[Abernathy]

It seems that the Green Party, in hoovering up disillusioned/expelled former Labour members of the Trot/Momentum tendency, has become infected with a dose of the overt and covert anti-semitism that caused the Labour Party so much trouble. Green party members have apparently been sharing anti-semitic material on social media, and a newly elected Green council candidate in Leeds made an unconventional acceptance speech, exclaiming "“We will not be silenced. We will raise the voice of Gaza. We will raise the voice of Palestine. Allahu akbar!"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51np80knpmo

Apology over Green candidate's anti-Semitic post

[The Weeping Angel]

The Greens have to decide whether they're an environmental party or a party for anti-Labour types.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I can remember the Greens taking a bit of stick a few years ago for saying they didn't want anyone kicked out of Labour, and I didn't hear anything to suggest they weren't being vigilant. I suspect they've had much greater movement towards since the war started last October, and that may have overwhelmed their ability to do due diligence. See how many there are.

[The Weeping Angel]

Not filling me with confidence.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I think the Greens have opened an investigation now.

I can't say I've always agreed with what David Wolfson calls anti-semitism, but Zack Polanski didn't even need to get involved there on Twitter.

[The Weeping Angel]

and another one.

[davidjay]

They're going to be like the Kippers two decades ago - attracting all sorts of extremist nutters but not noticing because they're so convinced of their righteousness they think everyone wants to joing them.

[Yug]

A more recent example, of course, would be Labour under Corbyn. The Greens haven't learned from Labour's mistakes.

[Abernathy]

So Lynne's joined the Greens now, has she?

Confirmation that she has never really understood the finer nuances of political strategy and how to win power.

[Tubby Isaacs]

No idea who MB Levin is, but if these are real tweets, she's spectacularly naive about Hamas. Not a reason why she shouldn't join the Greens or they have her, but they'd be better off not making too much of it.

[Youngian]

Too narrowly focused on the environment to make progress, is the traditional criticism on the Greens. Now we see that’s probably for the best.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Would be interesting to see some sort of breakdown of what issues they ran on in different places. Of course, all parties face different ways in different areas but the Greens could soon be setting new standards in it. We elected a Green in my ward in an affluent part of Herefordshire. Was that a vote for Lynne Jones policies?

How is it going to work for them being basically the Lib Dems in one place and Respect in another? I'm not sure the greater media coverage would be entirely beneficial.

[Oboogie]

I wonder what the impact of the influx of the anti-Israeli members will be on, what I will describe as, the Greens traditional environmentalist membership? Will there be a significant exodus to Labour and the LibDems?

[Tubby Isaacs]

I doubt very many. More likely the effect is on them not getting as many new members as they should have done. Or indeed voters. I'd guess that the big majority of potential Greens are pretty secular, and the sight of the guy in Harehills might make put them off. Just like Evangelical American style politicians would.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I've learned from lots of online Green supporters today that if you think Sian Berry pulled a very cynical trick then you don't understand the closed list voting system. It's apparently fine to stick somebody well known at the top of it and for her to clear off after 3 days. A couple have even said (get this) "But it was OK for David Lammy, what's the difference?" I thought, funny I never heard this about David Lammy.

He didn't do what Berry did. He got elected to the Assembly, then Bernie Grant died, and he got elected as MP for Tottenham. Quite the cynical stroke Lammy and Bernie Grant pulled there.

[Tubby Isaacs]

By the way, is this the general thread for the Greens? If it is, could we change the title to something more general?

[Abernathy]

Didn’t intend it as a general Greens thread, but I have no objection to it becoming one.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Take it away, Mods!

[The Weeping Angel]

I thought we already had a Green Party thread?

[Oboogie]

Take it away, Mods!

What's wrong with the existing Green Party thread entitled "The Greens"?