"There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle, because we do not lead single-issue lives. Our struggles are particular, but we are not alone"
Audre Lorde
As candidates for Co-Leader of the Green Party we share a politics of liberation. We look to build processes of healing and repair so that we can begin to dismantle - and recover from - all forms of exploitation and oppression. We do this because it is necessary, both to achieve social justice and to tackle the root causes of the climate crisis.
We recognise that - despite the hard work of many - The Green Party is suffering from the failure of our internal structures. Whether that be our disciplinary or complaints process, our code of conduct, accessibility of internal bodies or the lack of robust processes and accountability that has led to poor decisions bringing our party into disrepute - we are failing. These structural inequalities are holding us back from being as diverse a party as we can be.
Racism, anti-semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, queerphobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, classism, ageism and other human rights issues will divide us not when we take a stand against them but when we don’t. We must listen, work in solidarity with every marginalised group in our party and centre these groups in leading change.
“The task is clear: to create a culture of caretaking in which no one and nowhere is thrown away, in which the inherent value of people and all life is foundational”
Naomi Klein
There is a lot of work to do - it would be wrong to suggest there can be easy fixes. We know that this will need to be an ongoing process, challenging cultures in the party and building stronger more inclusive structures so that we can better uplift and defend Green Party values such as inclusivity. We recognise that a key issue in transforming the party is that, because of the current situation, as with so many organisations and spaces, everyone is not represented and those facing the most oppression are often the least represented. As such work internally with members will complement work being done to reach out to those communities and individuals who are not present. We must centre the voices most impacted by issues in the decisions around transforming them.
We will establish a Liberation Panel comprised of representatives from groups facing significant marginalisation.
We recognise that oppression is widespread, with many intersections and that, as such, there may be struggles not directly experienced by panel members. However panel members will pool their collective experience and reach out to their communities and others to consider issues in a way which considers how best to make them fit for purpose for all and mitigate against the possibility of exploitation. This panel will advise us on issues as diverse as messaging, to developing better party structures. We are aware of the privilege we both have in society and inside our party; this panel will help to hold us to account and to ensure the struggles of every group are at the forefront of our minds.
All liberation groups shall be consulted in the development of the panel and have input into how it will function before it is formed
Representatives will be selected by each liberation group. Liberation groups will be supported however they wish to select their representatives
These representatives will not need to be the same for every meeting.
We recognise that one of the greatest barriers for involving marginalised groups in this work (of undoing the structures by which dominating groups have benefitted) is the expectation that it be done by those marginalised communities on a voluntary basis. We will look to find ways of funding the work of this panel to make it as accessible as possible
Where possible, those who have previous experience and training in anti-oppression and liberation work are brought into the panel to share their knowledge and provide training to other panel members
A key goal of this panel will be to achieve cohesive and holistic inclusion in the party whereby marginalised groups’ participation is not limited to bodies such as this panel and their own liberation groups. This is why their input into how we can facilitate a shift in culture so that these groups are able to participate and be welcomed is so important.
We aim for this panel to be up and running by the end of the year
We have witnessed a surge in transphobia internally and externally. The past few years have seen people feel much more comfortable to espouse hatred and division; our party is not immune to this. We don’t believe it is helpful to purport that this is just a problem of the far-right or dark corners of the internet - it has become mainstream and threatens the heart of our party. How we react at this crucial time will be a litmus test for how we deal with the wider problems of division and oppression within our country and for how serious we are about equality.
“To claim one group of downtrodden people is oppressing another by their self-identification is to swing your guns away from those who really do oppress us, and to aim them at those who are already under siege.”
Leslie Feinberg
We will initiate a programme of learning and support to educate and begin to challenge ingrained cultures within the party with input from all liberation groups.
We will include the lived experiences of other oppressed and marginalised groups, using our social media platforms to support wider education in society and help shift a national narrative.
Events about the lived experiences of diverse groups of people including Jewish, Roma, LGBTQIA+, refugee, women’s, disabled and BME voices, to name but a few
Articles on oppressive language experienced by different groups to help us be better allies online
Training programmes to remove the barriers for diverse candidates standing in internal and external elections.
Due to the current prominent issues regarding trans lives, we will immediately develop a programme to build understanding about trans struggles.
The development of the programme will led by trans voices, including grassroots groups, individuals and charities who work to represent and advocate for the trans community
Trans members of the party will be involved in the programme design and further consulted on the programme ahead of its delivery
The learning programme will be launched at Spring Conference
This will then be rolled out to all local parties as well as being run as a regular session at Conference
“Movements tend to become the practice ground for what we are healing towards, co-creating. Movements are responsible for embodying what we are inviting our people into. We need the people within our movements, all socialized into and by unjust systems, to be on liberators paths. Not already free, but practicing freedom every day. Not already beyond harm, but accountable for doing our individual and internal work to end harm and engage in generative conflict, which includes actively working to gain awareness of the ways we can and have harmed each other, where we have significant political differences, and where we can end cycles of harm and unprincipled struggles in ourselves and our communities.”
Adrienne Maree Brown
We will develop and enact a plan for holding hate speech accountable within the party.
We must push forward with our excellent trans-inclusive policies and if we want to be the party of compassion and inclusion, it is imperative that we work to heal the harm done to trans members. Our review of existing processes will include:
Strengthening our complaints and disciplinary process by helping to recruit more capacity so that cases are dealt with within the expected timeframes
Better support those volunteers who perform disciplinary roles, reducing the high burnout we currently see and thereby making it a more effective process
Encouraging more use of external specialist advice for complex and technical disciplinary cases, with better funding in place to allow this
Drawing on the expertise and lived experience of our Liberation Groups, via the Liberation Panel, to shape the training provided to those involved in disciplinary processes
Facilitating Liberation Groups to revise our Code of Conduct and set best practice for party representatives
Encouraging local and regional parties to implement changes to their own complaints processes based on the work ongoing to develop model processes
Improving guidance for local and regional parties around accessibility and inclusion
Setting up a program of bystander training so that members feel able to challenge hate speech they observe
Seeking to improve awareness of GPRC as a body that looks after the welfare of the party, making it easier to get in contact with your representatives but also making a concerted effort to better publicise elections for these roles and carry out better vetting of candidates
Lastly, we recognise the constraints that our leaders have within our party. GPEX is the main decision making body when it comes to the running of the party and as always, conference is sovereign. Outside of the plans that we have set out in this manifesto, we promise to use our position on GPEX to challenge views, educate people and create a more welcoming and inclusive culture advocating for further liberatory work on party structures and accessibility. Whilst recognising that bold leadership and action is required now, we will always use our platform to uplift marginalised people by giving them a seat at the table rather than speaking for or over them. We want to work with other members to bring motions to party conference that will enable us to make the changes we need to see in the party so that we can all belong, with safety and strength, in the Green Party.
This manifesto outlines our clear intent to make the Green Party of England and Wales a party in which all of us can thrive. We are committed to centring the voices of those most impacted by situations in decision making. We commit to continual learning and growth.
