London Greens at national Green Party conference

This weekend saw the national Green Party’s spring conference in Liverpool and London Green Party members made a big splash at the Titanic themed Adelphi Hotel. Amid the motions and machinations that always accompany such occasions the upcoming London Assembly Elections were preying on delegates’ minds.

In his Deputy Leader’s speech Adrian Ramsay said that “Jenny’s policies for London’s economy are part of her progressive manifesto for the election in the capital this spring. Her plans address the real priorities of Londoners; protecting services, tackling pay inequalities and supporting local shops…

“I for one am looking forward to seeing her taking on the Ken and Boris, Punch and Judy show and injecting some fresh Green ideas into the debates because that is the way to do it.”

You can also watch Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas, discuss the London election on video here.

Jenny Jones herself (pictured right) made a confident and witty speech where she said of her Labour opponent “Ken is being generally friendly. He has already called for Labour to make their second mayoral vote Green. He has also said he will make me ‘Supreme Commander of Walking and Cycling’. I’ve told him that I want a budget of £billions to go with the title. I think he agreed.”

She added “Of course, I’ve also promised him a job, if I’m elected as Mayor.”

When outlining her main aim for the Mayoral election she told fellow party members “Selfishly, with a decent turnout, and plenty of help, I can realise my aim of beating Darren’s vote in 2004!”

The Party conference also passed a motion holding out the hand of friendship to the international Occupy movement on the eve of the highest profile occupation, at St Paul’s, being evicted.

Caroline Allen, GLA candidate for Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest, (pictured right) moved a comprehensive Food and Agriculture policy. This included abolishing arbitrary rules around VAT where some foods are not charged and others, like fruit juice, are. A 20% cut in price for juice could help encourage healthier eating and see a clearer approach to food in general.

Another GLA candidate (on the list this time), Caroline Russell, was too ill to attend the conference and had to watch the debate on a motion she was backing on stricter liability be moved on the conference floor via skype from her sick bed.

Stricter liability would shift the onus of proof in civil courts after an accident to vehicle drivers, rather than having the injured or deceased party having to prove that they had not been at fault. This motion was part of the Green Party’s commitment to road safety and more livable streets.

While London was one hot topic of discussion delegates also spent a great deal of time in friendly scrutinisation of the budget of the Party’s first ever minority administration in Brighton and Hove, debating policy on interns, trade union facility time, and the economic crisis.