"Former actor Zack Polanski elected leader of the Green Party" is a bloody peculiar BBC headline, it has to be said, but at least they refrained from dropping in any of his theatre credits. This is a moment of huge significance, in my opinion, because whereas the new co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party are unlikely to set the heather alight in terms of charisma, Polanski is the real deal, and has modern communication skills on a par with Zohran Mamdani. He did a video during last year's general election, which I thought was one of the most effective campaigning videos I'd seen for years. If the English & Welsh Greens under his leadership can now agree on an electoral pact with the new Corbyn / Sultana party (which is a very big if, because the new party already seems to be struggling to agree with itself) there may just be an alchemy that could lead to Labour's position as the main force of the "Left" being challenged as never before. I wouldn't rule out a new two-party system emerging consisting of Reform UK and the Greens/Corbyn/Sultana. In a sense that would mimic what happened in Northern Ireland two decades ago when the more radical/hardline parties replaced the old "moderate" duopoly of the UUP and the SDLP.
Green Party of England & Wales leadership result:
YouGov, Westminster voting intention, field work 1st Sept.
ReplyDeleteUK results: Con 17%, Lab 20%, LibDem 15%, RefUK 29%
A 9% lead for RefUK is a high for YouGov.
Scottish sub-sample (158)
Con 6%, Lab 16%, LibDem 9%, SNP 36%, RefUK 26%, Green 4%.
Wow, 26% for RefUK. It’s as well seeing it’s just a sub-sample.
SNP still well ahead.
DeleteI think the prospect of Corbyn’s party having a working agreement with the greens is so remote as to be impossible. If the BBC think there is any prospect of Corbyn’s party gaining traction they will resurrect the support terrorism smears.
ReplyDeleteIf the Greens ever become a major part of Scottish politics, like some BHA2, I'm emigrating, even though the new leadership can't be worse than the old. And they might be propelled by Green success in England and Wales. Meanwhile, from the National:
ReplyDelete"'Very encouraging': Keir Starmer reveals he hangs England flag in his flat"
What has the English flag ever done to him? And does this mean Labour are bringing back hanging?
I think the prospect of Corbyn’s party having a working agreement with Corbyn is so remote as to be impossible
ReplyDeleteRe. "I wouldn't rule out a new two-party system emerging consisting of Reform UK and the Greens/Corbyn/Sultana."
ReplyDeleteOK, but don't forget about LibDems. They are restricted in Scotland to a few geographical patches, barely exist in Wales, but.... are strong across a very large area of England to the west of London and the south of Birmingham. Their vote being concentrated (very much unlike the old Liberal / SDP Alliance, 1987 and especially 1983) as above puts them in very strong contention, IMHO, for a broad swathe of seats at the next UK GE. If they win 100 seats out of 650, say, then it's hardly a two party system. Neither Reform and Sultana Party are likely to do well in counties like Devon, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire , Cornwall etc.
Wow
ReplyDelete"Sandie Peggie 'in tears' at prospect of fresh tribunal delays, says Naomi Cunningham"
ReplyDeleteTHIS is how Government, whether national or local, wears you down. They have departments and people whose job is to make paper trails that would stretch to Alpha Centauri and back, and legally create delays to wear you down, wear you down, wear you down. And they can use taxpayers' money to pay for it all.
If I ever won £200 billion on the lottery I'd set up an organisation and fund others to fight back for free.
And how many political parties give a damn about this? None. A few MPs and MSPs with a conscience and sense of moral values.