--- election_year: 2004 party_id: green party_name: Green Party party_leader: Darren Johnson political_spectrum: left victory: false government_outcome: opposition sections: - economy - taxation - health - education - housing - immigration - defence - foreign-policy - environment - transport - law-and-order - welfare - democracy-and-constitution - agriculture - energy - devolution - science-and-technology - local-government --- # Green Party London Mayoral Manifesto 2004 Quality Life for a Quality London London Assembly, Mayoral and European elections www.london.greenparty.org.uk Quality of Life for a Quality London ## Contents * Quality Life 1 * Transport 2 * Economy for Londoners 4 * Services: public and local 6 * Food and health 8 * Human rights 9 * Safer neighbourhoods 10 * Drugs 11 * Peace and security 12 * Energy and waste 13 * Environment 14 * Animal rights 15 * Real democracy 16 * Arts and sport for all 17 ## Green list candidates ### EUROPE 1. Jean Lambert 2. Paul Ingram 3. Judy Maciejowska 4. Tim Turner 5. Chris Cotton 6. Douglas Earl 7. Shahrar Ali 8. Peter Budge 9. Joseph Healy ### LONDON ASSEMBLY 1. Jenny Jones 2. Darren Johnson 3. Noel Lynch 4. Keith Magnum 5. Jayne Forbes 6. Danny Bates 7. Shane Collins 8. Ruth Jenkins 9. Mischa Borris 10. Tom Walsh 11. Ashley Gunstock ## Green constituency candidates There are fourteen GLA constituencies in London. Constituency members are elected on a first-past-the-post basis, with another eleven members elected on the list system on a proportional top-up basis. * BARNET AND CAMDEN **Miranda Dunn** * BEXLEY AND BROMLEY **Ann Garrett** * BRENT AND HARROW **Shahrar Ali** * CITY AND EAST **Terry McGrenera** * CROYDON AND SUTTON **Shasha Khan** * EALING AND HILLINGDON **Sarah Edwards** * ENFIELD AND HARINGEY **Jayne Forbes** * GREENWICH AND LEWISHAM **Sue Luxton** * HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE **Ashley Gunstock** * LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK **Shane Collins** * MERTON AND WANDSWORTH **Roy Vickery** * NORTH EAST (Islington, Hackney & Waltham Forest) **Jon Nott** * SOUTH WEST (Hounslow, Richmond & Kingston) **Judy Maciejowska** * WEST CENTRAL (Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster) **Julia Stevenson** ## Manifesto for London 2004 # Quality Life My vision for the future is a vision of a Green London where we reduce traffic, protect our environment and reduce the gap between rich and poor. I don't just see London as one huge sprawling metropolis but a city of urban villages, each with quality local services, a strong voice for the local community and local jobs. In four years as members of London Assembly and as members of the European Parliament, Greens have taken the lead in promoting a quality of life agenda for London, urging the Mayor to work to give Londoners the modern, high- quality, sustainable transport, public services, housing and vibrant local communities it deserves. The congestion charge was a step in the right direction, soon to be emulated in major cities across the world, but the Green Party wants far more for Londoners than that. Unlike the other parties, we would extend it, with different charges, across much of Greater London. This manifesto sets out the Green Party's concrete policies for real and solid improvements in the everyday things that affect Londoners' lives. With the establishment of the Greater London Authority four years ago, a tremendous opportunity arose to turn round the astonishing neglect of London's transport, street scene, public amenities and public services that had marked earlier decades. This opportunity has not been taken up. The Green Party believes that London's government now needs to take up this challenge. Green London Assembly members and Greens in the European Parliament have never stopped campaigning for the policies that we need to build a quality London. Greens want London's government to focus on the basic things that need to be tackled to bring this about. Elected Greens have been a strong voice for London's communities. More and more Greens are getting elected. Voting Green will make a difference. I urge you to vote Green on June 10th. Greens want concrete action now on: ✓ Transport - making it affordable, safe, reliable and integrated with the life of the city ✓ An economy for Londoners, not big business, and one not at the mercy of greed-dominated global corporations ✓ High quality public services, in health, education and local public amenities ✓ Action to deal with London's housing crisis, creating affordable, decent housing for all Londoners, not just investment opportunities for the over- paid ✓ Concerted action to deal with the breakdown in communities that leads to unsafe neighbourhoods ✓ Planning strategies that will integrate transport, housing and services to make living and moving about London a quality experience ✓ Campaigning for real democracy, and an end to discrimination and human rights abuses and policies for peace on the international stage ✓ A major shift away from dependence on fossil fuels towards renewable energy that will stop further climate change ✓ Fostering cultural amenities and sporting activities for all ✓ An end to cruelty towards animals Darren Johnson, Green Mayoral Candidate ## Transport Our 2000 manifesto stated that "sorting out London's transport problem is the Greens' top priority". Since that time we have been working tirelessly for the introduction of congestion charging, for traffic reduction, and for improvements in public transport, despite strong opposition from all the other political parties on the London Assembly. Congestion charging was a step in the right direction. Years of long-term under- investment have left transport as one of the biggest obstacles to a better quality of life for Londoners. Jenny Jones, Deputy Mayor with Keith Magnum, list candidate for the London Assembly Too many of us are still using cars instead of public transport, cycling or walking. London still has far too many private vehicles on its roads, damaging our health and our children's health and directly causing climate change and more London deaths each year than murder. The current Mayor has failed to commit himself to motor- traffic reduction, is planning new road building and advocates airport expansion. ### Aviation Air travel is subsidised to the tune of £9 billion per year, and does more than any other form of transport to increase global warming and climate change. The Green Party campaigns to bring about: * A congestion charge for air traffic * An end to airport expansion * An end to tax payers subsidising the aviation industry * Action to make rail travel cheaper than flying * A ban on night flights truly reliable, affordable, safe and also properly integrated, with improved conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and disabled people. Many journeys, by car or by public transport, are made only because people cannot access what they need locally or cannot get employment near their home. Green policies for transport, economic development, public services and planning aim to create more local jobs and more accessible services, thereby reducing travelling time. ### The Green programme for transport includes: * Reducing the need to travel as a strategic goal, with no major traffic- generating developments permitted * £1.2 billion re-allocated from road- building to sustainable and public transport * All tube and rail services to be brought back into public ownership * Completion of Orbirail - an orbital We continue to spend millions of wasted, frustrated and stressful hours waiting for buses, tubes or trains, dealing with cancellations, failing to get proper information or getting stuck in traffic. Privatisation is jeopardising standards, making public transport less safe, less reliable and more expensive. Private profits are being put before passenger safety and the public good. Often, flying is cheaper than taking the train. As a key step towards enhanced quality of life for Londoners, the Green Party is proposing a total overhaul of our public transport system in London - to make it ### Traffic Reduction & Congestion Charge The recent welcome reduction of four per cent in London motor traffic is threatened by cuts in funding. Mayor Livingstone has abandoned his pledge of a 15 per cent reduction by 2010. Funding has been diverted into building road bridges instead of cycle routes, safe routes to school and green travel plans. Greens want to turn this round. Only the Green Party is firmly committed to further traffic reduction and to extending the congestion charge to cover the whole of Greater London in concentric zones, with charges at lower rates than for the centre. ## Manifesto for London 2004 *affordable, safe, reliable* - metro quality rail service for inner London, including the East London Line Extension - Investment in new tramways, in particular orbital light rail routes for outer London - An all night tube service at weekends - Safer stations equipped with help buttons - Continued improvement in buses and bus services - Greater enforcement of bus lanes - 'School bus' schemes with dedicated school buses to reduce school run congestion - Congestion charging extended to all of Greater London, with lower charges for outer zones - A 20mph speed limit as the norm throughout London by 2006, except on most major roads - Road building ended immediately - including Thames Gateway Bridge, Silvertown crossing, Lee Valley Spinal Road and North Circular widening - A levy of £3,000 a year on company car-parking spaces - Motor traffic to be reduced by 25 per cent by 2012 - Most large gyratory systems changed back to two way traffic by 2008. - Action to get freight off roads and onto rail and water - Action to get more local freight onto zero-emission vehicles. - Maintaining the night-time lorry restrictions - Safe route to school scheme for every London child by 2008 - Support for walking, including safe and well-maintained pavements, with - funding for 10 town centre, 12 interchange, 18 Streets for People areas each year - Low Emission Zone for large diesel vehicles across London by 2006, in line with EU standards, with assistance for smaller businesses with conversion - London Cycle Network completed - Cycling budget to be increased four-fold - Green Route Patrol for enforcement of cycle facilities and safety - Improved cycling conditions on main roads - Creating many both-way cycle ways in one-way 20 mph roads ### Policing for Road Safety For safer roads, we need: - Greater police focus on road safety - A Road Safety Unit of at least three police officers in every borough - A dedicated and separate London Traffic Police Service, funded through Transport for London and accountable to the Metropolitan Police Authority - Ten per cent of all journeys by cycle by 2008 - Affordable fares: A five-year fares freeze, free travelcard scheme for unwaged people and young people, reduced fares for low-paid workers - An integrated public transport information service, covering bus, tube and rail, available at many more stations and bus stops - An end to travel discrimination against disabled and older people. Seamless bus/rail/tube transfers for the disabled, with at least 50 per cent accessibility by 2015 and full access by 2020 Paul Ingram, second on the Green Euro list, on his bike ride ## Economy London is one of the world's richest cities, yet much of the economic activity which takes place here only benefits a minority. London has one of the highest unemployment rates in Britain. London's women are now less likely to be employed than anywhere else in the country, and nearly a third of Inner London households with children have nobody in employment. The Greater London Authority's current economic and spatial planning simply seeks to integrate London into a globalised economy, as if there were no alternative. The result is over-dependency on financial services, locking London into the unjust system of economic globalisation, which exploits the poorest countries and is dominated by massive global corporations. London's economy is increasingly dependent on large, multinational financial and service institutions at the expense of locally produced goods and services. Large corporations can relocate globally to wherever labour costs are lowest. The results for Londoners are lack of job security, greater income inequalities and high house prices. Housing costs beyond the reach of public sector and low-paid workers undermine public services like schools and hospitals. Demanding a top quality of life for Londoners, the Green Party is proposing a totally different approach, where economic development puts the needs of Londoners before the interests of big business, delivering economic justice, strengthening local economies and improving London's environment. Greens envisage a London of 300 vibrant urban villages. Campaigning to stop another Post Office closure: Darren Johnson AM with Sue Luxton, Green candidate for Greenwich and Lewisham London's economic development must provide decent, secure jobs with a living wage, closing the gap between rich and poor, revitalising local communities and promoting environmental protection. It must be geared to encouraging economic diversity, local production and local accountability in the rebuilding of a sustainable London economy. ### Green Economics: economic justice and stronger local economies The Green vision for London is for a London where each area benefits from a strong local economy and local services. Greens will encourage the transport networks, local libraries, cultural and sports facilities, local post offices, banks, independent shops and small businesses ### What’s wrong with economic globalisation? The increasing integration of economies into a global system of free trade and privatisation is driven by institutions like the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The relentless effort to eliminate barriers to trade by multinational corporations has led to a loss of democratic control over economic affairs. It is happening at the expense of social, environmental and labour improvements and is leading to greater inequalities in cities like London and worldwide. But economic globalisation is not inevitable It results from politicians choosing to act in the interests of multinational corporations. At the WTO ministerial meeting in Mexico the EU pushed hardest for greater globalisation despite opposition from most developing countries. The EU position was decided by governments and the Commission, who preferred to listen to big business rather than the world's citizens. ## for Londoners to build these strong local urban centres out of present-day local high streets. The Green strategy will create 80,000 new jobs in transport and the environment sectors. The strategy will include: - Jobs for Londoners initiative, to develop training and secure jobs, especially for unemployed people - New jobs in creative industries, manufacturing and local public services - Campaigning for a living wage for all the capital's workers, including a London weighting of at least £4000 - A living-wage unit in City Hall to calculate, monitor and promote annually London's living wage. - Investment of at least £2m to encourage greater take-up of benefits to boost London's poorest local economies and tackle poverty - A five-year tax break for new manufacturing and green industry - A land tax to encourage re-use of empty buildings for small businesses - A London Localisation & Co-operative Development Agency instead of the present development agency - Greater support through planning for local, small businesses, including targets for affordable business premises in new commercial developments - Farmers' markets expanded to sell other local goods and produce. London's historic markets promoted and re-established. Local delivery and "shop local" schemes promoted - Protection for local shops, banks and post offices, through the planning process where possible. - Improved access to local business via public transport, walking and cycling - A site here to sell here policy. To encourage local production for local needs, local authorities and businesses will be encouraged to source their goods locally and only go outside the London economy if absolutely necessary - Working with local communities to develop local credit unions, LETS (Local Exchange Trading Systems), community banks and time banks - Pushing for local authority control over business rates and preferential rates for small businesses. - Monitored targets included in all economic and planning strategies to reduce unemployment and commuting - Encouraging government procurement to favour local providers and use ethical criteria - Encouraging more companies to have ethical audits, calling for mandatory social and environmental reporting for large corporations - An annual ethical/green audit of the GLA. A public register of ethical audits - Tackling the exploitation of low-paid migrant workers ### Living Wage TELCO (The East London Community Organisations) comprises church, school, union and community organisations. Their commissioned research demonstrates that it takes an hourly rate for a full time job of at least £6.70 for an average family to live with dignity in London. Green Party MEP Jean Lambert and London Assembly members have supported the TELCO "living wage" campaign and used it as a dynamic example of grassroots action in their work in London and Europe. Greens argue that a minimum decent living wage for Londoners would be £6.70 per hour. Jenny Jones, Green AM and Deputy Mayor, speaking at a T&G rally on fair pay for bus drivers ## Services A decent quality of life for all Londoners requires good quality and accessible public services. Public services need to be efficient, effective and well-resourced. They also need higher levels of public funding - from central government and from local public funding sources. More public services should be provided locally, and be free at the point of use. Investing in public services must also mean essential investment in public sector staff, with secure employment and a living wage. We will work with trade unions to defend, maintain and improve public services in London. ### The threat Unfortunately, the pattern of public service and local amenity provision in London is poor. Many areas have seen the closure of local libraries, nurseries, advice centres and post offices. Losing local access to important services affects us all. We either do without or have to travel unnecessarily long distances to reach essential services. But it has the biggest impact on those people likely to have the greatest need, like older people, parents with young children or disabled people. Dwindling or poorly maintained local services and amenities reduce the overall quality of life in our neighbourhoods - undermining communities, and making it less likely that local businesses will be able to set up or succeed. It is no coincidence that areas with poor public services and local amenities also have boarded up high streets. Privatisation of services, as advocated by the other three main parties, directly threatens the provision of publicly accountable, quality local services. It often causes service cuts and the loss of local provision. It undermines the public-service ethos, and puts profits before the needs of Londoners. ### Green commitment to quality public services: - Greens will always fight to save threatened local services across London - such as health centres, nurseries, schools, libraries, post offices and advice centres - We campaign against privatisation, which puts profit before the public service ethos, undermines local, public control and threatens local jobs. It is not even good value for money! - The Green Party campaigns for more free health services - We call for much greater government funding for public services - Greens in the European Parliament campaign for an EU policy to improve public services and oppose privatisation - Greens in the European Parliament campaign to ensure procurement rules give local authorities control over their services, not opening them up to market forces that lower standards - We call for pension fund reform, linking pensions to public finance, not dependence on the stock market - Ensuring decent high-quality public services and amenities are within walking distance for everyone - An action plan for more affordable, high quality childcare - Investing in local libraries, to provide an improved stock and services to meet diverse local needs - Protecting water ways and all green open spaces - parks, playing fields and nature reserves - Creating better public footpaths - with improved accessibility, signs and disabled access - We will introduce a new 'Capital Standard Programme' to ensure that all litter and fly-tipping is removed within 24 hours of being reported - Re-introducing free public toilets across London, with attendants - Better facilities and services for young people, to ensure young people have the services they need - including local colleges, training, sports facilities, and support for young parents - An Action Plan to improve public services for older people - A comprehensive advice and benefit service for older and vulnerable citizens - A GLA Strategy to improve services and service-access for disabled people - drawn up with the full involvement of London's disability groups - Support for the voluntary sector at ## public and local London and European level - especially in helping to meet social needs and improving a sense of local community - A quarterly GLA Community Groups Forum on Public Services, so all of London's community and minority groups can give their views - A London Public Services Standard - to ensure decent standards of local public services for all - Action to bring the Royal Parks under the democratic control of the Greater London Authority ### Housing and Homelessness The Green Party advocates: - A GLA Housing for London Authority to ensure the provision of high quality, truly affordable homes for Londoners, which will: * set targets to end homelessness * make full use of empty buildings * oversee the renovation of substandard estates and housing * ensure sufficient new home-building to tackle the housing crisis * enable those who wish to to move across London to take up available social housing - Housing choice for older people - Borough-level targets to match supply with need across the full range of tenures and household sizes - A London-wide Affordable Warm Homes initiative - to end fuel poverty by providing insulation and energy conservation for low paid, unwaged and older people, thus reducing fuel bills - New requirements for all new housing developments to say they must: * include at least 60 per cent truly affordable housing, even in small-scale sites * be built sustainably and have solar panels to make them carbon neutral * have secure parking for bicycles - Ambitious targets for car-free housing, giving more space to house people, less for car-parks - Support for individuals and co-operatives involved in self-build schemes and environmentally sustainable developments - Retention and expansion of council housing, and an end to privatisation and "right to buy" - Higher targets for more sheltered and accessible housing ## Housing principles Everyone should be able to live in an affordable, secure and decent home - but London's unbalanced economy and housing market make this impossible for a great many Londoners. At the same time, current economic and planning policies fuel the overheating of London's economy at the expense of other regions, causing unmanageable housing pressure on London and population loss in other regions. We advocate a more balanced approach to regional development, which will relieve housing pressure on London. Urgent action is needed to improve housing for Londoners - including greater re-use and renovation of unused buildings and the building of sustainable new homes which meet Londoners' needs, not the interests of property developers. Greater action is also required to tackle London's chronic homelessness problem and to provide appropriate housing for people sleeping rough in the capital. These problems can only properly be addressed by a co-ordinated, London-level approach. Jean Lambert MEP at a playgroup for homeless children in Finsbury Park, with Jon Nott, Green Party candidate for North East London ## Food and health ### Food The Green strategy for healthy food for all Londoners: * Campaigning for a GM-free London, and a ban on all GM in school meals * Greens will continue to work for a GM-free Europe that supports affordable, local organic food * A London Food Strategy to deal with both food poverty and sustainability * Action to improve access to affordable, healthy, nutritious food in poorer areas, especially for disadvantaged groups * We will work to make London a fair-trade city, with full promotion of fair-trade produce * Decent wages and conditions for those working in the food sector * Promotion of organic and locally-grown food * A plan to help at least 20 per cent of London farmers to go organic by 2008. * A local farmers market in every town centre in London * Support for food co-ops and community food initiatives * One thousand new allotment plots by 2008 * Organic, vegetarian and vegan options in schools, hospitals and other public services * Free fruit for all London's primary school children * All junk food and drink vending machines removed from schools **Greens are good for you** ### Food Everyone has the right to a healthy and affordable diet. Food should be produced without cruelty, and as locally as possible. London's food supply is unsustainable and often unhealthy. 41% of children live below the poverty line and are unlikely to have access to nutritious food. ### Health London's health inequalities reflect the poverty divide. People in London's poorest boroughs can expect to die six years before those in its richest. People with disabilities are four times more likely to find dental practices unsuitable or inaccessible, and twice as likely to be unable to access their doctor. Greens in the European Parliament have played a leading role in the EU opposition to GM. The EU now has the toughest regulations in the world, but this position is continually under threat. Greens remain at the vanguard of Europe’s defence against GM. ### Health The Green Party's action programme for a healthier London: * Ensuring the GLA's Health Strategy addresses all causes of poor health * Better, publicly funded health services, free at the point of use, including free prescriptions, eye-tests and dental treatment, and contraceptives * Increased local provision and access to services, with more GPs and dentists * Greater action on poverty and other social factors leading to poor health, including unemployment and poor education and housing * Measures to ensure health services meet the needs of disabled people * An HIV/AIDS Action Plan for treatment and prevention and to tackle exclusion * Tougher action on London's poor air quality - a major cause of respiratory illness - including greater funding, targets and proper monitoring * Promotion of the benefits of regular exercise, especially walking and cycling * We oppose the fluoridation of London's drinking water, because of the risk both to health and to civil liberties * We oppose the private finance initiatives (PFI) and foundation hospitals. Both will lead to an uneven service and threaten the quality of local hospitals. They will undermine public provision and public accountability and increase public debt Jenny Jones, Green Deputy Mayor of London, is chair of the revived London Food Commission, giving London the strategic approach to healthy food it that it needs. Jenny is prioritising more locally- and home-grown food, more farmers' markets, and GM-free food. ## 6 Human rights London's great diversity of people and culture should be celebrated. Everyone has the right to be treated equally and fairly - regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, belief, sexual orientation, disability or other status. A lot more needs to be done to tackle racism, discrimination and inequality. * The GLA to establish a London Regional Forum on Ageing and draw up a Strategy for Older People * To ensure all London policies meet the demands of the Disabled People's Manifesto for London; full, regular consultation with disability groups * Full equality for lesbians and gay men, including partnership, pension and housing rights * Improved provision of translation and advice services * The GLA to include positive measures to combat age discrimination * Action in the European Parliament for better protection of employment and pension rights * A far-reaching European Disability Directive - addressing education, transport and access to services ### Tackling racism and religious intolerance London’s ethnic diversity is one of London's greatest qualities - yet racism still needs tackling. Greens want: * Tougher action on racist crime and religiously-motivated violence * Work with local communities and anti-racism groups against racism at work and in all our institutions * Support for ethnic minority community projects ### Greens want the following action on human rights and equalities: * A Human Rights and Equalities Centre * All GLA strategies to take into account the diverse needs and potential of all Londoners, and include positive measures to end discrimination * More resources to end child poverty in London * Support for a London Youth Parliament and in each Borough a Children's Committee and a Young People's Parliament *Shasha Khan, Green candidate for Croydon & Sutton, is keen to tackle religious intolerance* ## HIV / AIDS Action Plan Since 2001, there has been a 20 per cent increase in the number of people living with HIV in the UK, and 60 per cent of those infected live in London. The Green Party agenda for action includes: * Improved prevention methods, with greater funding for safe sex education and high profile media campaigns * Primary Care Trusts and the Health Department to increase funding for STD clinics, to improve services and to increase the take up of HIV testing, with one-hour testing clinics available to all * Greater action by the GLA and London Development Agency to combat the stigma and discrimination against people with HIV ## Protecting Asylum Seekers As one of the world's richest cities, London should offer its support to people fleeing persecution and oppression. Greens campaign to ensure that they feel welcome. Greens will work for: * Greater public understanding of asylum seekers * Decent funding for boroughs to meet their needs * Schemes which draw upon asylum seekers' skills to enhance community contact and understanding * Reinstatement of the right to work * Greater global justice, ceasing destablising arms exports and war (see Section 9 on Peace & Security) ## Safer neighbourhoods Fear of crime is one of the most common experiences for Londoners today. Living in fear degrades our lives. Recorded crime is declining, but fear of crime remains high. We should, of course, minimise risk, but there is no substitute for tackling the underlying causes of crime. As well as greed, hatred and boredom, London's extreme rich-poor divide and its discrimination and social exclusion lead many to break the law for economic survival or social status. Broken street lighting, poor youth facilities, and empty streets all have an effect on crime or fear of crime. Police racism and discrimination has not been properly addressed, leaving many Londoners suspicious of the police and poorly protected from crime. The police must become representative, accountable and approachable. Some areas of London suffer from gun crime. Priority must be given to cutting off gun supplies. *Jean Lambert MEP and Jenny Jones, Deputy Mayor, addressing their jointly-sponsored conference on trafficking in women in London* ### Action to build safer neighbourhoods will include: * A police force which is genuinely responsive to the concerns of all London's communities * Strong, democratic Community Policing Committees in every neighbourhood * More local police stations * Shifting 20 per cent of all police officers out of patrol cars and onto bicycles * Action on gun crime - cutting off gun supply and improving witness protection * Social prevention of crime, tackling poverty and unemployment and ensuring quality youth facilities in every local community * Designing out crime - with people-friendly streets, better lighting, prompt repairs, with more caretakers and staff on estates and railway stations, and attendants in parks * More restorative justice initiatives, which rehabilitate offenders and give greater victim support * Tougher response to domestic violence, racist and anti-gay crime, and corporate crime * Tough action on human traffickers and support for the victims * An end to the waste of police resources on victimless crime and personal drug use * Ensuring that big commercial events pay their own policing costs * A call for full independent enquiries into deaths in custody and police shooting of civilians * Ending police racism and discrimination; a more diverse police force; and ensuring that the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and Metropolitan Police Service act on the concerns of the Black Police Association and other minority organisations * Better protection of civil liberties and stopping mass detentions at demonstrations. Work to end Stop and Search harassment * The City of London Police made accountable to the MPA, like the rest of London's policing * Appointment of the Police Commissioner by the MPA, not by the Home Secretary ## Drugs From the laundering international banks to the local street corner dealer, drugs and the results of their prohibition are a part of London life. The effects on our society cannot be underestimated. We look beyond our personal preferences and accept that some people will use drugs in part of their lives. The Green Party aims to minimise the harm to those who use drugs and to society at large, in particular as a result of crime rather than allowing it to become a crime problem. The prohibition of drugs creates a criminal and unregulated market. The United Nations estimates that illegal drugs are the third largest trade in world, after oil and arms. The law ensures that the drug trade, worth £6.6 billion each year, stays in criminal hands. There is no access to the small claims courts, so disputes are often settled with violence and weapons. The cost of prohibition is more policing and intrusions into our civil liberties for what is a self-administered and victimless "crime". Prohibition and pyramid selling have led to increased consumption and the criminalisation and marginalisation of people using drugs. Whilst the reclassification of cannabis should lead to a drop in arrests for possession, it still leaves the supply in criminal hands. Home Office studies suggest that 30 to 50 per cent of all crime is to feed an addictive drug habit. The Green approach to drugs would take cannabis dealers off the streets and put them in licensed premises. This would lead to there being fewer points of sale for cannabis - and, consequently, for heroin and crack cocaine. It would also take profits from the cannabis trade out of criminal hands. We would decriminalise the millions of people who take recreational drugs, pending a drug commission to decide on regulation, and treat heroin addiction as a medical issue, ### The Green approach would include: * Legalising cannabis, and allowing people to grow their own * Cannabis cafés, licensed and regulated, based on the Dutch coffee-shop model * A local democratic tax from cannabis cafés and delivery clubs, where the purchaser chooses a local project to receive a percentage of the profits * Decriminalising recreational drugs such as ecstasy and psychotropic mushrooms * Treating heroin addiction as a health issue and not a crime problem * Providing more residential rehabilitation for crack and heroin users * Providing heroin on prescription and a range of other consensual treatments * Funding for research into the ability of Ibogaine to interrupt opiate addiction without withdrawal effects * Improving information and health education relating to all drugs * A ban on advertising and sponsorship of tobacco, cannabis or other currently illegal drugs Shane Collins (centre), Cannabis Festival licensee and Green Party candidate for Lambeth & Southwark, with AMs Jenny Jones and Noel Lynch, members of the Metropolitan Police Authority. ## London in Europe Decisions taken by the European Union affect the lives of Londoners on a wide range of issues. Increasingly, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are involved in those decisions. ### Green Action Jean Lambert, London's Green MEP will work for: - a London economy which builds on the not for profit sector, and not the interests of the City - a sustainable London, which reduces energy needs, boosts renewables and learns from other countries - a strong equalities agenda in this wonderfully diverse city - support for low-paid, exploited workers and asylum seekers ### London's Green MEPs work for: - A greater European role in protecting human rights and civil liberties for all - Prevention of conflict through disarmament, global justice and equality - Action to restrain multinational companies and hold them to account - Investment of more EU funds in poor regions and to strengthen and diversify local economies - Fair trade, not free trade - ending EU export subsidies and replacing WTO rules that dictate free trade regardless of the consequences - Cancellation of all EU third world debt, an urgent increase of aid budgets to at least 0.7 per cent of each EU member's GDP, and a Tobin Tax on currency speculation - Tackling climate change, replacing dependence on nuclear and fossil fuels with renewables - Affordable, high quality GM-free food and the expansion of organic farming Hundreds of anti-war *Green Party* posters went up around the capital (here in Brick Lane) ## Peace & security London is the world's largest financial centre and is the economic heart of the global military industrial complex. UK taxpayers subsidise defence exporters by over £700m a year. Public money is supporting immoral exports that suck talented people away from productive activities, when London's public services, such as schools and hospitals, are forced to raise expensive private money through PFI and PPP. Think of what £700m a year could do for tube investment! Terrorism, encouraged by a UK foreign policy that makes many enemies, particularly affects Londoners. The bill for policing is rising, and most of the resources are going into protecting central London locations. The Green Party opposes all aggressive wars and is actively involved in anti-war activities, opposing the unjust and illegal wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. Greens would radically shift foreign policy away from supporting George Bush’s hostile intervention, towards multilateral cooperation to tackle poverty, human rights abuse and ecological threats. ### We will work for: - Unilateral nuclear disarmament - An end to all weapons of mass destruction in the UK and EU, closing all US bases - EU and UN action to promote peace and prevent unjust wars, like Afghanistan and Iraq - More investment in civilian intervention to resolve conflicts and rebuild post-conflict societies - An end to pension fund investment in the arms trade ## Energy and Waste ### Action on energy will include: * Ensuring all strategies contain climate change impact assessments * Ensuring all new buildings are carbon neutral * Mandatory installation of solar panels on all new buildings * Pressing for stricter building regulations and energy conservation standards * Helping establish a London plant for the manufacture of solar panels * Public grants to fit renewable technology to existing buildings * A London-wide campaign to reduce energy waste from buildings * Training for London workers to make, fit and maintain green energy systems * Switching more public transport to alternative fuels like bio-diesel, hydrogen and LPG * The introduction of a London-wide collection of waste oil for bio-diesel * Reducing the need to travel and opposing airport expansion - both massive causes of atmospheric carbon dioxide * Encouraging a massive increase in the proportion of energy from renewable sources * Action to reduce CO² emissions by 20 per cent each decade * Protection for green space and increasing tree planting * Increased EU funding for research and development in renewables * Repeal of the Euratom Treaty, which supports polluting, expensive and dangerous nuclear power ### Greens will tackle waste by: * Adopting a London Zero Waste strategy, to minimise waste and maximise recycling, with targets for completing key stages * Working to shut down incinerators * Encouraging retailers and manufacturers to reduce packaging and use recycled, recyclable materials * Supporting the recycling industry, including paper-recycling mills, electronics recycling, a plastics recycling plant, and re-use/ refurbishment plants - all creating new green jobs * Pressing London boroughs to expand door-to-door and on-street recycling for a wider range of materials * a public information campaign on the benefits of re-using materials * Encouraging retailers to charge a fee for plastic bags, to be used to support environmental causes * Starting a "money-back" scheme for glass bottles returned to retailers * Promoting business recycling, including for pubs and clubs * Campaigning to end the scandal of nuclear waste transported through London ### Climate threat The average Londoner uses energy equivalent to almost two tonnes of oil each year. At the same time, global temperatures are rising, leading to extreme weather conditions, species extinction, loss of land due to rising sea levels and loss of livelihoods for millions of farmers worldwide. To combat climate change, London needs to become an economy of zero net carbon use. This can be done by cutting the wastage that currently accounts for 50 per cent of our energy consumption and by finding the remaining 50 per cent from renewable energy and energy efficiency. This will improve quality of life by cleaning up London's air and ensuring poorer Londoners spend less on energy bills. ### What a waste Waste is one of the greatest problems facing London today. We must reduce unnecessary use of materials, by reducing waste and conserving natural resources. Many cities are now adopting strategies to achieve zero waste; London must do the same. As much as possible of what we use should be re-used and recycled. While 80 per cent of Londoners support the idea of recycling, 57 per cent do little or no recycling. Waste that is not recycled causes serious health risks and pollution through incineration, or otherwise ends up in landfill sites. 11 # Environment It is impossible for Londoners to have a decent quality of life if the environment is polluted, noisy, poorly maintained and under threat locally and globally. Whatever greenwash others may deliver, only the Green Party is serious about the environment. ## Thames Gateway Greens will work for a sustainable and economically just Thames Gateway development, ensuring: * A properly funded, fully protected Green Grid Network as part of the basic infrastructure * A thorough assessment of flood plain risk for all developments * High quality and fully integrated local public transport, with high targets for car-free housing * Ambitious local unemployment reduction targets, geared and monitored to ensure greatest local benefit * Integrated design, manufacturing and distribution facilities for new green industries * Urban and housing design quality standards, with state of the art sustainable construction for all new buildings * New pedestrian and cycle bridges across the Thames ## The Green Party’s strategy: * All GLA environmental strategies to have well-funded implementation and action plans, and be fully integrated into the London Plan * All GLA work must have its environmental impact assessed, with rigorous monitoring * All the Mayor's planning meetings to be held in public. Objectors will have the same right to present their case as developers * Tougher EU legislation to protect the environment, backed by full enforcement of directives * We oppose airport expansion, which causes noise, pollution, climate change and destruction of the green belt * 100 per cent of new development to be on brownfield land * High standards of design and sustainable construction for all new developments * 90 dwellings per hectare minimum housing density for all new housing developments Green Assembly Members **Noel Lynch** and **Darren Johnson** seeking protection for Erith Marshes * Defending London's green spaces - opposing environmentally damaging planning proposals * A major tree-planting scheme for every street, not just in wealthy areas * Work to remove motor traffic from London's parks * Ensuring that street lighting is directed down at the street, rather than making the stars invisible * To avoid siting mobile-phone masts where there is community opposition or a health risk * Tougher action on multinational companies - to stop them polluting the environment and undermining local economies, both locally and globally * To ensure that strategic planning issues cover ethical, social and environmental standards, and that these get built into Council Development Plans * A GLA Community Planning Liaison Officer and planning advisory team - to advise local communities on planning applications and the objection procedure * Increased coverage of environmentally beneficial land management schemes * All new waterside developments to incorporate public access to the water front, to create continuous waterside pathways. We would encourage existing developments to open up continuous public walkways, and allow cycle riding where it is safe along pathways * Greens would encourage the greater use of waterways for freight transport and leisure, but not where that would have an adverse impact on ecology or archaeology, or cause foreshore erosion * We would make it an expectation that all riverside developments should encourage biodiversity and enhance the riverside landscape ## Animal Rights Like many Londoners, the Green Party believes that animals have rights that must be properly protected in law. We oppose all forms of factory farming, campaign for an immediate ban on hunting and the fur trade and advocate the ending of animal experimentation. The infliction of suffering upon animals also signals the potential to behave cruelly towards other human beings. A compassionate, respectful and responsible relationship to other sentient creatures is essential for human dignity and ultimately our quality of life. London now has an animal protection officer after a Green campaign. ### Greens demand action, including: * A GLA Strategy for Animals - implementing the Green Animals In London report in consultation with animal protection groups. Working to get an animal rights officer in every borough * A staff team for London's animal protection officer, with a dedicated pet shops officer * An Assembly animal rights committee with real powers, chaired by an Assembly Member * Cruelty-free rules on GLA purchasing, including non-animal tested products - setting a good example to other organisations * Promotion of a cruelty-free economy and cruelty-free practices - combating cruel practices like production of pâté de foie gras, veal and kangaroo meat Action to end London's fur trade * A London-wide subsidised spaying and neutering service * Tough standards for pet shops, London-wide, with regular veterinary inspections. No pet fairs * Humane, non-lethal control methods wherever possible where animal populations are controlled * London-wide standards to ban animal circuses * Additional officers in the Wildlife Crime Unit of the Metropolitan Police * A human tissue bank for London - so animal tissue is not used in medical research. * To make London a centre for non-animal medical research In the European Parliament, Greens campaign for: * Action for EU-wide bans on factory farming, cosmetic testing, cat and dog fur, with trade and import bans * An ethical, non-animal EU chemicals testing policy Caroline Lucas MEP with two Compassion in World Farming chickens. She has recently launched her European report on the transport of live animals. ## Wildlife & biodiversity Greater protection is needed for threatened or locally-scarce species and their habitats. Over-development is destroying vital ecosystems. ### Greens call for: * Greater legal protection of wildlife habitats and areas of biodiversity value - both greenfield sites and derelict land * Increased funding for wildlife and biodiversity projects involving local people * A five year biodiversity recording project, focusing on under-recorded groups * A London-wide network of wildlife corridors, to enable wildlife to move around more easily * Action to save London's sparrows ## Real Democracy Under PR for the London and European elections Greens consistently get elected. When elected, Greens work for far-reaching change to the political system - for real democracy. Greens want a London in which power over decision making is held by Londoners, not by a select group of people and powerful multinational corporations. Politicians need to be made more accountable and decision making brought closer to people. This means more local and regional control, reform of the GLA and European Union, and action to stop big business dominating politics. ### Greens will work for: More powers to be transferred from the Mayor to the London Assembly. * Strategic responsibility for health, education, housing and energy to be devolved from central government to the London Assembly * In the European Union, a greater decision making role for the European Parliament * Proportional representation for all elections * State funding of political parties to counter domination of politics by big business * The priority of openness over commercial confidentiality * Reduction of the voting age to 16 * Provision for Recall, where a Mayoral or Assembly Constituency by-election could be triggered on the demand of 25 per cent of electors * Schemes to ensure that under-represented groups of people in London get their voice heard * A voter registration system for homeless people * Democracy for the City of London * The introduction of smaller boroughs or community councils, to involve more people in local decision making; and to oppose mergers of the present boroughs * Work to bring quangos such as the Port of London Authority and the London region of English Heritage under the democratic control of the London Assembly ## Green Votes Count 10 June 2004 Under the proportional voting systems for the London Assembly and European Parliament elections every vote counts. Your votes will help to get more Greens elected in London. ### Mayoral Election Vote for Darren Johnson, the Green Party's mayoral candidate as your first choice on the pink ballot paper. ### Assembly Constituency Election Vote for your local Green Party candidate on the yellow ballot paper. ### Assembly Londonwide Election This is where you stand the best chance of electing more Greens to the Assembly. To re-elect your existing Londonwide Green Assembly Members and help elect more Greens put an X next to the Green Party name and logo on the yellow ballot paper. ### European Parliament Election To re-elect Jean Lambert and elect more Greens to the European Parliament put an X next to the Green Party name and logo on the white ballot paper. # Arts and sport for all ## Greens will work for: - Funding for a non-profit community arts centre in every local area, equipped with affordable space for performances, rehearsals and meetings, as well as a low-cost café. Offering a service to all sectors of the community would be a condition of funding. - Greater investment in and free access to London's museums and galleries - Extension of the Respect anti-racism festival across London and beyond. ### What’s wrong with the London Olympic bid? The current bid is unsustainable. It will be an added burden on London taxpayers; and fail to deliver lasting local jobs or sports facilities to those who need them most. It will generate more traffic and is bad for the environment; and most Londoners haven't been consulted about it. - Funding for a major Museum of Immigration, on the historic contribution to London of refugees, to build on the work of the Spitalfields Centre. - Focused funding on providing decent local affordable sports facilities in every borough, including facilities for disabled and older people, so that sport can be available for all. - An end to the sale of playing fields - a direct threat to local sports, seeking out the possibility of putting them into trust. - A shift in Olympic bid money to be spent directly on new local sports and youth facilities for Londoners. Greens support diversity in the arts and in culture. Arts funding should benefit all Londoners, and not just a privileged few. That means supporting the greatest possible diversity of art and cultural projects and initiatives. Many Londoners enjoy sports, and the health benefits can be enormous. However, whereas grass-roots sports have suffered from under investment, public money is promised for events promising large profits for private sponsors but little benefit to local communities. ## London’s elected Greens Greens were elected in London’s PR elections to the European Parliament in 1999 and the London Assembly in 2000 Jean Lambert MEP was elected alongside Caroline Lucas as Britain’s first Green MEPs at the last elections. Ever since they have been a UK voice for the marginalised, anti-discrimination, for strong environmental controls and sustainable development. Three of London’s 25 Assembly Members are Green. They have exploded onto London’s political scene, challenging the mainstream orthodoxy of poorly controlled growth of London with a Green vision of strong local communities with well-funded public services. They have achieved a number of changes to the London strategies and policies followed by the GLA. Darren Johnson AM (left) is again standing as the Green Mayoral Candidate , while Jenny Jones (also left), presently London’s Deputy Mayor, heads the Greens’ Assembly list. Noel Lynch AM (above), recently London Green Party’s Coordinator, is third on the list. "One of the wonderful things about elected Greens is that they deliver their promises. Our manifesto lays out our programme of environmental and social justice that informs and guides all our work once elected. It does what it says on the tin." **Jenny Jones** **Deputy Mayor of London** **Green Member of the** **London Assembly** Green Party Real Progress email: WriteToUs@london.greenparty.org.uk tel: 0845 456 0277 address: 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ www.london.greenparty.org.uk www.johnsonformayor.org.uk **£2.50** This manifesto is also available from the website and address above in large type and on audio tape. Published and promoted by Chris Cotton on behalf of London Green Party, both at 1a Waterlow Road London N19 5NJ Designed by Paul Ingram, Coll Designs. Printed by PMS Printers Ltd, 137 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4QJ, on 100% recycled paper.