Good

I don't spend much time on foreign politics generally, but I followed Zack Polanski for ages when I had a Bluesky account. He's an absolute legend and anybody would be lucky to have him.

Waving jealously at England from across the sea.

The greens are the only alternative to reform and labour's rightwing corruption.

Hubris is winning and we’re going to go extinct

I very much would have liked to hear the answers to her questions.

True, but they'll pump every last profitable drop.

So, it's better to plan for the worst.

I hope he mops the floor with the opposition even though the elites are smearing him hard.

It’s always the people doing the actual killing that start screaming bloody murder when someone even alludes to their downfall.

I love watching Zack in interviews, because I'm constantly shouting "YES!" at the screen. His point that wealth taxes aren't about raising revenue but about redistribution of that wealth is bang-on.

I became a member a few months ago. I used to vote labour but they have turned their back on their own beliefs and green stand for almost everything i stand for. So its greens all the way for me now.

It would fill my heart to elect a green government. I really hope this momentum builds.

A quarter (25 percent) of those surveyed who backed the Labour Party in the 2024 general election said they will now back the Greens. A third (37 percent) said they would continue to support the governing party.

The study found that the Greens, whose membership numbers have surged since Zack Polanski became leader last September, are the most popular political party in all age categories under 50. Nearly half (49 percent) of 18 to 24-year-olds and just over a quarter (27 percent) of 25 to 29-year-olds said they would back the party.

There's many more than him that need to be ejected.

Keir Starmer’s reckoning is long coming!

Spencer, who stood in the 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election, said: "I work as a plumber, something I've done since leaving education at 16. I'm training to become a plasterer too.

"I've lived in the constituency and still work here. So, I know the issues and what people want to change."

She added: "This is a crucial by-election. The choice is clear – Green v Reform. Hope v hate."

Her party's leader Zack Polanski said: "The Houses of Parliament. Leaky roofs, crumbling walls. I think they need a plumber and a plasterer and we've got someone who can do both."

Great messaging! Stops the far right twats from using the "I'm not just a suit, like all the other parties" line of attack as well

On further reflection, I agree. It's not for this counsellor to judge how her colleagues stand up against fascism.

Her stepping down is the right thing to do.

The problem there is the claim they're ideologically opposed to any walk outs. If that were really true then they would even platform extremists claiming for instance that everyone non-white should be classed as sub-human and not be protected by law. If someone objects to a walk out in that case there would be no question that they were grossly negligent at best.

So then assuming there is some level of competence the next question is why has the line been drawn here? Why platform people trying to strip rights from this specific marginalised group? The only reason would be that you to some degree sympathise with the hate and believe there is value in discussing whether this group deserves rights.

Neither case paints them in a good light. Unless you're on the side trying to strip people's rights, of course.

Out with zionist transphobic Labour!

I'm familiar, yes. That's why I said I'm torn about this.

There are different ways of showing intolerance of fascist rhetoric. I'm saying that while I support the motives of the counsellors who have walked out, I also empathise with this counsellor who stepped down because of her convictions regarding her duty as an elected official.

Sorry, but no, you're wrong. You absolutely do not need to give voice to people trying to strip rights from others. Are you familiar with the paradox of tolerance? If you tolerate abhorrent views they will take over.

I'm really torn about this. I want the Greens to gain more places. I also support Green Party councellors in defending their values in a personal capacity.

But elected leaders are meant to represent, and by extension, listen to all of their constituents. Even those with morally repugnant views. Counsellors walking out of public meetings when someone raises anti-trans talking points is fundamentally incompatible with the democratic framework they were elected within.

Now, personally, I value doing The Right Thing (ie. not giving space to fascist rhetoric) over obeying the rules of the framework, but I empathise with this counsellor's decision. Tactics like this will alienate a lot of potential voters, and if we want the Greens in a place of power to be able to enact systemic change we need to be winning people over, not pushing them away.

That's not to say we should tolerate fascist rhetoric. There are other ways to push back against it than walking out.

I don't see this as upholding free speech. It's being painted in the media so far that this is simply about single sex toilets and "making women feel safe". Notice how they never say "cis women". Their choice of words speaks for itself. Should councillors have to listen to overt fascists give their views too? Seeing as they don't "feel safe" around non white people? We know full well these people wouldn't stop at single sex toilets, they just go on about that more than anything cos it's the only thing they can twist into making themselves seem the victim. They'd happily take free speech away from trans people. Underneath, most of them are similar to Graham Linehan

Clean link hosted on a european server.

https://nitter.privacyredirect.com/FindoutnowUK/status/1986482146828025866#m

It’s time to defeat corrupt Labour!

It's from Find Out Now so has to be taken with a pretty big pinch of salt. They've always given the left higher percentages than all other pollsters. But it's still something to be happy about. Let's keep that momentum going