- author, Sam Francis
- role, BBC Politics
-
The Green Party in England and Wales has criticised Labour’s “cowardly” plans to govern as it launches its general election campaign.
Labour co-leader Carla Denier said only a strong Green party could “nudge” Labour to take bolder action on climate change, the NHS and housing.
The party said the Conservatives were “clearly heading for retirement” and would focus their campaign on challenging Labour.
The Green Party plans to run candidates in every constituency in England and Wales in the run-up to the July 4 election, but will focus its efforts on four constituencies it believes it can win.
The Scottish Green Party is another political party running candidates in Scotland.
The Green Party of England and Wales has launched its election campaign in Bristol, where the party currently leads Bristol Council after gaining 10 new seats in the 2024 local elections.
“We clearly need change, but it must be real change that brings real hope – not half measures and broken promises,” said Denier, the party’s candidate in Bristol Central.
“The Conservatives are clearly trying to leave power but Labour is failing to deliver the real change that is needed.”
“People across the country now have the opportunity to vote for real hope and real change.”
“In the last five years we’ve seen a five-fold increase in the number of councillors,” said co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who is standing in the new Waveney Valley constituency, a traditionally Conservative area.
“After so much damage done by the outgoing Conservative government, we need Green Party councillors to help ensure the next government takes the bold action needed for real change.”
Former London Assembly member Sian Berry is hoping to replace long-standing Green Party councillor Caroline Lucas as Brighton Pavilion’s boss.
The party is also focusing on the fight in North Herefordshire, where former Green MEP Ellie Chowns is standing as candidate.
The Greens have put forward plans to build 150,000 new council homes and abolish the right to buy.
Alongside this, the party has pledged to strengthen protections for green belt planning to curb urban growth.
The Greens also want to repeal privatisation of the NHS and introduce a Nature Law, giving legal rights and protections to Britain’s ecosystems, enforced by an independent commission.
The party is campaigning to rapidly accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, with an emphasis on wind and solar power, as well as to increase recycling and reduce plastic waste.
If elected, he would also seek to reform NATO and promise no first use of nuclear weapons.
A full list of parliamentary candidates for all constituencies will be published on the BBC News website after the deadline for nominations.
