Green Party

Who's backing Peter?

Frank Cottrell Boyce, screenwriter of Welcome to Sarajevo, 24 Hour Party People and many other acclaimed films

"All my life I've voted Labour. All my life I've campaigned for Labour. But this time, this European Election, whoever comes fourth will have a seat in the European Parliament. And if that's the BNP, that's a disaster.

"In this European election on June the 4th, I'm voting Green to keep the BNP out."

Salma Yaqoob, Chair of RESPECT, anti-war campaigner and Birmingham Councillor

"The combined support of the Greens and RESPECT in 2004 was greater than that of the BNP, even in their two target regions.

"In response to the unprecedented threat of the BNP, RESPECT have urged their members and supporters to back the Greens in the North West and West Midlands.

"In the face of widespread dismay at the political elite of this country, a progressive option at the ballot box is needed now more than ever before.

"Relying on a combination of votes from the red, yellow and blue parties alone to keep the BNP out is a gamble we simply cannot afford to take. Right now, many progressive voters simply won't go to the polls unless they know they have a real alternative.

"Tactical voting for the greens to keep the BNP in 5th place (or worse) and the triumph of progressive politics over the far right will offer new hope for the political generation who simply see Westminster and politics in general, as the home of careerists and subservient politicians."

Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner

"A big vote for the Greens is the surest way to stop the BNP winning a seat. The candidate best placed to stop Nick Griffin is Peter Cranie, the Green Party candidate."  

"Peter Cranie is a candidate of great commitment, vision and compassion. He will be a very effective voice for the North West in the European Parliament."

"The BNP is a divisive, bigoted, sectarian, nasty party, with no practical solutions to the economic crisis, mass unemployment, climate chaos or the corruption of parliament. It has a sick history of scapegoating and vilifying black, Jewish, gay and Muslim people."

"The Greens are an honourable alternative to Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. People who vote Green will be voting for progressive change, for investment in new jobs, and for energy conservation to cut household fuel bills and combat climate change."

Sian Berry, Green candidate for London Mayor in 2008

"In London last year, we also faced a threat from divisive right wing politicians. A populist Tory candidate for Mayor was demonising young people, pushing pro-motorist policies that would run down public transport, and threatening to undo the positive agenda progressive parties in London had been working hard to create. And, much worse, the BNP were aiming to win their first seat on the London Assembly."

"Greens are not afraid to put aside party differences when it matters, and I joined other Mayoral candidates to promote Operation Black Vote and other anti-fascist campaigns. I also encouraged people to give their second votes to Ken Livingstone to help stop Boris Johnson."

"In the end, the BNP broke through the artificial five per cent voting threshold and won their seat on the Assembly, but the Greens successfully pushed them into fifth place in the race for Mayor, beating them by seven thousand votes."

"This is important because, unlike in London, in this year's European elections there is no fixed threshold to win a seat. The voting system means that keeping the BNP in fifth place in the North West will prevent them winning a seat, even if their vote increases."

"That's why I'm asking people who care about stopping Nick Griffin from becoming an MEP to lend their votes to Peter Cranie in this election. We can stop the BNP leader if just a small percentage of voters from other parties switch their votes to the Greens to keep Nick Griffin in fifth place and out of contention."

"I have known Peter for many years, and know how passionately he cares about stopping racists from gaining a foothold in mainstream politics. Whether you are a socialist, a liberal or a green at heart, Peter would be a hardworking representative of your values in Europe and I urge you to find out more about him before making your decision in June."

John Nicholson, former Labour councillor and former deputy leader of Manchester City Council

"There is a real question for the left at these European Elections, of how to stop the fascists in their tracks. In the North West there is a real likelihood of the BNP seeking to gain their first Euro victory. The left has to consider a real alternative."

"While it is important to get everyone to vote and reduce the proportion of the fascist numbers, it is more convincing to offer people something positive to vote for. Asking everyone to "vote for anyone else" rings hollow if that means voting Labour, in a region which sadly displays Straw, Blears, Purnell..... and Woolas. These are the people who have legitimised much of the BNP agenda, especially regarding immigration. We have to be tough on the causes of the far right as well as on the far right themselves."

"There will be little likelihood of any serious socialist electoral platform, in this election, in this region, not least because of the prohibitive financial barrier. Our electorate would welcome one left candidate. And arithmetically it is more effective to vote for a fourth party to gain the final seat on the list. Simply speaking, this vaguely proportional system means that it take 4 times as many extra votes for Labour to equal 1 vote for the fascists, when it comes to the 8th seat on the list. But it only takes 1 more Green vote to match any 1 more BNP."

John Coyne, Former Liverpool Lib Dem councillor, now a Green councillor

"In 2004 I was re-elected as part of the Lib Dem administration in Liverpool that gained two thirds of the popular local election vote. There were and still are some environmentalists in that party trying to get it to use its power to live up to some of its green pretentions. At that time I had never looked seriously at the range of policies the Green Party offers.

In 2006 I came to the conclusion that the Liverpool Lib Dem leadership had lost their moral compass. The crucial issue for me was their choice to crush opposition to their demolition plans for Liverpool's Welsh Streets rather than look for a compromise with residents. I left the Lib Dems, joined the Greens and was re-elected as a Green councillor in 2007.

In 2008 I was joined by a second elected Green councillor. In 2009, voters in Liverpool know that a small but growing group of Green councillors punches above its weight, using its influence on a reluctant Lib Dem administration. Our support in Liverpool has doubled in four years, while Lib Dem support has halved.

I'd urge Lib Dem voters to make a switch to vote tactically in the Euro elections and support the Greens. We need the Greens to finish as the 4th largest party in the North West, so that the final Euro seat will be won by the only party whose MEPs gained a 100% rating for openness and transparency in Europe.”

Dr Kay Phillips, North West RESPECT spokesperson

"Those who oppose the BNP must take the danger of them winning a seat very seriously indeed. It is for this reason that Respect have chosen not to stand in this year's Euro Elections, but, instead, to ask our supporters to vote for the Green Party list headed by Peter Cranie. We did not take this decision lightly but we genuinely believe that the votes of both Respect and the Green Party are better combined than divided.

Respect has a number of political differences with the Greens but we are confident their lead candidate, Peter Cranie - who has a consistent record of anti-racism and issues such as support for Palestine - would make an excellent progressive MEP."

Read more on Manchester Respect's website

The Community Action Party

"Through the efforts of the Community Action Party we have so far succeeded in keeping the racist BNP and UKIP out of elected office in Wigan.

"We were the catalyst for change in Wigan that saw the growth in Opposition Councillors from just three in 2002 to thirty three in 2004, none of them from the racist BNP or UKIP.

"Now we are pleased to confirm our support for the Green Party at the forthcoming European Elections to keep the convicted racist BNP leader Nick Griffin out of the European Parliament."

Peter Franzen - Leader Community Action Party,
Bill Burrows - Chairman Community Action Party,
Kevin Williams - Vice-Chairman Community Action Party,
Tracy Lavelle - Secretary Community Action Party,
Community Action Party Councillors Jonathan Miller, Stanley Barnes, Jack Fagan, Louise Fagan and Paul Tushingham

Find out more about the Community Action Party here: www.community-action.com