A May Day Manifesto

Caroline Lucas, the leader of the Green Party launches their Manifesto.

I gave links here to the Manifestos of the three main political parties. I felt that as we appear to be nearing a significant changing point in British politics, I should then read them. They all proved to be disappointments.

The Conservatives aim to jettison their Governmental responsibilities and to press charities, self-help groups and private enterprise to accept these. The Lib Dems only come to life when they are propounding electoral reforms which they hope will give them extra parliamentary seats. Whilst Labour wishes to plod on with a variety of mainly directionless New Labour schemes.

So I have finally turned to the Green Party Manifesto. I don't agree with it all, but it does seek to tackle what it correctly sees as the three defining crises of our time - "a debt-fuelled economy teetering on the edge of collapse and haemorrhaging jobs, massive inequalities of income and assets, and catastrophic climate change".

Because of its residual trade union and working class links, Labour will continue to have my support. But when the inquest takes place after the close of the polls at 10pm on Thursday, the Green Party's perspective is something that activists would be well advised to give close thought to when deciding what Labour should do next.

There is another Manifesto which is worthy of our concern, from the Co-operative Party - also see. In shaping its own document, Labour made a few concessions to Co-operative principles. The Co-operative Manifesto provides important openings which Labour should develop.