Conference Day One

There are lots of great things about political conferences, particularly for political obsessives like me. Obviously there will be crucial debates, some of which will determine the future of the party's political work. There'll be fleshing out of policy, or a greater understanding of issues and the layout of the party.

A great deal of this takes place off of conference floor and in the fringes, cafes, bars and corridors at one remove from the formal business of conference. There should be a great deal of discussion about the role of the growing number of councillors and their accountability and relationship to the party members, and it will be interesting to see if the hoo-ha over the leadership motion has settled down now the vote is all done and dusted.

The discussion document Caucus is one such contribution to that party life that makes conference so interesting. It lays out ideas from Green Party members Peter Tatchell (on the unions), Matt Selwood (on the way councillors relate to local activists) or Peter Cranie (on building the Green Party into more than a simple protest vote for an "other") as well as those outside of the Party who are also part of a progressive mileau. That includes Salma Yaqoob (on the need for alternative progressive voices), Michael Meacher (on nuclear power) and John Marais (on council housing).

Whatever's discussed on the floor it's important that events like this guard against the natural tendency to be inward looking and self obsessed. It's all too easy to do when closetted together with other party members discussing party issues to be unable to see the wood for the trees, hopefully better decision making can come with an eye on those beyond our ranks - which is why the fringe with Martin Bell looks so interesting and important.

My experiences of previous conference have not been entirely happy ones (see my thoughts on Brighton 2006 and Swansea 2007) but usually leave me with more good impressions than bad - I'm looking forward with cautious optimism that Reading will provide enough juicy meat to be of interest to readers here - whilst showing the party at its best.

Martin Bell coming to GP Conference this Friday

I've been asked to say a bit more about my fringe with Martin Bell, on this Friday at noon.
This fringe is on integrity in public life.
I first met Martin Bell when he stood as an Independent in Eastern region at the
last euro-elections; I am standing for us at this euro-elections as lead
candidate.
Basically, I am delighted that Martin Bell will be joining us at this event. 'The man in the white suit' has a well-deserved reputation for integrity -- the Green Party of course cares
deeply about honesty and integrity in public life, which is why we do
not use manipulated polling etc. statistics in our leaflets, and why we stand up strongly for
what we believe in, whether or not it is popular to do so. It will be
very interesting to hear what Mr. Bell, a native of my own East Anglia, has to
say about the way forward on these issues, at this year's
Conference. He will be drawing on his book, 'The truth that sticks' -- the link to my radio review of which, incidentally, is on my own blog, http://rupertsread.blogspot.com/

; find it there under 'Other Links'.

Thoughts turn to Conference

Green Party national Conference week is at last about to get underway... My email account is buzzing with people talking about motions, finalising admin details...
And my thoughts are turning to a couple of speeches I plan to make, to some of the fascinating sessions planned at Conference (including major Venezualan and Ogoni speakers, for example), to the Policy motions session that I will be chairing, and to my big fringe event on the Friday with man-in-the-white-suit (I wonder what he will be wearing?) Martin Bell...
Roll on Thursday, in Reading!
Rupert.
[Cllr. Rupert Read, Norwich; Green Party lead candidate for Eastern Region in 2009 Euro-elections]
Check out my articles in the GUARDIAN online: http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/rupert_read/index.html
Here are my posts on OPEN DEMOCRACY: http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/?s=%22rupert+read%22
Goto www.oneworldcolumn.org to read my regular newspaper columns in the EASTERN DAILY PRESS newspaper, East Anglia's leading regional daily.
And lastly, check out my Euro-candidate's blog, http://rupertsread.blogspot.com/

Blogging Green Party Conference

Hello there and welcome to Green Dispatches.

We're a small team of Green Party members who will be blogging the Green Party conference from Reading Town Hall (pictured) for Red Pepper. We'll be bringing you our personal views and experiences from conference - relating the highs and lows, the love ins and rough and tumbles in equal measure.

On the conference agenda there are motions including abortion, Palestine, energy, immigration, gender, poverty, housing, the economy, the armed forces, disability, sport, localism and a lot more - there will also be fringe debates on the media, anti-capitalism, animal rights, eco-socialism (I look forward to finally finding out what that is) and prostitution.

This will be the first conference after the leadership referendum that decided to change the party's structure to one with a recognisable leader and deputy leader (or co-leaders) so I'm sure there will be some interesting discussions around this and other controversial issues.

The blog "goes live" on the Monday before conference (the 11th of February), we're looking forward to it - hope you are too!