Kate Hoey, the Torygraph and policies on animals

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/harrymount/100037200/the-lies-the-animal-rights-lobby-are-telling-about-kate-hoey/

This article has appeared in the Torygraph today where Kate Hoey is receiving support from the hunting fraternity.

In the meantime I have signed up to support the campaign against blood sports being run by Brian May, from the band Queen. This is an important issue for me and I hope that many other candidates will also support it.

http://www.save-me.org.uk/

In a piece entitled 'Which party would animals vote for?" in Veterinary Practice Magazine it is stated:

Green Party

The 50 page Green Party election manifesto10 included the most detailed policies on animal welfare of any
political party, other than Animals Count. The Greens would phase out intensive farming, would ban the
production and sale of eggs from hens kept in battery cages (including“enriched” cages), would end live animal exports, and would limit journey times for all animal transport. They would immediately ban harmful scientific animal use, and invest in the development of non-animal alternatives. They would regulate the
companion animal trade, including a ban on the importation of exotic pets.
They would enforce strict animal welfare standards generally.

The Green website also included a detailed policy on animal rights11, which stated that: “The Green Party believes that animals have the right to live in safety, without fear or pain caused by human exploitation. We seek a more peaceful world, where all life is respected and all cruelty challenged.”

With respect to companion animals,the Greens stated: “The Party is opposed to the wholesale breeding,
manipulation and destruction of those animals who are chosen as companions to the human race. We will introduce measures to regulate the care and conditions for such animals including a two-tier system of dog-licensing (breeding and non-breeding), licensing of all animal breeders and dog owners,subsidised spaying and neutering, the implementation of good animal warden schemes and a prohibition on the import of exotic animals for the pet trade.”

Dramatic increases in their vote shares in recent years have placed the Green Party in a strong position to
contest three constituencies and it is quite possible that Dr Caroline Lucas,the party leader, could be its first
member of Parliament.

http://www.aknight.info/pages/publications/miscellaneous/Knight%20Politics%20Vet%20Practice%202010%2042(3)%2010-11.pdf

Greens ahead in Democracy Club Survey

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8651258.stm

News on the BBC election website that Greens have responded the most to the Democracy Club's survey of general election candidates. Well worth looking at They Work for You website. Notice the low rate of Labour responses.

Election 2010: Online volunteers to scrutinise MPs

The project has compiled a database of 4,100 candidates standing on 6 May

Democracy activists have enlisted 6,000 volunteers, covering all but one of the UK's 650 constituencies, for a project trying to keep future MPs in check.

The Democracy Club has asked every candidate standing on 6 May for their views on a wide range of issues.

It will monitor whether those who enter Parliament stick to their promises.



But only 6% of Tory candidates have given answers, and club spokesman Seb Bacon said they were "apparently very reluctant" to take part.

Green Party candidates had provided the greatest number of responses, Mr Bacon said, with replies from 65% of those standing in Scotland and 54% in England and Wales.

UKIP were the only other party with a response rate of more than 50%.

Among would-be Liberal Democrat MPs, 42% had replied, while the figure for Labour was 26%, Mr Bacon said.

Before polling day, the project's volunteers would "chase up" candidates who had not responded, he added.

"We already see the project as a success because we have at least some answers in most constituencies, because one of our primary goals is engaging people with politics on a more local level."

A list of more than 3,000 local issues was compiled, with each candidate giving their views on a handful of these topics.

The political website They Work For You is publishing all responses as they arrive.

Lib Dems, Labour and Greenwash

Copying this article from today's Comment is Free in the Guardian by Darren Johnson on 'greenery' claims from Lib Dems and Labour.

I am doing a hustings at lunchtime in Brixton organised by Lambeth Mencap and People First, organisations for people with learning difficulties. Having to work at the day job for the rest of the day.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/apr/29/green-party-policy

Your article about eco policy in the election campaign did not mention the Green party's policies (Last chance to save planet, say parties vying for green vote, 26 April). You focused on the two parties who'd launched their green manifestos the previous day, but comparing only Labour and Lib Dem eco policies was a bit like assessing which of two bald men was the best advert for a comb.


The article describes the Lib Dems' "£400 eco cashback scheme for new double glazing, boilers or solar panels". Had you compared this with the Green party's manifesto, you would have discovered that to meet the right CO2 targets, we need a £4bn-a-year programme to ensure all UK homes are energy-efficient. Similarly, the Lib Dems' "pledge to redirect £3.1bn" to green job-creation; but we believe that to achieve the necessary emissions reductions the UK would need a £44bn investment package, creating over a million green jobs.

And the article did not consider the parties' track record: for example, while the Lib Dems say they want more renewable energy, they have opposed windfarm proposals in Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon and Worcestershire. You say the Lib Dems would tackle aviation emissions, but don't point out that they've avidly supported airport expansions in Birmingham, Carlisle, Exeter, Liverpool, Manchester and Norwich.

And on their proposed fiscal measures to reduce road traffic, you don't say that they have voted against such schemes in Edinburgh, Manchester and York; not to mention that they've supported new road-building, from Newbury to the M74 and the proposed new Lancaster bypass.

You note that the Lib Dems say they want a zero-carbon economy by 2050. It would have been reasonable to observe that even if the Lib Dems' policies and practice were capable of achieving this, the target is in fact 20 years too late to satisfy the science. Perhaps the most reliable thing Nick Clegg says in the article was this: "Choose the only party that was taking a stand on saving the planet well before it became fashionable." On behalf of the Green party I'd like to say: thank you, Nick.

Meanwhile, what of Labour? Yes, it passed the Climate Change Act; yet it has attached to it the wrong targets and the wrong policies. But as you reveal, Labour is weaker than the Lib Dems on aviation, road-building, coal and nuclear. And Labour wants just 5,000 eco trade apprenticeships, whereas the Green party has identified a need for 350,000 training places.

On a proper comparison, one would surely have to conclude that there is still only one Green party. And this time, in places like Brighton, Norwich and Lewisham, the Greens are in with a real chance of a breakthrough, according to pollsters YouGov and ICM. If even a few Greens are elected they will be influential – able to cut through Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative greenwash in the House of Commons and force the debate to get real.

Last night's hustings in Vauxhall and Queer Question Time on Friday night

Last night's hustings in St Mark's Kennington were the largest hustings held in Vauxhall in this election and will be the last big parliamentary hustings. You can read accounts from various bloggers who attended below. A pity the South London Press were not there as they seem to cover the Streatham events but very little so far on Vauxhall. May be invited to discuss LGBT issues in Vauxhall on a local youth radio station, TLS, on Friday. Mentioned the concerning 47% increase in homophobic hate crime last night and the fact that I have addressed hate crime against the disabled and LGBT communities in my election leaflet.

http://onionbagblog.com/2010/04/28/do-the-hust-le/#content


http://southeasteleven.blogspot.com/2010/04/fallout-from-vauxhall-hustings-good-bad.html

http://garethwyn.blogspot.com/




At work today so could not blog before now about it. There was drama and a call for Straw and Blair to be tried as war criminals plus some up front questions re LGBT rights for Kate Hoey - my response to her record on this was "could do better." Comments on my blog from the SPGB suggest some bile in my direction, which I experienced last night from the candidate immediately after the hustings. Apparently quoting William Morris is only allowed for card carrying members of the SPGB. I do actually agree with Morris and regard him as much closer to the ideals of the Green Party than the SPGB.

I will be at Queer Question Time on Friday night at the Vauxhall Tavern, albeit not on the platform. Darren Johnson is speaking on behalf of the Green Party, Linda Bellos for Labour and Brian Paddick (remember him?) for the Lib Dems, together with some non-party speakers. Hoping that the South London Press will cover it. This will be an opportunity for Greens to show off our LGBT manifesto, which is far in advance of that of any other party. Question Time starts at 9pm and entry is £7.50 except for unwaged and NUS who are half price. As a  gay local parliamentary candidate I would not miss it for the world and am glad that LGBT issues will be fully debated in London's second gay village.

Leading trade unionist and health campaigner calls for a Green Party vote

As a health activist and trade unionist I know Geoff Martin and have seen him speak at many campaiging meetings about saving the NHS in London. Geoff is also the Chair of London Health Emergency. But his reward for speaking out against Labour's plans for the NHS meant that he was expelled from the party and also as the Convenor of UNISON in London. I am also a UNISON member and recognise Geoff's heroic fight to save public services and the NHS in London. The Green Party Trade Union Group, of which I am Treasurer, welcomes Geoff's comments. Geoff's statement is below. Geoff is now an officer of the RMT union.

"Geoff Martin, Labour's parliamentary candidate in Sutton and Cheam in 1992 and a leading campaigner in the fight to save services at St Helier Hospital today called on local voters to back Sutton's Green Candidate Peter Hickson.

Geoff Martin, who lives in Sutton and who was expelled by the Labour Party last year, said: "Voters sick and tired of the spin and sleaze of the main Parties have a real choice in this election and I would urge them to vote for the Green candidate Peter Hickson and give the political elite a real kick up the backside.

The Greens oppose privatisation of services like the NHS and support workers rights and decent pay and pensions. I would call on all trade unionists and socialists to make a positive decision and give Peter Hickson and the Green Party your vote.

The Labour Party is dead in the water and traditional Labour voters who feel badly let down by 13 years of Blair and Brown have a real alternative in  the Greens. My advice is don't stay at home getting angry on May 6th - get down the polling station and vote for Greens."



Notes for editors:

Geoff Martin was Labour's parliamentary candidate in Sutton and Cheam in 1992. A high profile trade unionist who was UNISON convenor for a decade, he was expelled by Labour last year after 30 years as a member. He was prominent in the long fight to save services at St.Helier hospital, Carshalton; and is currently a national officer of the RMT.

Green Party Election Broadcast Tonight

The Green Party election broadcast will be aired tonight on BBC 1 just before 7pm and on BBC 2 just before 6pm. I have put it on this blog before but it is well worth watching and of a high quality.

http://www.onlygreen.org.uk/

The Fox hunting vote and the campaign against animal cruelty

The issue of animal cruelty and welfare does not usually dominate political debate but with the Countryside Alliance having its HQ in Vauxhall and the current MP being its Chair it is an issue in this election in Vauxhall. The article below from the Guardian also indicates that those who want to restore fox hunting are targeting seats like Vauxhall to ensure that Kate Hoey is re-elected. The Green Party is totally opposed to fox hunting and firmly supports animal rights, also being opposed to animals being used in experimentation.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/30/foxhunting-supporters-marginal-seats-election

Supporters of hunting with dogs are targeting key marginal seats in an attempt to boost the chances of repealing the 2004 ban on the sport.

The pro-hunting organisation Vote OK claims it will mobilise well over 10,000 supporters and have an impact on far more constituencies than it did at the last general election.

Working out of a farm in Gloucestershire, the organisation has no paid staff but claims its ability to channel the enthusiasm of volunteers from more than 170 hunts in England and Wales will ensure its has a significant influence. Its leafleting operation is expected mostly to benefit Conservative candidates.

Nicky Sadler, the coordinator of Vote OK and a follower of the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt, said: "At the last election, in 2005, we were involved in 60 seats; this time around we are organised in 140 constituencies. It's a big logistic operation.

"Vote UK is a bit like a dating agency. There's a list of candidates who [we can pick]. We are colour-blind; it doesn't matter what party they are from. No one is suggesting that [repeal] should be a priority for government. We are giving people who are pro-repeal contact details so they take can it from there.

"If there's a sitting MP who has in the past supported hunting from any party, such as Labour's Kate Hoey [in London Vauxhall] or the Liberal Democrat Roger Williams [in Brecon and Radnorshire], we will [back] them."

Sadler admits that the "vast majority" of MPs supported by Vote OK will be Conservatives.

A YouGov poll carried out for the Protecting Animals in Democracy (PAD) campaign published at the weekend revealed that animal welfare issues such as hunting and animal experimentation are deemed to be an important election issue for 41% of the British public. The same poll found that only 21% believing that there is very little animal cruelty in Britain today. "This is the first time that the enormous political significance of animal welfare issues has come to light," said Dr Dan Lyons, head of campaigns at PAD and an honorary research fellow in politics at the University of Sheffield, said: "It's a clear warning to the parties that support for cruel practices like hunting could prove politically disastrous."