There’s only one thing worse than being talked about, and that’s not being talked about. Rachel Reeves’ budget speech inclusion of a puerile dig at the new leader of the Green Party beautifully highlighted the Labour Party’s increasing desperation, as it haemorrhages members drawn to the Green Party’s positive political vision.
Elsewhere, the latest international COP summit in Brazil failed yet again to agree on how to address the unfolding climate and environment crisis. Petro-states, led by Russia and Saudi Arabia, ensured that the Conference’s final statement didn’t even mention fossil fuels. Short-term greed successfully overrode any consideration of the long-term consequences for us all.
Malignant Russian influence has been further exposed in the last few weeks by the jailing of Reform’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, for taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia when he was working closely with Farage as an MEP in Brussels.
You wouldn’t know it from the almost total lack of media coverage, but on 27th November there was a crucial National Emergency Briefing in Westminster Central Hall, where ten of the UK’s leading experts gave short sharp presentations on the latest assessments regarding the impacts of the climate and environment crisis on the UK’s food and energy security, national security, economics and health. Along with others I urged our MP Simon Hoare to attend. He didn’t … so I shall send him a recording of the event in the hope that he watches it and heeds its messages. The issues are of profound importance for every single one of us.
In November I was pleased to again be part of a group invited to assist with Weymouth College’s annual Environment Week. The 2023 State of Nature Report assessed the UK as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, so we facilitated student discussions on the topic. Students, like the many people now joining the Green Party, are increasingly concerned at the uncertain future we face. The environmental clock is ticking ever louder, but there’s no sign of the government taking the urgent actions needed to ensure that we have a positive future to look forward to.
Ken Huggins
North Dorset Green Party
