Green Mayor candidate Zoe Garbett on how she would change London if elected

 Zoe Garbett, Green Party London Mayor candidiate, was asked by BBC London how she would change London if elected

 

Brent Green Party backs Save Byron Court Campaign

 

Martin Francis spoke briefly at Monday's demonstration outside Byron Court Primary School to back the campaign to save the school from  being forced to become an academy.

Government policy is that all schools should eventually become party of a MAT (Multi-Academy Trust) and are assisted in this policy by a law requiring forced academisation of local authority schools if they are judged Inadequate by Ofsted.

This is what has happened to Byron Court but campaigners argue that there were particular circumstances that led to the Inadequate judgement that are now being addressed by a Rapid Improvment Group (RIG) that involves the Brent School Improvement Team. They want the school to be given a chance to make the necessary changes and improvements and then be reinspected to demonstrate that progress has been made.

Parents are very clear that they want to remain a community school and not part of the Harris Federation of schools founded by a carpet boss with a CEO on half a million pounds a year. In a Federation local democratic oversight would be lost.

Martin told campaigners that the Green Party had long opposed academies as representing a democratic deficit and a form of privatisation. Greens also want to abolish Ofsted which has become an instrument of government policy and with its summary one word judgements and stressful inspection regime that contributes to destabilisation of schools. Exams of different types now dominate primary schools making pupils some of the most examined in the world - early years asseement, phonic tests, multiplcation tests and SATs at aged 7 and 11. The tests are 'high stakes' because they determine much of curriculum time and narrow the curriculum in many schools pushing out more creative subjecrs such as drama and music.

Green Party policy would abolish SAT tests entirely and establish an Entitlement Curriculum so that all pupils would have a broad and creative curriculm - education for life, not test scores. 

SAT scores are used by Ofsted, even before they visit the school, to establish an initial view of the school and so play a part in the inspection process, leading to schools feeling they have no choice but to concentrate on teaching for the tests, often against their professional judgement of what pupils really need. Behind this is the fear of 'failing' an Ofsted inspection leading to an Inadequate rating and forced academisation. 

So bringing all schools back under local authority oversight, abolition and replacement of Ofsted by a more collegiate system, abolition of SATs to allow for the creative curriculum that children will thrive on are all part of a distinctive new policy for education.  Schools will establish their own assessment systems aimed at improving individual pupils' learning rather than providing a data set.

Green Party expresses 'deep concern' at increased UK involvement as potential Middle East war looms

Statement from the Green Party of England and Wales

Following news of the Iranian attack on Israel and the involvement of UK aircraft in Israel’s defence, Green Party co-leader, Carla Denyer, has urged the UK not to be dragged into a Middle East war. She said: 

The Green Party condemns Iran’s attacks against Israel, which were targeted on civilian as well as military targets.  This represents a concerning escalation of the current conflict in the Middle East. We call on all parties now to find ways to de-escalate this conflict, which risks spreading across the region. 

We are concerned by the use of British aircraft in the night’s events.  We question why Britain should be involved in this confrontation, where there is a risk that we could become embroiled in a regional war.  The record of Afghanistan and Iraq suggests that involvement in such conflict brings great risks, especially when the military and strategic objectives are unclear.

Denyer also questioned at what level the decision to engage UK defence forces was made: 

I am deeply concerned about how this decision to deepen our involvement was made and in what further action the government proposes to involve UK armed forces. Britain’s military involvement must be scrutinised and debated by parliament. We should not allow ourselves to be dragged into a Middle East war. 

Last night's violence demonstrates again that there must be resolution to the interconnected conflicts of the Middle East, including in Gaza where a ceasefire remains urgent. We are at a moment of grave peril and it is incumbent on all countries, including the UK, to find ways to reduce rather than contribute to conflict.

Zoe Garbett, Green Party London Mayor candidate, outlines her policies for London

 

Read the Green Manifesto for London here: A plan for a greener, more affordable London

 

The London Green Party's Manifesto for London was published today. If you like a lot of what it says please vote three times for the Green Party in the GLA Election on May 2nd. Vote for Zoe Garbett for Mayor, Nida Al-Fulaij for Brent and Harrow Constituency and Green Party for the London List.

 

Click bottom right X for full view

 

Six months on Greens call for a full bilateral ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the suspension of arms exports to Israel, and for key players in the Netanyahu government to be held accountable for possible war crimes

 

The Green Party has repeated its call for a full bilateral ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the suspension of arms exports to Israel, and for key players in the Netanyahu government to be held accountable for possible war crimes, six months on from the 7 October attacks by Hamas.  

Co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, said:  

This isn’t just a far away conflict that we have nothing to do with. By consistently refusing to call for a ceasefire and continuing to supply arms, the UK Government has been complicit in the deadly assault on Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces.  

Six months on from the horrific Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens, it is clear that the Netanyahu government's response has been totally disproportionate. Over 33,000 innocent Palestinian civilians have now been killed, the majority of them women and children. This is not an act of self defence. As the UN’s Human Rights Council has resolved, the actions by the Israeli government are possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Indeed, the UK Government itself has reportedly concluded secretly that Israel is breaking international humanitarian law.  

It is time for our Government to end their complicity and start leading efforts towards peace. They must finally call for a ceasefire, immediately suspend arms exports to Israel and back the UN Human Rights Council’s call for accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

In the six months since October 7^th, the Green Party of England and Wales has called for:  

• A full bilateral ceasefire  
• The release of all hostages  
• A suspension of all arms export licences to Israel until the violence stops 
• The cessation of all military collaboration with Israel, including use of British bases by Israeli forces, and intelligence sharing 
• Targeted Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against individuals and institutions supporting or facilitating Israel’s occupation of Palestine 
• An investigation by the Metropolitan Police and Director of Public Prosecutions of war crimes committed against UK citizens, or where UK citizens are potential perpetrators 
• The UK government to use its position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to vote for, rather than abstain on, ceasefire votes 
• Targeted sanctions against key individuals in the Israeli leadership, including travel bans and asset freezes on Israel’s government ministers 
• An end to occupation of the Palestinian territories 
• The UK government to return to international law being the benchmark for UK policy, and repair the UK’s international reputation as a defender of the international rules-based order. 

The Green Party has never had any truck with the profit motive in health care

 

Responding to comments by the Shadow Heath Secretary saying that under a Labour government investment in the NHS would be dependent on reform and that there would be an increased role for the private sector [1], co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, said: 

Wes Streeting says that if the NHS doesn’t change, it will die. But it is inadequate funding that has left our NHS in a poor state of health, not lack of reform.  

Between 2010 and 2019 the UK had a lower level of capital investment in health care and 18% lower average health spending than 14 EU countries [2]. 

So to say that the public is paying a heavy price for failure is an insult to hard-working NHS staff, who are doing their level best despite being overworked and underpaid. It is the failure to invest adequately and pay staff properly that is at the root of dissatisfaction with the NHS. 

The public agrees. They don’t want endless reforms; neither do they share the Conservative or Labour appetite for creeping privatisation. They want the current model to work and to see the NHS available to everyone free of charge and primarily funded through taxes [3]. A tax on the super-rich billionaires and multi-millionaires can provide the funds needed to fix our cherished NHS.    

The Green Party has never had any truck with the profit motive in health care and will continue to push for a fully publicly funded NHS.

Notes 

[1] Wes Streeting warns NHS that there'll be no additional funding without 'major surgery' under Labour | The Sun 

[2] How does UK health spending compare across Europe over the past decade? - The Health Foundation  

[3] Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2023 | Nuffield Trust 

Green Party repeats call for UK Government to cancel all arms export licences to Israel

In the wake of the attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy, which killed seven aid workers, the Green Party have repeated their call for the UK government to cancel all arms export licences to Israel.  

The Party’s Global Solidarity spokesperson and former Middle East diplomat, Carne Ross, said: 

The death of compassionate humanitarian volunteers was an outrageous and avoidable tragedy. The cynical attempts by the Netanyahu government to portray the attack on World Central Kitchen (WCK) as an accident have been dismissed by those agencies trying to feed the starving in Gaza. Under international humanitarian law, this humanitarian aid is the responsibility of the Israeli government, yet they are keeping routes closed and not ensuring that those emergency routes operated by aid agencies are safe.  

It is clear that the Israeli government is violating the terms of the licences under which arms are exported and is failing to abide by basic international humanitarian law. It is a national shame that we are arming the Israel defence forces who are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians. It appears that the deadly Israeli strike on the aid workers used a drone produced in the UK. This only strengthens the case for an immediate arms embargo.

It is hugely disappointing, but sadly predictable, to hear calls to end arms exports coming only after Western lives have been lost. It comes too late for the thousands of Palestinian children slaughtered by western supplied bombs and bullets.  

Foreign Secretary Cameron can show global leadership during his talks with NATO leaders today by first ending UK arms sales and then persuading other NATO countries to follow suit. We cannot allow the humanitarian calamity in Gaza to continue a day longer.

Introducing Nida Al-Fulaij the Green Party candidate for Brent and Harrow GLA constituency

 

Nida Al-Fulaij, the Green Party candidate for the Brent and Harrow GLA constituency, works for a trust that aims to protect endangered species in the UK and globally. Her role involves addressing the biodiversity crisis and associated issues of climate change, food security, land use and access to healthy water.

 

Her experience as a local council candidate enabled her to speak to local people about the issues than concerned them and meet like-minded green voters. In her job Nida works with other NGOs to submit responses to government proposals and works with different communities that, whilst having different outlooks, can work for common goals. These are skills that she will bring to the GLA if elected.

 

Nida has given numerous media interviews including for BBC local radio, Sky News, Countryfile and BBC London News.

 

Nida is a passionate believer in human rights and has joined in recent demonstrations in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

 

Alongside other Green candidates Nida is standing for:

 

·      Cheaper rents

·      Warmer homes

·      Accountable policing

·      Climate action

·      Properly funded youth services

·      Affordable fares

·      Increase the real Living Wage for London

·      Respecting diversity so all communities thrive

Brent Council is running a series of consultation workshops to determine priorities for the "Community Grants Fund"

 Brent Council is running a series of consultation workshops to determine priorities for the "Community Grants Fund" (the new name for the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Grants - NCIL).

There are five workshops scheduled online, to consult with residents in different parts of the borough. The link to register for your area can be found below.

It would be good if people could go and press home the point that grants should be directed at projects or ideas that will address environmental issues, particularly climate change, clean air, active travel and tree cover.

Please sign up on Eventbrite using one of the links below. All workshops are, of course, free of charge.

All the best,

Ian

All workshops are at 6pm:

· 

Kingsbury & Kenton Neighbourhood Priorities Workshop - 13th July 2023

 

· 

Willesden Neighbourhood Priorities Workshop - 17th July 2023

 

·  Kilburn Neighbourhood Priorities Workshop - 18th July 2023

· 

Wembley Neighbourhood Priorities Workshop - 19th July 2023

 

Harlesden Neighbourhood Priorities Workshop - 20th July 2023

PR AND ANTI-TORY ALLIANCES GREEN LEFT OPEN MEETING 20 JULY 2023 AT 7PM.

 

PR AND ANTI-TORY ALLIANCES

GREEN LEFT OPEN MEETING

20 JULY 2023 AT 7PM.

 

SPEAKERS

James Doran, and William Relton (Get PR Done),

Stuart Hill Unite activist and member of Unlock Democracy's Council

 

How should we campaign for a fairer electoral system in the UK?  ‘First past the post’ elections support a duopoly of political parties apparently committed to managing the capitalist system that is perpetuating climate change.

 

Is Proportional Representation a solution? Are there any tactics to resist the existing unfair system?

 

The meeting will be online, via zoom, open to Green Party members and other ecosocialists. It is intended to record the meeting and distribute an edited recording via social media.

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82710493009?pwd=Y1Ntby9MbWc0bitHakxiYVltWTZ4UT09

Meeting ID: 827 1049 3009 Passcode: 951164

Contact PETER MURRY yrrumuk@googlemail.com

Brian Orr RIP

 

 

 

Brian Orr of Brent Green Party and a former activist in the London Federation of Green Parties died on Monday 12^th June, after an illness which began in Autumn last year.

 

Brian played a crucial role in re-starting Brent Green Party as an effective political body and went on to steer it through the early decades of this century. He was unstinting as an organiser of campaigns and as a campaigner. As Party Chair and Election agent he ensured that the party stood candidates in local, regional and national elections, and also stood as a candidate himself.

 

 

Brian also worked with the London Federation of Green Parties as Treasurer during the time Noel Lynch was Chair of the Federation

 

Brian had a scientific background and training which informed his deep commitment to Green politics and ideas. Long before many others he was aware of the potentially catastrophic impacts of human-caused global climate change and its environmental feedbacks. He argued that this was manifesting itself in loss of biodiversity, especially of insects as the basis of the food chain. However he combined this understanding with a determination to enact these ideas politically as can be seen here https://brentgreens.blogspot.com/2010/06/brent-greens-call-to-safeguard-climate.html.

 

So, it is no surprise that he welcomed the intervention of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion in the climate crisis campaign. In fact, he loved the development of ideas and politics through debate and his colleagues and comrades both in person and online. We will sorely miss provocative and insightful discussions with him.

 

He made a significant contribution, and we will miss him. We send our sympathy and condolences to Liz his partner and his family. 

 

Peter Murry and Martin Francis

BRENT GREEN PARTY SENDS SUPPORT TO STRIKING TEACHERS

  

BRENT GREEN PARTY SENDS SUPPORT TO STRIKING TEACHERS

The news that National Education Union members in Brent will be striking on February 1^st is welcomed by Brent Green Party, who together with  the Green Party of England Wales as a whole, support all workers taking part in the current strike actions.

We recognise that NEU members are making just claims for pay increases that at least give some respite from the pressures of inflation which is outpacing the incomes of many except wealthy cabinet ministers and donors to Tory party coffers.

We know that the issue is not just pay, the NEU strikes and others are in defence of proper public provision in such vital areas such as education, health and transport. A viable low carbon economy can only be built on these foundations, so the strikes of the NEU members in Brent and many other trade unionists are an important part of wider struggles which are vital to us all.

SOLIDARITY TO THE NEU! SOLIDARITY TO STRIKERS!

Peter Murry, Trade Union Liaison Officer, Brent Green Party yrrumuk@googlemail.com

 

BRENT GREEN PARTY LISTENING POSTS

  

BRENT GREEN PARTY LISTENING POSTS

 

These are  plans for our  Brent Green Party Listening Posts 

4 Venues in rotation

 

Harlesden Methodist Church.

Willesden Green Sainsbury’s.

Kensal Rise, area near bus stop.

Kingsbury main shopping arcade.

 

First Saturday in the month 10:00 to 12:00 

 

5 November           Willesden Green

3 December           Kingsbury

7 January               Harlesden

4 February             Kensal Rise

4 March                 Willesden Green

1 April                   Kingsbury

6 May                    Harlesden

3 June                    Kensal Rise

1 July                     Willesden Green

5 August                Kingsbury

Divest Brent

 

Deputation to Brent Pension Fund Sub-committee meeting 

5.10.22 6 pm

 

Simon Erskine

Dear All

 

You may remember that back in May I invited you to join the Divest Brent deputation to the Pension Fund Sub-committee on 27.6.22. In the event that did not happen because 27.6.22 was the first meeting of the all-new Pension Fund Sub-committee following the May elections – and was to be used essentially as a training session.

 

Our deputation was therefore postponed until the following meeting which is on 5.10.22. I would now like to invite you to join that deputation. The meeting will be held in the Boardroom at the Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ at 6 pm (we are asking members of the deputation to aim to arrive at 5.45 pm). The deputation, which will be led by Glenis Scadding (unfortunately I will be on holiday in the Lake District), will take a maximum of 5 minutes – although I am hoping that there will be an item on the agenda to discuss divestment, in which case it would be good if at least some members of the delegation stayed on for that. The agenda will be displayed on https://democracy.brent.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=155&MId=7143&Ver=4 a week or so before the meeting. Only Glenis will be speaking. The more people that we can field the better.

 

If you are interested in attending please let me know – and I would be very happy to answer any questions you might have. Apologies if you are on the Brent Friends of the Earth mailing-list and have already had an invitation.

 

Best wishes

 

Simon     

Simon Erskine

Co-ordinator

Divest Brent

Tel: 020-8964-0198

www.facebook.com/DivestBrent