As the newly elected chair of the North West Green Party, I would like to thank all who took part in the democratic process, whichever candidates you voted for. I thank all the candidates who put their names forward for election to the various positions.
I would also like to thank the members of the outgoing committee who have worked hard in difficult circumstances for the last 12 months.
You no doubt joined our party because you wish to change the world for the better. The planet is close to the point of no return, Gaza is being bombed into oblivion and millions of people in the UK are depending on food banks. The other parties are proposing to penalise the most marginalised, demonise immigrants and curtail our right to protest. Trump is starting a trade war and aligning with his fellow bullies, including Putin, regardless of the impact on Ukraine and Europe as a whole. There has never been a more important time to be involved in politics.
Like me, I suspect that many of you wish that there was someone else to do the heavy lifting of door knocking, leafleting or becoming a councillor. Like it, or not it is just us – the thin Green line of Green Party members – who are keeping the flag flying for progressive politics.
I stood for the North West committee in order to play my small part in making the political progress we all crave for but unfortunately immediately found myself embroiled in internal matters with two of my predecessors having been suspended from the Party last year for reasons that escape me.
The Green Party Regional Council (GPRC) have the power to suspend members when;
“…..there is an immediate risk to the well-being of the party, a party body or an individual member…”
There is widespread concern about the length of time that members are left waiting without the complaint being properly investigated and brought to conclusion. In addition many of us are concerned at the way in which the term “immediate risk” is being interpreted.
At our AGM on 13th March those present voted to ask the Green Party Executive to intervene to get an immediate review of all suspensions, with a view to overturning those that do not meet the clear criteria of evidence of immediate risk for their imposition.
I hope that this matter can be quickly resolved and will keep you informed of developments. I hope we will never go down the road followed by the Labour Party of using lengthy suspensions to promote certain factions and destroy others. I hope these suspensions are an aberration and we can be a tolerant party that encourages freedom of expression and vigorous debate.
There is a lot of work to do. I hope we can quickly get the suspensions reviewed and continue working together for the planet, peace and an end to inequality. On a much more positive note, we now have a fully functioning Regional Committee in the North West that will work with members to campaign and promote the policies of the Green Party. We will be sending out a newsletter soon with important information about upcoming elections.
Best wishes,
Paul Davies,
Chair North West Green Party Committee
chair@northwest.greenparty.org.uk
