members of those bodies. What can we do as a party to help smooth the relationship between these bodies and what role do you see yourself playing in that?

Jim Killock: Conference plays the vital role here. SOC should only be implementing Conference made rules, but up to now Conference has, for instance, never set GPEx election rules. This needs to change.

With GPRC, I believe each Executive member should attend at least one GPRC meeting a year, to explain what they are doing, and GPRC should receive much more and better information about how the party is getting along. Much like GPEx, GPRC has not been given the information it needs in order to do its job properly, because it hasn’t existed.

I would be very keen to attend GPRC meeting as Richard has, which I believe has been of great help.

James Humphreys: It’s inevitable in a Party dependent on volunteers and spread right across England and Wales that communications will be a problem. It’s so easy – particularly with email – for misunderstandings or for genuine disagreements over policy to develop a bitter or personal edge.

As Chair, I would seek to build the kind of relations between GPEx and the rest of the Party – not only GPRC and SOC, but the local parties too – that would reduce these tensions. There may also be scope for the three central bodies to work together to bring more clarity to their respective roles. As someone who has not been active at national level before, I would be well-placed to act as an honest broker, if that was needed.


If you've not already seen them you might like to read what the candidates for leader and equality and diversity have to say too.

You ask the questions: Green Party Leadership

Thanks to everyone who contributed questions to this online hustings. I've put your questions to the contenders for the Green Party leadership post (and also deputy leadership, although those responses are to follow), Ashley Gunstock and Caroline Lucas.

Readers should note that the candidates will not be monitoring the comments box for additional questions that you might wish to put.


Q1. What are the candidates' own personal experiences of leadership in the Party, both in themselves and of others in the Party. - Gordon Hodgson

Ashley Gunstock: In my experience being the Leading Spokesperson for my local party carries a great deal of responsibility. Therefore I have found that the best form of leadership is conducted by adopting a ‘hands on approach’ which encourages those better equipped, in certain situations, to take the lead. Sadly some of the ‘leading lights’ of our Party consider their positions as those for the use of control.


Caroline Lucas: We’ve all been inspired by others in our time in the Green Party. Jean Lambert’s record on fighting for human rights for the Kurds, for instance, is exemplary, while Jenny Jones’ work in London on promoting healthy local food is remarkable. Then there is leadership by example, with Darren Johnson in his role with the AGC supporting efforts to get Green councillors elected not just in Lewisham, but across London and beyond.

We are at the forefront of a battle of ideas between the reality of Climate Change and the huge and devastating impact it will have on poor communities around the globe, and a political and economic system that - through inertia and a lack of leadership - has missed opportunity after opportunity to address this crucial issue. We need Green leaders in every local council area in Britain, and I hope to help support that effort by providing a national profile that will promote the excellent work being done by our local councillors and local election candidates. In my role as MEP, and Principal Speaker, I've tried my best to give leadership, for example by showing that I will participate in peaceful direct action events, and by forcefully arguing for opportunities to put forward Green ideas wherever possible.

Some of my best experiences of leadership in the Party have been at local level, where local parties and their officers have been very clear about their roles and objectives. The people in question generally know each other well, meet one another often, and have time to agree the best way forward. Leadership at national level is often hampered by the fact that different roles aren’t always clear, we have little time to make good decisions, and people are often less familiar with one another.


Q2: If you had to choose between spending £500 on placards for a big national demo (which may get TV coverage and we wouldn’t want to be outplacarded by the SWP) or £500 on a newsletter for a winnable target ward, which would it be and why? - Sue Luxton

Ashley Gunstock: A newsletter for a winnable ward, in keeping with my belief that longer lasting change is better achieved by a bottom up, rather than a top down, approach.

Caroline Lucas: A big national demo is a great arena to show that Greens are involved in important campaigning. Visibility helps raise the profile of the Party, associates us with key ideas, but it doesn’t always mean change.

However, a good Green councillor, particularly one that gets elected as the first Green councillor in a Local Authority, can have a huge impact in terms of policy and public perception.

So, while I’d like to do both, if forced to choose, I’d definitely go for the newsletter for a winnable target ward. I believe our priority absolutely must be to increase our number of elected representatives – that way we build credibility, authority, and influence – all things that would set us apart from the SWP even more effectively than our respective number of placards!


Q3. Did you support our candidacy in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election? Please explain why you held your position. In what circumstances do you believe that the national party should have the right to prevent a local party from standing in elections? - Matt Hodgkinson

Ashley Gunstock: I believe in the autonomous right of all Local Parties to conduct their own affairs, to best serve the constituents of their area, as they see fit. The national Green Party should only intervene in such actions that would, in any way, bring it into disrepute.

Caroline Lucas: As I understand it, the national party doesn't currently have the right to prevent a local party from standing in an election. But that doesn't mean that the nationally elected committees should simply abdicate from making recommendations when there is a political judgement call to be made. In future, I think we need to agree a clear process whereby both the national and the local party are involved in the decision-making, which should be guided by our overall democratically-agreed election strategy.

I didn't think standing in Haltemprice and Holden was the right decision from a national perspective, since it was clearly outside our election strategy. We have had no candidacies at General or Local Election level there for at least 20 years, and no local government target ward, existing or imminent. As I expected, the media treated the campaign as little more than a media circus and our hard working candidate was excluded from the chance to engage in real debate with David Davis. We were in fact lucky that neither the BNP nor UKIP contested the seat and, as it was, we were very nearly beaten into an embarrassing 3rd place by the English Democrats.

An important contrast can still be drawn between our democratic decision making, and those of the other parties. Nick Clegg, for example, simply announced the Lib Dems wouldn't stand on the basis of a few phone calls and his own decision. That is the difference between us as Greens and the other parties.


Q4. What policies would you support to address issues of domestic violence? - Natalie Bennett

Ashley Gunstock: Policies which would, in the short-term provide more state funded refuges for victims of domestic violence and, in the long-term, an holistic education for would-be and existing partners to learn how to make the correct choices of and with each other and respect each others differences.

Caroline Lucas: Domestic Violence continues to be one of the most insidious and overlooked forms of violence. Two women are killed in domestic violence incidents every week in the UK. Research has shown that the criminal and justice systems consistently fail to recognise the complexities of domestic violence, and do not address the safety of the victim or hold offenders properly accountable.

Essentially, we need better protection, provision, and prevention. Stronger measures under the Domestic Violence Bill will ensure fewer perpetrators go unpunished. Abused women need a range of services, and we need to ensure additional funds are channeled into more services which recognize women’s varied needs. And we need to raise awareness among all ages that violence is unacceptable. We also need to make sure that existing legislation is properly implemented. For example, the government still hasn’t implemented the domestic violence restraining orders that were promised four years ago. I think it would be helpful if Greens supported groups like Refuge, which is launching a poster campaign this month to highlight the early-warning signs of abuse. Research shows a worrying lack of awareness among women of the techniques used by violent men to control women - eighty-seven per cent of women said they received no information about domestic abuse when they were in school, and yet nearly all the women questioned say they would have liked to have.

As an MEP I have been pushing the EU to take action to eliminate violence against women by making sure the issue is on the agenda for bilateral meetings with other nations, drawing up an action plan for tackling the problem, and pushing member states to make good their commitments under international agreements to eradicate domestic violence in all its forms. Greens in the European Parliament have worked tirelessly with the police, home office officials and other EU governments to stamp out 'silent slavery' by arguing trafficking victims should be treated as victims rather than punished as illegal immigrants.


Q5. Will an academic and cultural boycott of Israel speed up or delay a settlement? - Alan Howe

Ashley Gunstock: An academic and cultural boycott of Israel would delay a settlement as there would be no dialogue between (and with) groups, existing on both sides of the divide, who wish to broker for peace. More is to be gained from speaking with your enemies than just simply talking to your friends.

Caroline Lucas: Israel/Palestine is one of the most complex foreign policy issues which the international community faces. The ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza, and the continuing house-building programme by the Israeli government on West Bank territory, makes an academic and cultural boycott a legitimate proposal – my position has always been that it should be debated. But clearly it must also be weighed up against other tactics, and assessed in the context of the current political climate.

My own position is that while I support calls made by Palestinian civil society for an economic and cultural boycott – since diplomatic pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories has manifestly failed - more thought needs to be given before extending it to an academic boycott. Academic freedom and independence is a long-held fundamental principle, and there is a strong argument that jeopardising it would be both wrong and counter-productive. Some would also make the case that, if we are to look at Israeli society, it is within the academic community that we've seen the most progressive pro-peace views, and that therefore this sector should be the last one to be approached.

Boycotts are never the tool of first resort. But after so many years of occupation, I believe it is entirely legitimate to search for other peaceful means of resisting it, including boycotts. We all want to see a genuine push for peace on all sides – the question is how best to help achieve it.


Q6. For a number of years, the Green Party's membership was growing, albeit from a low base. Over the last year or two, this trend appears to have reversed. What, as part of the leadership team, would you do to address this extremely serious issue? - Matt Selwood

Ashley Gunstock: In my opinion the membership has recently dropped due to the ever more centrist attitude adopted by the Party over the last few years. Our membership steadily rises when we employ our traditionally strong grassroots strategy, which is sadly being abandoned of late. I would address this issue by ensuring that all Local Parties were party to decisions made by any leadership team of which I was a part.

Caroline Lucas: Membership has been roughly stable, despite nearly 1,000 totally new members being inspired enough to join every year. The problem has been that new people join, and then lapse, after only a year or two. A lot of this has been about our administration being overstretched and a lack of capacity for good management. But with over 20% of the membership now on Direct Debit, and over 65% of new members joining by Direct Debit, they should stay members longer and we should see both membership and income increase.

The challenge will be to turn these new members into activists. We need to create a welcoming, energising and proactive atmosphere to encourage them to stay and be active. We also need to support new members and new parties with the resources to put Green ideas into practice.

If the party elects me as its leader, I hope that I can reach out to all potential activists, who in turn can help build the Party.


Q7. I voted for a leader and I meant a green, enabling leader. How would you ensure you were an enabling leader? - Shan Oakes

Ashley Gunstock: By ensuring that all Local Parties were offered the opportunity to seriously have an input into Green Party policy and rule making.

Caroline Lucas: I don’t see the role of leader to be to sit at the top of an imaginary pyramid, but to inspire and enable others. If elected, one of my priorities would be to continue to support the good work being done up and down the country by local Greens. For example, enabling the target candidate in a marginal council ward to show they have the backing of an identifiable Green figurehead, someone who voters will recognise at a national level, should help to raise our vote. This is something that, as one of the current Principal Speakers, I have tried to do wherever possible.

Secondly, a Green leader should be using their profile to reach out to other campaigning organisations, NGOs and Green groups, to enable us to engage and agree on joint campaigns that increase our collective effectiveness. I've seen just how powerful this can be during my time at the Kingsnorth protests, and it’s something which we as the Green Party really have to improve.

Finally a Green leader has to lead the way forward electorally. Unless we get Greens elected to Westminster, we will remain a party consigned to the margins of British politics. As the candidate for Brighton Pavilion, I am putting everything I can into the efforts we need to make to get that breakthrough moment in British politics, when we win our first Westminster seats. If we can contest many more parliamentary seats at the next General Election, hold many more deposits, and improve our results in many of the other constituencies, I hope that Brighton Pavilion, Norwich South and Lewisham Deptford will become the first of many Green held seats in the House of Commons.


Q8. Everyone has a sense of humour - how would you describe yours? - Douglas Coker

Ashley Gunstock: Satirically, sardonically and occasionally (I must confess) sarcastically dry.

Caroline Lucas: I’d like to think of it as sharp and witty….but my children might not be so kind about it!


As part of this "series" on Sunday I'll have an interview with both candidates for chair - so watch this space. You might also like to check out politics.co.uk who have interviewed both Caroline and Ashley.

Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator

One of the contested posts in the up and coming Green Party national executive elections is the newly created role of Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator. Members will be able to vote for three options, Maya de Souza (profile), Shahrar Ali (profile) or Linda Duckenfield / Lyndsay McAteer as a job share.

I decided to find out some more about the candidates to help cast my vote. Maya de Souza and Shahrar Ali kindly decided to take part and I hope this is helpful.


Question 1: What do you feel the main priority of the Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator(s) should be?


Shahrar Ali: The Equalities and Diversity Coordinator (EDC) should give equal priority, and be seen to give equal priority, to the full complement of equalities that the Green Party is proud to uphold and defend. Whether we are talking about gender, race, sexual orientation, pay, disability, poverty, age, religion, or lack of religion, the Coordinator should play a key role facilitating party members in their anti-discrimination political initiatives, working alongside officers on the national executive, in particular, on policy, campaigns, publications and election strategy.

Whilst accepting this, I would aim in my first year to take a lead on helping to encourage pools of candidates across the Green Party that are better representative of the society we purport to serve. The need is probably greatest with regard to ethnic minority participation, but in some regions better representation of women will be key. In the words of a Red Pepper reporter, "One obstacle to closer relations is the suspicion in the trade union and labour movements that the Greens are just a bunch of white, middle class academics," (says Alex Nunn in Greens on Trial). We need to overcome the accusation, or at least part of it, by finding ways of improving ethnic minority participation at all levels of the party, from member recruitment to candidate selection and elected representation. This would help raise our credibility with the electorate and bring us closer to achieving our political aims.

I cannot emphasise enough the need to avoid "politically correct" solutions in these aims, and to develop intelligent initiatives that have the democratic support of the party membership, from the grassroots up. I'll say more about this in answer to 3.


Maya de Souza: If elected, my priority would be to make the Green Party a more inclusive party in its widest sense. So it is a party to which people of different ethnicities, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender or class and whether able bodied or not feel welcome, valued and able to participate at all levels and to seek elected office on a local and national level. In my view, two of the most pressing issues at the moment are of gender balance within the party structures, which reflects a deficiency in the political participation of women more widely in UK politics, as well as the limited participation of ethnic minorities.

To ensure the Green Party is a broad based inclusive party, I would work with existing Green Party groups such as “Women by Name” and the LBGT group as well as the new leader to invite others on board by seeking to make and deepen links with womens organizations and ethnic minority organizations as well as LBGT groups and disability groups. The Green vision of a diverse society where all are recognized for their individuality and difference is celebrated as well as where careful attention is given to fairness and balance needs to be publicized. I would liaise with policy groups and spokespersons to ensure that the commitment of the Green Party to equality and diversity is well publicized and our councilors are given guidance on policies that they can seek to pursue.

I would also seek to ensure that local branches follow good practice so that there is good communication to all party members, that all are invited to participate and to contribute, that local membership and external networks are broadened and extended, and that the potential contribution of all is recognized. The Green Party both locally and nationally needs to be an exemplar of good practice in its selection of officers and electoral candidates reflecting the fair, open and diverse society which we seek to promote.


Question 2: How do you feel about the Green Party's record so far on diversity and equality issues?


Shahrar Ali: Our activists, councillors and elected members work tirelessly on a whole clutch of anti-discrimination initiatives, through casework, campaigns and legislative scrutiny. What brings these initiatives together is our promotion of social justice and defence of human rights and civil liberties. Some recent examples: Homophobia and ageism (Caroline Lucas); Policing sexual assault (Jenny Jones); Stop and search (Jones & Ali) Women's Day & sharia law (Jean Lambert & Caroline Lucas); Low Pay (Derek Wall); Human trafficking (Jones and Lambert); LGBT hate crime - petition raised by Brighton & Hove GP to the Home Office; Guantanamo (Lucas); Race-based policing (Ali).

As EDC I would seek to monitor, promote and anticipate this work, both within the Party and to the electorate. Moreover, the Green Party would benefit from an EDC who is proactive in developing a political response or media line in response to news events. In 2006, I organised a conference fringe on "Religious Freedom and Green Politics" to help clarify our thoughts on topics such as Sir Iqbal Sacranie's homophobic remarks, the incitement to religious hatred bill, and the Danish cartoons.

The EDC should be available to advise Green spokespersons, candidates and the press office, and have the wherewithal to be able to step into the ambassador role, too. This year, I advised our GLA mayoral candidate Si璽n on her replies to special interest groups. What's our response to a question about the ritual slaughter of animals? No good sitting on the fence. This was a good response (question 7) - where we signalled our commitment to animal well-being without alienating these electors.


Maya de Souza: The Green Party has done much for which it can deservedly be proud – it is the only party in England and Wales that has sought to ensure gender balance in its public spokespersons. It has made clear its firm commitment to supporting refugees and a humane asylum policy. It has supported, as I am aware from my work on the International Committee, the cause of those who are oppressed at home and abroad because of their sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.

However, in my view more still needs to be done to make the party more open and inclusive and more welcoming to minorities. We can take from and build on the work of Greens across Europe who have become known for their work to protect refugees and on minority rights, and through the Gender Observatory, sought to promote the position of women in the party and wider society.

The party also needs to publicise the fact that this is a party where women, the disabled and other minorities are invited to make a full contribution and where they can excel and play a prominent leadership role. My work on a national taskforce to increase numbers of women BME councilors as well as an Asian woman councilor myself has given me a useful insight into the constraints that do exist and how these can be tackled.


Question 3: The Green Party, like other parties, is not always completely representative of the population at large in its membership and particularly in its leading members. How should we approach ensuring that our party better reflects those it hopes to represent and empower?


Shahrar Ali: The challenge of the job is to direct meaningful change across the party in a politically astute not "politically correct" manner. In 2007, I was tasked by my regional party to convene a series of workshops aimed at improving a perceived lack of ethnic diversity. The meetings were well-attended and epitomised honest and mature debate. The result was regional initiatives and recommendations to do with member recruitment, media representations, and candidate selection.

I'd like to facilitate such a debate across the wider party. Any gender or diversity initiatives would only flow after full consultation of members and direction by regional bodies. Meaningful consultation takes time but produces better outcomes, allowing all those implicated in any proposals to help shape, or even reject, them. The alternative, ill-considered solutions are worse than leaving it to osmosis: Cameron's imposition of an "A-list candidate" in the 2007 Ealing Southall by-election caused justifiable grievance to the local Conservative association. Committed as we are to localised democracy, I can't see such a scenario happening in the Green Party.

As individuals, we often rightly resist being misclassified, where this runs the risk of perpetuating crude stereotypes or implicates us in a project we do not share by any means. The EDC can only take a lead by carrying the confidence of the grassroots with them. There is a need for the Greens to go further in looking more like the society we purport to represent. But let's combine that with the following inclusivist ideal: It is within each of us as human beings to be able to identify and empathise with the injustices suffered by everybody. One does not have to be Muslim to care about their human rights or express solidarity with them. As Greens, let us have the confidence, irrespective of our own background or belief, to find common cause with all those discriminated against.

Maya de Souza: For the Green Party to grow and to have the position of influence that it is so important that we have, it is vital that our membership and leadership reflects the wider society we live in. We need to work in parallel on extending our membership and networks of supporters as well as making our leadership more representative.

To extend our membership, local branches need to actively and positively go out to meet leaders and activists in community groups and invite them as well as interested individuals to join us in campaigns and attend our meetings and discussions. We also need to understand the concerns and needs of different minority groups and ensure they are reflected in our work at a local authority level and in campaigns, and that we actively support their campaigns such as in relation to individual asylum seekers. It is important also to ensure that we build bridges and invite participation from all social classes – it is important to recognize that the poorer sections of the white population also remain poorly represented. This approach was broadly supported in a workshop at the recent Association of Green Councillors workshop which I led.

In parallel to broadening our membership, it is important that GPEX, GPRC, our various spokespersons and other Party committees also reflect wider society. In accordance with current diversity practice, we should monitor their composition and actively encourage people from groups that are under-represented to stand for posts and take on high profile positions. We should set ourselves broad targets and encourage members to put themselves forward for election. The Green Party needs to be an exemplar of the fair and open society which we promote.

NB: I removed the formatting from these response to maintain some sort of house style (and to save your eyes dear reader) but I've left in the links and made no other alterations to the text. So any errors are not mine for a change!