Webchat with Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett, Weds March 4th, at 1pm

[JustineMumsnet]

I'm very pleased to say that the leader of the Green Party England and Wales, Natalie Bennett, will be joining us for a webchat this Wednesday, March 4, at 1pm.

The Greens have been under the spotlight over the last few months, with a surge in membership, and controversy about whether they should be included in the pre-election TV debates.

Now's your chance to ask Natalie about leadership structures, the record of the Green council in Brighton and Hove and Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas, whether there's a long-term movement towards smaller parties in national politics, Green policies on housing, benefits, health, the economy and the environment - and what it's like to be at the eye of a media storm. Plus anything else that takes your fancy of course.

Natalie was born in Australia and worked as a journalist there and in Thailand before settling in the UK in 1999. She worked for The Guardian, among other UK newspapers, before becoming Green Party leader in 2012. She's standing for Parliament in the 2015 General Election in the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras.

Natalie, re the above question from ArcheryAnnie, and to give you some helpful context, I think the terms 'cis woman' and 'TERF' (trans excluding radical feminist) are pretty much loathed across the board on Mumsnet where they are discussed and explained, by very many women of varying backgrounds, not just on the Feminist talk boards but also on the Chat board.

Another feminist chiming in. I am a long-term green party supporter, since they are the only party that's ever really tried to address the coming potential environmental collapse and associated socioeconomic problems. However like many I am seriously concerned about the party's position on transgenderism, not to mention the recent comments from benali hamdache about 'terfs'. It is insulting to women, and worrying politically, to suggest that any woman with opinions about what are women's affairs can be dismissed by name-callng and that 'the green party doesn't need such'. I had previously been neutral about the stance on prostitution since I can see arguments on both sides, but the anti-feminist talk on transgender makes me question that too.

We really would like these questions answered please. You are losing support here.

ps Thanks in advance for coming!

Hi natalie

On your media day from hell last week (LBC interview and rather odd press conference): what one thing would you have done differently if you had a time machine and could go back to last Tuesday morning?

Jenny Jones's behaviour at the press conference came across as very odd indeed (basically telling you, in front of London's media, which questions you could and could not answer). Do you think this is because the Greens 'do' leadership differently and the media don't yet understand it, or was it just misjudged?

Generally am a big fan of Jenny's role in London by the way

VoyageofDad Have you got a link for that road/pollution map? I'd be interested in having a look!

In her interview with Nursery World last month, Samantha Pancheri (Schools spokesperson) set out your policy to push back school starting-age to seven and build up a system of free, universal voluntary childcare and early education service for children from birth until they start school.

Please can you give more details about this and explain how you see childminders and other registered care fitting in with your proposals?

Can you

Good Question Tanith!

Can you explain your housing policy and how you're going to fund it? (Have you got to grips with the numbers yet?)

Hello Natalie,

I am planning to vote Green, my main reason being that the Greens seem to be the only party suggesting effective measures to tackle the grossly uneven distribution of wealth in our society through financial regulations, taxation and social reform. I wonder, however, how you would respond to the argument that the excessive levels of economic inequality within Britain are a structural problem (both nationally and globally) which are so deeply ingrained that they cannot be properly addressed by the Green (or any other) party if you were to come into power in the context of the current political system?

Thanks!

Hi Natalie

I would like to know what changes to income tax and pensions you intend on? What will happen to inheritance tax? What does EC202 actually mean for people and how will it be achieved?

"EC202 To achieve an equitable distribution of resources, wealth, opportunity and power which ensures access for all to the means of sustenance and of personal and social development."

If you were to win the election, you'd obviously be the second woman to be primeminister. I know there's a lot more serious, pressing issues to deal with, but I'm wondering, as a woman, would you stop the tax or at least drop some of the tax on sanitary products? They are an essential item and therefore, in my mind, not be taxed like the other essential items. I for one do not purchase them for pleasure!

Hi Natalie,

Should government prioritise safe segregated cycling infrastructure over other transport investments to make it easy for people to choose cycling for transport?

Report after report after report has shown that cycling improves people’s health, cuts congestion, reduces pollution, boosts the economy, and
provides returns on investment unparalleled by any other form of transport.

New animation from Pedal on Parliament ( buff.ly/1DMl5Pa ). What do you think?

Hugh

Hello Natalie,
I read that the Greens have suggested that Caroline Lucas share the TV debates with you and that she gets equal TV time with you in the election run up. Isn't this a bit undermining of your leadership? She's obviously an asset and a seasoned performed which does rather beg the question of why she stood down as leader?

Not wanting to be rude but do you think she's planning a pre-election coup?

What is your policy regarding home education?

Hi Natalie,

I would like to know how you are choosing the seats to focus on.

My constituency (Ribble Valley) on paper looks like a super safe seat for the conservatives, but the reality is actually quite different. A lot of people became disaffected with our MP throughout his court case, and do not wish to see him re-elected. Vast sections of the population are here due to education and environment choices and I know plenty of people who say they'd vote green but haven't even heard if there's a green candidate yet (I know the candidate has been selected recently), let alone what they intend to campaign on.

Hello Natalie,
Could you explain why Green Party Councillors in Brighton who were elected on an anti cuts agenda have passed on £50 million worth of cuts in the city? Thereby continuing a vicious Tory agenda.

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Hi Natalie,

I agree with most of the green party views, particularly because you focus on the many not the few. The wealthy have too much of a monopoly and damage this country with further inequality. People are looking for REAL alternatives.

My questions are as follows:

1. Your social housing proposals sound great and seeks to balance the housing crisis - will you be proposing more builds that are not solely for social needs?

2. Will you be taking part in the TV debates and why did you request for Caroline Lucas to be alongside you.

3. What do you think about Nigel Farages latest statement that he would not make a good Prime Minister. Do you think you would be up to the job?

4. What do you think about George Osbournes latest plans to sell of the Eurostar for only £757million that have been approved.

5. I don't agree with the views on decriminalising sex & drug industry, the views on the monarchy (who I think are very important to this country) will these points be reviewed at conference before the manifesto is released? and What is the date of the manifesto release?

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your questions so far, Natalie's in the Towers and will be getting going in the next few minutes.

@pand0raslunchb0x

Hi Natalie,

I agree with most of the green party views, particularly because you focus on the many not the few. The wealthy have too much of a monopoly and damage this country with further inequality. People are looking for REAL alternatives.

My questions are as follows:

1. Your social housing proposals sound great and seeks to balance the housing crisis - will you be proposing more builds that are not solely for social needs?

2. Will you be taking part in the TV debates and why did you request for Caroline Lucas to be alongside you.

3. What do you think about Nigel Farages latest statement that he would not make a good Prime Minister. Do you think you would be up to the job?

4. What do you think about George Osbournes latest plans to sell of the Eurostar for only £757million that have been approved.

5. I don't agree with the views on decriminalising sex & drug industry, the views on the monarchy (who I think are very important to this country) will these points be reviewed at conference before the manifesto is released? and What is the date of the manifesto release?

Quick reminder that guidelines suggest one question per user - or guests have no hope of answering everyone, so if you wouldn't mind picking one of these?

Hi all,

Now settling in, cup of tea in hand, and looking forward to your questions – looks like an interesting range already, thanks!

Natalie

Welcome to MN Natalie. Hope the kettle's on?