What do Greens care about? The economy, stupid
Caroline Lucas’ speech to Green Party members in Sheffield today was noticeable for its relative lack of focus on the environment.
Instead, she launched a broadside against the coalition, accusing the government of damaging the economy and exacerbating social inequality.
It’s a theme that chimed with the members themselves, who have been telling me that their absolute priority, much like the rest of the country, is the economy.
Can the Greens capture disaffected Lib Dems?
Parliament isn’t even in recess yet but already party conference season has begun.
Today, the Green party gathers in Sheffield for its annual get together. Why Sheffield? Possibly because it’s the (adopted) home city of Nick Clegg, whom Green leader Caroline Lucas intends to mock in her speech this afternoon, branding him “The minister for meeting angry people and getting shouted at”.
This is part of a concerted effort, it seems, to win over disaffected Lib Dem voters. She says to Lib Dem voters:
I have a special message for those of them who despair about the path their leadership has taken them down. If you became involved in politics to serve your local community, or to challenge the rich and powerful, or build a better future for the country, then join us.
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Jim Pickard joined the lobby team in January 2008. He has been at the Financial Times since 1999 as a regional correspondent, assistant UK news editor and property correspondent.
Kiran Stacey is an FT political correspondent, having joined the lobby in 2011. He started at the FT as a graduate trainee in 2008, working on desks including UK companies and US equity markets before taking over the FT's Energy Source blog.
Elizabeth Rigby, the FT's chief political correspondent, joined the lobby team in September 2010. Elizabeth has worked at the FT for more than a decade and was most recently its consumer industries editor.
Helen Warrell is the FT's UK reporter, covering home affairs, crime and policing. She joined the FT in 2008 and has spent time as a reporter in the Brussels bureau and more recently, editing the paper's Asia coverage on the world news desk.
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