Comments on: Green Party: Left foot forward?

By: Robert Latimer

Robert Latimer — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:19:20 +0000

Left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right.
Sounds like bloody Army marching off to war to do battle with each other over policies.
If these destructive negative principles are here to stay, then the only outcome will be a Green Party split in two and of no use to anyone….?

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:12:35 +0000

Only just saw your comment DisgruntledGreen – I’m really not sure what you’re upset about though would agree that you’re certainly disgruntled. I was trying to point out to you that you(as in you and the other GL members who have posted on this blog) are the ones who are damaging Romayne and Will’s chances through your sectarian, aggressive, confused and actually quite paranoide behavior. I was actually considering voting Romayne number one and will probably still vote for her number two and likewise for Will but I really hope that they don’t hold you in the same esteem as you hold them.

By: DisgruntledGreen

DisgruntledGreen — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 13:23:41 +0000

Alex, all you are doing is trying to feed suspicion about Romayne and Will, and the idea that GL is united behind them, which I assure you they are.
Perhaps rather than all this prying as to whether or not GL is a evil sect as you seem to be claiming, you would like to look into Natalie and Peter (the supposed front runners after all) to see whether they have anything to hide?
Or would it be you are supporting one of them so trying to deflect probing by creating fantasy suspicions about Romayne and Will.
He’s a starter. Why have we not seen Peter since 2009 and since he has been relatively inactive during this period is he really the right person to lead?
And on Natalie. She left her job some months ago now prior to Caroline announcing her planned resignation. Did Natalie know before it was publicly announced? And was it her game plan all along when she knew?

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:05:15 +0000

I’m astonished by the behaviour of Green Left members on this forum. Thry seem to be claiming that independent media should not be allowed to publish a single opinion piece (even a blog) which is critical of them. You sound less like ecosocialists and more like ecoStalinists. It is hardly surprising that people would suspect them of having an unofficial ‘ticket’ if they’re going to have two GL members, who by coincidence are the only two running for leader and deputy, and again just happen to be running on joint ticket with a joint campaign website and again by coincidence when either are criticised they are defended immediately by GL members. But this is of course nothing to do with them being members of Green Left?

Also I’m confused as to whether GL is upset with the suggestion that there is a GL ticket, or the suggestion that there is lack of unity around that ticket. Derek Wall certainly seems to be suggesting the later. But if there is no GL ticket why would it be so outrageous to suggest a lack of unity around the Romayne/Will ticket. Also a minor point but if GL membership has stagnated during a period of party growth then in real terms its membership has dwindled. This sort of behaviour is exactly why the GL tag is hindrance to those seeking election.

By: Rustam

Rustam — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 02:48:31 +0000

I’m going to go against what appears to be the popular opinion and say this is pretty much exactly how I would have described the leadership race to a friend if they had asked. A ‘balanced’ article and a ‘true’ article are two separate things, and of course this is an opinion style article so it doesn’t need to be either!

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:33:02 +0000

I may have misread the comment by Sian Berry, but did you say you were no longer a member of the Green Party? If not, I would be interested to know why. And if you have joined another organisation?

Also, to the ‘shame on Red Pepper’ comments, I think it is quite obvious the article is a personal view on a blog, and not the opinion of the editors of the magazine. Everyone has had plenty of space to make comments.

I also endorse the plug for the (US) journal Monthly Review. I wouldn’t suggest it should be a replacement for Red Pepper, but a complementary read. I have been subscribing for years as well as reading John Bellamy Fosters brilliant books on ecology, marxism and capitalism.

By: DisgruntledGreen

DisgruntledGreen — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:19:08 +0000

What James says about Green Left if complete rubbish.
Romayne is by far the best candidate having been the only person to run a national organisation over the past two years, Coalition of Resistance. Peter was one of four individuals who came within 1% of winning a euro seat in 2009 and has been little seen since. Natalie is a former journalist but has had little success in either electoral terms or a profile as a speaker at rallies etc.
Romayne is the only one that has been elected, as a councillor from 2006-2010 and has regularly stood in for Caroline at events and meetings over the past few years. She is by far the best candidate and has shown her diplomacy as the link above with her in conversation with Brighton councillors shows.
I suggest James goes and places his animosity elsewhere.

By: Derek Wall

Derek Wall — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:53:35 +0000

I have just voted for Romayne and Will and second preferenced Peter Cranie and Alex Phillips. Politics needs to be plural and differences must be acknowledged.

I know many people who have voted the other way.

I have also had to spend lots of time mending fences this week because of damage caused by this article.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:04:50 +0000

Lynton North – “I recently received a letter telling me my subscription was due for renewal. I had every intention of renewing..but now?”

As James has pointed out Red Pepper “has treated Green Left seriously as an organised current”, and to suggest that publishing a single critical viewpoint (in a piece which is a personal take on the contest) amounts to a lack of sympathy with the entire ecosocialist project is surely a massive and unjustified leap?

By: Roy

Roy — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:19:57 +0000

Lets remind who ever in the party that the ‘small’ gl have members who also happen to be to standing for Leader and Deputy Leader are individually a formal Councillor who leads a massive anti cuts coalition in terms of groups and their membership and the deputy leadercandidate is part of the West Mids revolution in winning seats and actually forcing a resurgent Labour Party back (the main threat to Caroline Lucas and the Greens). Not too bad at all as record and perhaps others sitting in their nice cosy homes in the ‘London village’ and eating their organic corn flakes and reading middle class papers should perhaps give more respect to these excellent Green Party members!