17 September 2013
The Green Party’s lead spokesperson for the North West, Peter Cranie, has responded to the decisions made by the Liberal Democrat party conference to back fracking and nuclear power.
In a statement issued today he said:
“The Liberal Democrat policies on the environment are holed below the waterline. It’s clear that no amount of 5p plastic bags can hide the fact that their party has abandoned long held environmental principles.”
“I’ve been contacted today by more than one Liberal Democrat. I am sure there are many more members no longer sure if they can remain members of that party. While the Greens may not yet have as many councillors or MPs, current polling suggests that we could leapfrog the Liberal Democrats in next year’s European Elections [1]. We offer disillusioned Liberal Democrats an environmental lifeboat.”
Cllr John Coyne, a former Liberal Democrat member and councillor, elected and re-elected as a Green Party councillor in 2007 and 2011 added:
“There are many green Liberal Democrats – I know because I used to be one. They will have fought against these changes and voted against. I commend them for that, but they have hit a Tory policy iceberg. They now have to choose whether or not to go down with the ship.”
“I left the Liberal Democrats in 2006 because of the intransigence of the local party leadership on local housing issues, and in particular the impact of the Pathfinder policy on the Welsh Streets. It is a big change moving to the Greens, but it is a decision that I am glad I made. Peter has already been in contact with some disillusioned members and activists. Our door is open and if you want to get in contact, all enquiries will be treated as confidential.”
Contact details for Peter Cranie peter at greenparty.org.uk
Contact details for John Coyne john-coyne at zen.co.uk
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