Equality & Diversity Coordinator
Click the candidate name below to see our questions and their responses!
How do you think the party should improve its relationship with trade unions and the labour movement?
We need to seize upon Labour's developing disregard for trade unions, and ensure that we are encouraging all Greens to join a union, to be vocal, and to be visible. Only through grassroots involvement in unions can we ever hope to make the case that the Green Party is the party that champions the needs of trade unions, and of workers.
How do you think your role could help Greens to become more active in and engaged with the labour movement?
This seems like a strange question to ask of a prospective Equality & Diversity coordinator. My role would be to ensure the smooth running of E&D Committee, and to champion the voices of our E&D groups on GPEx. While I'm keen to ensure that the Trade Union group is heard within GPEx, I do not believe that my role would be to specifically rally members into engagement with the labour movement. I would support that rally in a personal capacity, of course - but if I were to focus my E&D work on grassroots trade union work, then I believe that I would be starving our party liberation groups of my time, and I take my commitment to them very seriously.
How can your role help to improve diversity in the Green Party, and ensure that the party is a credible voice of working people and unemployed people?
It is vital that we, as a party, shed the prevailing image of ourselves, and promote diversity within the party, and show that ours is a fight that reaches into all walks of life, all backgrounds, and is built upon the pillars of solidarity with one another. For as long as we appear to be a highly privileged hobby group for those with free time to spare, we can never meaningfully appeal to the workers, and the unemployed. Any good E&D coordinator will see that, and will seek to listen to, and promote those from backgrounds that we represent poorly.
How do you think the party should improve its relationship with trade unions and the labour movement?
Of course we need to improve our relationship with unions and working people. This was obvious when members left to join Labour under Jeremy Corbyn. People want a credible alternative. The Green Party is woefully out of touch - most of the time- with unions. Perhaps it's a class issue...as we are seen as very middle class group whose concerns are not in line with millions of working class people. Unfortunately, in the short term, there will be lots of painful soul searching as to what the party represents and who do we really serve.
Our policies are universal in their appeal, but our messaging is poor and not inclusive for groups outside of the 'bubble'. But we fail to realise without regular working people and unions onboard, the party will remain peripheral in politics. We will continue to provide policies that other parties use.
How do you think your role could help Greens to become more active in and engaged with the labour movement?
The labour movement is comprised of a very diverse set of people. Regardless of 9 characteristics, we are under increased financial pressures. Diversity is a the heart of the labour force....unfortunately diversity is not at the heart of the party. There has been no change. Therefore it remains unattractive. The party could support the poorest workers for a start...but are we interested? We should be if we aim to grow outside of our small circle.
How can your role help to improve diversity in the Green Party, and ensure that the party is a credible voice of working people and unemployed people?
As candidates from BAME backgrounds -one disabled- and working class communities we have definitely had to deal with the internal blockages within the party. There is a HUGE issue with diversity across the party. In relation to poor and working people, the party needs to take a real interest in their lives and not just try to win their vote. Maybe if we studied the work of groups such as the Quakers in the 19th Century and how they became active...but then again, they were Christians and were motivated by a higher calling. What is our calling, as GP members?
This is a good question that speaks directly to question of who/what does our party actually represent.