Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 6, 2024 21:31:04 GMT
Greens thrown into chaos as co-leader Carla Denyer contracts 'Covid-like symptoms' forcing her to miss party's first conference since winning four Commons seats - Published Sept 6, 2024
The Green Party conference was thrown into chaos today after co-leader Carla Denyer contracted Covid-like symptoms, forcing her to skip her first speech since entering the Commons.
The Bristol Central MP, who unseated Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire at the general election, has confirmed she will miss the entire three-day event in Manchester.
She has handed the reins to her co-leader Adrian Ramsay for the the gathering, its first since winning a record four Westminster seats at the last general election.
Ms Denyer was expected to have called out the Prime Minister's timid approach to the economy and the environment in her speech.
But the Mail can reveal that she has suddenly contracted flu-like symptoms that will sideline her for the conference.
She told the Mail this morning: 'Holed up in my hotel room isn't how I imagined my first conference after Greens secured four new MPs, nearly two million votes and a record number of councillors.
'I had hoped to be there to not just celebrate but to also show our impact as Green MPs in parliament offering a bold and ambitious vision of hope. So I am obviously so disappointed not to be there. But I know Adrian will give a great leaders speech - yet another good reason for having co-leaders!'
The mood at the party's conference in Manchester, which starts today, is expected to be buoyant, with a string of radical policies expected to continue building momentum among leftwing voters disillusioned with Sir Keir Starmer's more timid approach.
The Greens were often the recipients of progressive and leftist voters disillusioned with Labour's stance on Gaza, and their U-turns on the economy and green investment.
As well as winning four seats, they came second to Labour in 47 constituencies, sparking concerns in the governing party's circles that they may face an increased challenge from the left at the 2029 election.
The party has thrown down the gauntlet to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of next month's budget, including calling for fuel duty to be hikes in order to speed up the transition from petrol cars to electric vehicles, the Green Party have said.
The new Labour government has already pledged to restore the petrol and diesel ban to 2030, after previous prime minister Rishi Sunak pushed it back to 2035.
But Green MPs are now calling on Mrs Reeves to go further and increase the much-maligned fuel duty - which currently sits at 52.95p and has not been increased since 2011 - in the autumn budget.
The move, they say, will not only help along the nation's transition to electric vehicles, but also 'generate funds to invest in public transport, active travel and fixing our potholed roads.'
Mr Sunak cut fuel duty by 5p in 2022, but the RAC motoring organisation last week said the Chancellor has 'no option' but to put it back up next month to stabilise public finances.
Howard Cox, the founder of FairFuelUK and an ardent campaigner to slash fuel duty, said last night: 'The fiscal naivety of the myopic Green Party to punish drivers remains entrenched. Had Chancellors followed their selfish political ideology over the last 14 years, the UK would be in deep recession with unemployment and business insolvencies off the scale. Fuel Duty is a regressive tax that hits the poorest hardest.
'FairFuelUK will be fighting any increase in this levy tooth and nail. And the Greens should wake up to reality, hitting drivers in the pocket will not save the planet. '
MPs are also planning to propose introducing a wealth tax on billionaires, hiking capital gains levies and removing the upper earnings limit on National Insurance.
Ms Denyer said: 'As Greens, we counter Labour's message of doom and gloom. Things can get better – and fast – but only if the new government has the courage to invest.
'The Budget at the end of October will set the course for the rest of this parliament. Greens want a bold budget for investment in our broken public services and the green economy of the future. We believe this fairer approach will also deliver something that is in short supply in Labour's plans so far – real hope.'
The Green Party conference was thrown into chaos today after co-leader Carla Denyer contracted Covid-like symptoms, forcing her to skip her first speech since entering the Commons.
The Bristol Central MP, who unseated Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire at the general election, has confirmed she will miss the entire three-day event in Manchester.
She has handed the reins to her co-leader Adrian Ramsay for the the gathering, its first since winning a record four Westminster seats at the last general election.
Ms Denyer was expected to have called out the Prime Minister's timid approach to the economy and the environment in her speech.
But the Mail can reveal that she has suddenly contracted flu-like symptoms that will sideline her for the conference.
She told the Mail this morning: 'Holed up in my hotel room isn't how I imagined my first conference after Greens secured four new MPs, nearly two million votes and a record number of councillors.
'I had hoped to be there to not just celebrate but to also show our impact as Green MPs in parliament offering a bold and ambitious vision of hope. So I am obviously so disappointed not to be there. But I know Adrian will give a great leaders speech - yet another good reason for having co-leaders!'
The mood at the party's conference in Manchester, which starts today, is expected to be buoyant, with a string of radical policies expected to continue building momentum among leftwing voters disillusioned with Sir Keir Starmer's more timid approach.
The Greens were often the recipients of progressive and leftist voters disillusioned with Labour's stance on Gaza, and their U-turns on the economy and green investment.
As well as winning four seats, they came second to Labour in 47 constituencies, sparking concerns in the governing party's circles that they may face an increased challenge from the left at the 2029 election.
The party has thrown down the gauntlet to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of next month's budget, including calling for fuel duty to be hikes in order to speed up the transition from petrol cars to electric vehicles, the Green Party have said.
The new Labour government has already pledged to restore the petrol and diesel ban to 2030, after previous prime minister Rishi Sunak pushed it back to 2035.
But Green MPs are now calling on Mrs Reeves to go further and increase the much-maligned fuel duty - which currently sits at 52.95p and has not been increased since 2011 - in the autumn budget.
The move, they say, will not only help along the nation's transition to electric vehicles, but also 'generate funds to invest in public transport, active travel and fixing our potholed roads.'
Mr Sunak cut fuel duty by 5p in 2022, but the RAC motoring organisation last week said the Chancellor has 'no option' but to put it back up next month to stabilise public finances.
Howard Cox, the founder of FairFuelUK and an ardent campaigner to slash fuel duty, said last night: 'The fiscal naivety of the myopic Green Party to punish drivers remains entrenched. Had Chancellors followed their selfish political ideology over the last 14 years, the UK would be in deep recession with unemployment and business insolvencies off the scale. Fuel Duty is a regressive tax that hits the poorest hardest.
'FairFuelUK will be fighting any increase in this levy tooth and nail. And the Greens should wake up to reality, hitting drivers in the pocket will not save the planet. '
MPs are also planning to propose introducing a wealth tax on billionaires, hiking capital gains levies and removing the upper earnings limit on National Insurance.
Ms Denyer said: 'As Greens, we counter Labour's message of doom and gloom. Things can get better – and fast – but only if the new government has the courage to invest.
'The Budget at the end of October will set the course for the rest of this parliament. Greens want a bold budget for investment in our broken public services and the green economy of the future. We believe this fairer approach will also deliver something that is in short supply in Labour's plans so far – real hope.'