Thread by @ZackPolanski

This morning is National @TheGreenParty Hustings Leadership contest.

Current co-leaders @sianberry & @jon_bartley will be facing questions alongside party colleagues @DrSextonGreen & @ShahrarAli.

I'll be tweeting along - feel free to join in the conversation.

#GreenHustings

With @GreenJennyJones chairing - @sianberry current co-leader says these debates are showing the best of our party.

She has real pride of all the work happening across the country & has always has a team approach to leadership.

A wide range of people on media.

#GreenHustings

We want to create a mass membership movement.

We must unite for system change. Make links between climate emergency and rampant inequality.

Make links between exploitation of environment & colonialism.

says @jon_bartley

#GreenHustings

We know the Green Party are the most popular party, the most liked party. We have been the pioneers on the right side of history.

We have a massive round of elections next year. Must shake foundations of establishment.

- @jon_bartley current co-leader # Green Party Hustings.

Next up is @DrSextonGreen who says we have choices to make.

We have a fantastic supportive community & we're part of a wider movement. But that's not all we are - we need to be serious about inclusion, credibility and winning elections.

#GreenHustings

And finally is @ShahrarAli who says

We need to raise the ambition & the stakes of the party.

We need to do more to promote a radical, socialist green politics on the Climate Emergency.

It's the single most existential threat we face & we need to tackle it.

#GreenHustings

1st question - Given that the need for action on climate change is widely accepted, what is the Green Partys role?

We're here to take political power. Pressure groups do fantastic work but we're the people who can influence decisions directly.

We all know the effects that having Greens in the room can make.

We need to be a real, credible threat to establishment. - @DrSextonGreen

What we need to be articulating is the connections between social injustice & our actions here especially in the west with over consumptive patterns of behaviour.

As we speak, (eg) Bangladesh & Maldives suffering worst consequences but least able to deal with it.

- @ShahrarAli

It's not just about being inside the establishment. It's about being outside too.

That's why he's out with the school strikers, been arrested & marched with Extinction Rebellion.

And we've doubled our number of councillors in just one election.

Dual strategy.

- @jon_bartley

Question 2 - Where do you stand on electoral alliances with other progressive parties especially if PR is on the cards?

We should pronounce unapologetically our radical socialist vision.

@ShahrarAli considered the Progressive Alliance a mistake in 2017 - and asks so why did we do it again?

Our number one selling point besides climate emergency is how we do politics. No pacts.

#GreenHustings

We are the party that always talks about doing things differently & we're showing the way.

Take @CarolineLucas in parliament who demonstrated cross party work including the success of challenging the unlawful shutting down of Parliament on Brexit.

- @sianberry

#GreenHustings

We've come out of the election much stronger & we now have a democratic process should this situation ever come up again.

- @sianberry

Being honest @DrSextonGreen says she voted in favour of Unite to Remain but in hindsight feels like it was a mistake.

It felt important though at the time to do everything to stop this far right government from taking control.

She's cautious about saying never - but wary now.

Adds that for another deal in future with any other parties and the green party, there would have to be a cast iron guarantee of Proportional Representation.

- @DrSextonGreen

3rd question - what will you do to ensure a more inclusive party?

We've done a lot of work with our liberation groups. In 2017, we set a record of number of disabled candidates to stand in an election.

And we've set up a fund to support candidates of colour.

We need to do so much more though- including amplifying voices more.

- @jon_bartley

We're already doing this fairly well in the West Midlands.

We've done this by going out & talking to the communities about the issues they face. Not talking about our priorities but looking at theirs.

Build diversity from the ground up.

- @DrSextonGreen

#GreenHustings

There's a long way to go - says @ShahrarAli.

We have to treat to people with equal respect. It's imperative we crack that one.

We need to create better space for disagreement. Too often conflict results from not having those better spaces.

#GreenHustings

It is estimated that 22,000 disabled people have died from the pandemic - as lockdown is lifted, we are increasingly being excluded from society. What will you do to raise inclusion for disabled people inside society and the party - 4th question.

On a national level, there's been so much difficulty faced.

The social care system has been in crisis well prior to Covid. We need to look at a sustainable, social care system for the future.

Means tested benefits abhorrent & moving to UBI must be a priority - @DrSextonGreen

We've seen time & time again that the most marginalised vulnerable people suffer most from austerity.

We already have policies like our Green New Deal & UBI that will do so much more.

Govt have been close to criminally negligent on Covid.

#GreenHustings

This is personal for @jon_bartley. He's a carer & lived off carers allowance.

He challenged IDS live on TV. Right now - disabled people are dying.

And we need to keep talking about this so everyone knows what's going.

Labour talking about a two tier system. Must be opposed.

We should be angry on what's happening to disabled people. We must not Labour off the hook when they stay silent.

Silence from an opposition party is tantamount to complicity.

We need to be louder and clearer for disabled people's rights.

- @jon_bartley

5th question - 'a green vote is a wasted vote.' What are you going to do about it?

(Tweeters note - it's really not. Join us. greenparty.org.uk/join)

If we had a vote for everyone someone said 'if I thought the green party could win I'd vote for you' - we'd win a lot of elections!

We need to instil confidence. When people say they think we can't - let's have that conversation. It's an in road.

- @ShahrarAli

#GreenHustings

Spending a lot of her time on the doorsteps in target wards all across the country, @sianberry says. Let's demonstrate that we're so useful in local peoples communities.

People see that you can make change elected or not - this is why the emphasis on a Green team.

- @sianberry

We have to engage with reality. Wishful thinking is not a strategy says @DrSextonGreen.

We have a great system for local elections - target to win. It works. You have to engage with communities at grass roots level & listen to their priorities.

Must convince people we can win.

6th question - how do you convince someone who doesn't think we need systemic change in the UK?

The science is very clear. We cannot carry on this path. So let's present the evidence.

Covid has blown the lid on injustice & equality that has always been there.

Point to the change that we've seen in the last 6 months. We can do things in a different way.

- @jon_bartley

Talking about inequality alongside environment, health and economics - are really important conversations to have.

She says Tories say it's about individual choices & lifestyle.

The evidence doesn't support that. Factually incorrect & morally indefensible.

- @DrSextonGreen

We need to make system change.

Let's remind people that we cant carry on business as usual.

All arguments of this government are about the 'new normal'

Normality is not good enough.

Unintended consequences of lockdown that made life better.

- @ShahrarAli

#GreenHustings

7th question - what will you do to address conflict between trans rights and gender critical wings of party?

It's so important that we remember we're talking about human beings here.

Trans people must not be put in a position where they're continually justifying their existence or rights.

This is not a symmetrical situation. I am fully in favour of trans rights.

- @DrSextonGreen

Addressing trans rights & gender critical discussion, @ShahrarAli at the hustings says you need to hear both sides - if there are sides.

There's a great deal of conflict that's avoidable. Misgendering for instance is totally unacceptable.

#GreenHustings

There's no debate to be had about if trans rights are important.

In terms of discourse within the party, we must always look at code of conduct & think best of people.

We must not bully & must not label.

We must not question people's right to be what they are.

- @sianberry

If you are pro high speed rail but anti HS2, what are your alternatives? - next question.

I've long campaigned against HS2.

Weve seen horrendous biodiversity threats from HS2. 100bn & counting that's spiralling must be redirected to local transport solutions.

People want affordable reliable transport & don't have the option to do so.

- @ShahrarAli

#GreenHustings

I worked as a transport campaigner for a long time. Our view on this has been consistent from the start. The concept of high speed rail is something we've wanted.

But as we saw the detail of the HS2 - more & more misgivings. It completely fails the natural world.

- @sianberry

HS2 is exceptionally destructive and also exceptionally expensive as well.

For most towns and cities you get so much money back if you cancel HS2 but invest in safer streets, cycles & greener public transport.

It's a white elephant that needs to be cancelled.

- @sianberry

Rosi says whether we agree or oppose it is the wrong question. The reality is HS2 is being built & we need to focus instead on pushing better environmental mitigation. Calling for cycling infrastructure.

Let's stop using bandwidth & talk about better outcomes

- @DrSextonGreen

I was proud to be arrested alongside Extinction Rebellion & walk along the school strikers.

We need to reach beyond that though - Labour have vacated that space & we need to move even more into it to build those alliances with community groups.

- @jon_bartley

Direct Action has a crucial role to play in this.

We are the only people who can also though have influence in the corridors of power. We also have an influence in how we can push other parties in the right direction.

We can't just shout from outside.

@DrSextonGreen

Internet cut out so I missed the question but gather it was something about electoral success Vs direct action.

He's not going to give up. We have to give our best shot.

We may find overnight people are jolted out of collective sleepwalking to do something about the planet.

We need to do whatever it takes. There's collective denial about whats happening to the planet.

- @ShahrarAli

Given the Labour Party have a new leader, are you worried about impact on the Green vote? - Q

Short answer no.

We're to the left of Labour but we've got to stop framing it in that way. We're just very different to Labours top down approach.

Let's not be cornered.

The Green Party believe in localised, community grass roots activism.

- @DrSextonGreen

Social Justice and Environmental Action are the two pillars of the green party.

There's an opportunity now because of all the disaffected Labour members.

As well as the raised conciousness generally of the Climate Emergency.

Says @ShahrarAli.

(greenparty.org.uk/join)

Starmer is definitely no threat to the Green Party.

- @ShahrarAli

Power must be distributed more from the local communities. Grass Roots.

@sianberry talks about her work on London Estates to give council residents the opportunity to debate & vote on demolition or regeneration of their homes.

Labour are becoming increasingly authoritarian.

Final Question - what is your favourite cake and why?

@ShahrarAli - Jaffa Cake.
@sianberry - Coffee Cake.
@jon_bartley - Birthday Cake.
@DrSextonGreen - Chocolate Cake.

@GreenJennyJones stops being neutral and goes for Lemon Drizzle

(What was Sian thinking!?!)

Really interesting hustings & very good natured too around pretty substantive issues.

Wasn't long enough but there's so many hustings!

Well done to @GreenJennyJones for her chairing.

And you have until July 31st to register and vote - greenparty.org.uk/join

Deputy Leadership Hustings about to begin.

https://twitter.com/ZackPolanski/status/1284471610393743362?s=19