Europe elections can't be ignored

Europe elections can't be ignored
(Tuesday 24 February 2009)
DEREK WALL

DEREK WALL explains why we should be giving our support to Lucas.

AS well as writing for the Morning Star, blogging and getting my next book written (Why Economics Doesn't Work, if you must ask), I try to do as much practical politics as possible.

I have been plugging away as a member of the Green Party for a lengthy period of time.

I joined so far back it wasn't even called the Green Party but the Ecology Party. The year 1980 is, frighteningly, nearly 30 years ago.

I remember going to my first regional party meeting. I think it was in Weymouth that summer and I am off to a regional party meeting in Oxford this week.

Back in 1981, I went to my first party conference and heard the great socialist historian EP Thompson call on the assembled political ecologists to get stuck into the movement against cruise and Trident.

Depressingly, while we have got rid of cruise, the key campaigners being the women peace campers at Greenham Common, Trident is about to be renewed.

It's probably fair to say that I am not a dyed-in-the-wool party political animal, despite my 30-year membership.

This is for two reasons. Political parties, while they demand our loyalty, are never perfect. I have been powerfully influenced by a concern that any political party can lose its radical edge.

Equally, a political party is a means to an end - for change, liberation, peace and, for me above all, the pursuit of a society that works ecologically.

Political parties are instruments and, all too often, imperfect ones.

I certainly think some of the most exciting developments in green politics have happened outside Green parties.

For example, Greenham Common, the anti-roads movement and climate camp are splendid examples of green direct action that, while supported by members of my party, are non-party political.

Likewise, back in 1980, I would not have believed that the Latin America left would have grown so green, with even former Cuban president Fidel Castro calling for action on climate change and turtle conservation.

Last year, I was selected as a Green Party candidate for the European elections in the South East constituency, so I am putting more of my energy into party politics this year.

Five years ago, I worked hard to get Caroline Lucas re-elected as the Green MEP for the South East.

I rushed around to public meetings, leafleted and canvassed like a crazy person and I am glad to say she was elected with a larger majority. Back in 1999, her majority was just over 100 votes.

So, in 2009, I am appealing once again for Morning Star readers to vote for Lucas and other Green candidates on the list.

I recognise that electoral politics can cause dilemmas for some people, but I believe that all on the left should be working to re-elect Lucas.

Her record is simply stunning.

For example, while most politicians have lacked the moral courage to criticise the actions of Israel, she has visited Gaza and acted as a consistent friend of the people of Gaza.

This month, she will be travelling to Palestine again.

Recently, she and our excellent London Green MEP Jean Lambert doorstepped the Israeli embassy, demanding a full refund of EU aid, which is estimated to be at least 53 million euros spent on Gaza's now destroyed infrastructure over the past 10 years.

Her work on climate change, animal rights and other ecological issues is equally impressive, but many on the left forget that Green Party members are active supporters of trade unions.

When my trade union took industrial action, I received public support from Richard Mallender, who was then chairman of the Green Party.

Trade union rights and proper rates of pay are being eroded by European law.

It is to the credit of the Morning Star that it has been a consistent campaigner against such aspect of EU law as shown in the Viking case that put European workers on poverty pay.

Lucas has, together with socialist and other Green MEPs including Labour's Glyn Ford, put forward a written declaration, which is similar to an early day motion, calling for an end to such neoliberal measures.

Lucas has noted that recent court rulings, such as the Viking and Laval cases, have seen the Posted Workers Directive used to allow contractors to pay foreign workers the minimum wage only - not the going rate for skilled workers in Britain.

"In an economy obsessed with remaining 'competitive,' employers are being permitted under EU law to push down the wages and reduce the union rights of continental workers, creating a pool of low wage and disadvantaged labour," she said.

European elections are based on proportional representation, which means that the Green Party has been able to elect two hard-working MEPs in 1999 and 2005.

Now, in 2009, we might do better, but my overriding aim as a Green candidate is to make sure our existing MEPs are relected.

It can be tougher for Green Party candidates during a recession, let alone the prolonged depression that we look to be faced with in Britain.

However, the Green Party is calling for job creation via a green new deal, which would lead to an expansion of jobs in renewables, public transport, insulation and other environmentally friendly projects.

Our record of challenging neoliberalism also means that we are equipped to win the economic debate. Greens have challenged the powers of the City, called for the renationalisation of rail and are strongly opposed to the privatisation of the Post Office.

In south-east England, it's not just Greens who are going to be working for Lucas's re-election but thousands of people of different parties and those who believe in peace, trade union rights, equality, ecology and real economic alternatives.

I would urge all readers in the south-east to get involved. Electoral politics cannot be ignored. I have great sympathy for social movements and party politics can be frustrating, particularly in the tough context of Britain, however, right across Latin America, radicals have used elections to win and introduce positive change.

We can do the same here and the European elections provide an excellent chance of electing politicians with a radical agenda, so please join me when I tramp the streets for Lucas this summer.