Green Party gears up for war on cuts

Activists at the party's Nottingham conference voted in favour of a national conference in Brighton to co-ordinate direct action against cuts to council budgets and people's benefits.

Proposing the motion, Romayne Phoenix told delegates the event would be an opportunity to "share expertise and look at the logistics and legalties" of challenging the Tory-led government's welfare reforms.

The motion stated that Labour and Plaid Cymru councillors should be invited, along with trade unions and community anti-cuts groups.

The left-wing Labour Representation Committee has already organised a national meeting of their party's anti-cuts councillors and affiliated trade unions for March 16.

But Ms Pheonix said: "I've heard even Labour Party councillors didn't think there would be enough of them if they tried to resist cuts, to make a difference and bring the government down, so we all need to work together."

Green MEP for London Jean Lambert lead a major debate on the fight against austerity across Europe.

She told the Morning Star the Westminster government's policies like the "bedroom tax" were designed to "crush people."

She said forcing council tenants to move would take people "away from support networks which become ever more important in times of crisis.

"Some people in work are only able to do that because they've got friends who will pick up their kids from school," she said.

Ms Lambert also laid into the work programme and said Britain should take a lead from Nordic countries where "employment measures are tailored to individuals."

She added: "We need to look at what works for people rather than what works for the ideology in David Cameron's head."

Green Party members also backed policy which calls on members to get active in trade unions.

Secretary of the party's trade union group Pete Murry said: "Trade union members need to know the Green Party is involved in their struggles."