Europe and Proportional Representation

As a Green Party member, I am delighted that Caroline Lucas has been appointed a vice president of the European Movement.

Our relationship with Europe is one of several key issues which are not obviously Right versus Left issues. Over decades, there has been disagreement on Europe within each of our two major parties. The fact that at present the Conservative Party has been captured by its extreme is very alarming. It is now blindingly obvious that our withdrawal from the customs union was disastrous but the Brexiteers are never going to admit it. There is a very restricted choice of possible replacements for Truss and none of them will admit their mistake. I believe that under FPTP the views of the European Movement will never get an adequate hearing. We must have Proportional Representation.

On current showing Labour would win the next election, but will this solve anything? In July Starmer made it very clear that he would not contemplate rejoining the customs union (for example). He has not attempted to unite his party. In fact he has done all he can to neutralise or expel all those who do not support his right wing policies. Many have left the party making it much more dependent on billionaire donors. He does not appear to have any policies to address the situation we are in. Worse still, he will not support his members’ vote to support proportional representation. He says that it is not a priority for him, and that it will not be in his manifesto. He has no intention of cooperating with any other ‘progressive party’. He is thus preventing any other party ever having a say in government. His is a fake opposition; he is part of a governing cartel with the Conservatives – a dictatorship in all but name. He must be removed.

It seems inevitable that the economy will collapse this winter.

These views are my own and do not necessarily reflect Green Party policy

David Smith