Finally back in York after a couple of days in Blackpool at conference. It was good to see the party taking a strong stand against the BNP and racism.
Peter Cranie's opening speech was inspiring and took a strong stand against the BNP. It is important that the Green Party strongly condemn the policies of the BNP, which is something we can do as we have the policies which are radically different than other parties who try and out do each other on who is willing to take the toughest line on immigration. By using slogans like 'British jobs for British workers' and agreeing that there is a problem with immigration is only adding fuel to xenophobia and racism.
I was also pleased to see Joseph Healy's migration motion passed bringing us in line with the European Green party policy.
I attended 3 fringes, the LGBT group's 'Homophobia in Easter Europe and the Green Response, Green Left's 'Expansion of NATO and the danger of a new Cold War in Europe' and the Trade Union group's 'Welfare rights and advice'. All three fringes had excellent speakers and promoted interesting debate.
Finally, thank you to everyone who voted for me in the SOC elections.
