Greens have successfully convinced Manchester City Council to urge the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) to divest over £1.7 billion from fossil fuels and arms companies.

At today’s Manchester City Council meeting, a motion proposed by Greens calling for divestment was unanimously passed with Labour and Liberal Democrat support.

The motion means the council will now call on the fund to uphold its previous commitment to divest from fossil fuels and match Manchester’s goal of reaching net zero by 2038 – 12 years ahead of the fund’s current target. 

The council will also ask for a new commitment from GMPF to divest the millions it invests in companies involved in arms production.

Cllr Astrid Johnson, deputy leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council and proposer of the motion, said: “The GMPF has £1.5bn invested in fossil fuel companies, and over £241 million in companies that indirectly profit from arms sales.

“There are inextricable links between war, climate destruction and human suffering. We simply cannot stay invested in climate-damaging infrastructure such as airport expansions, fossil fuel companies’ greenwashing schemes, and arms sales directly connected to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and other conflicts across the world.

“Now is the right time for our council to ask that the GMPF aligns with Manchester’s net-zero carbon emissions target of 2038. And it is time to end our investment in the arms trade. 

“The world is a dark place at the moment. But today it just got a bit lighter.”

Approximately 6% of the GMPF fund (equating to £1.5 billion) is invested in the fossil fuel industry. Companies the GMPF is invested in include Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, Glencore, Legal and General, and others.

The GMPF also invests over £241 million in companies such as BAE Systems, Boeing and Caterpillar, which indirectly profit from arms sales to states involved in conflicts in the likes of Palestine, Lebanon, the Congo, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen.

The Greens successfully argued that these investments not only pose ethical risks, but they also risk losing financial viability as countries make greater efforts to reduce their carbon emissions.

Cllr Anastasia Wiest, leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council, and seconder of the motion, said: “Continuing to invest in fossil fuels will leave us with stranded assets when the rest of the world is moving on.

“Not removing our finances from these industries will be a failure in our duty to protect people’s pensions.”

The Green Party’s call comes not long after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her plans to merge local government pension schemes like the GMPF into so-called ‘mega-funds’.

This month, Reeves confirmed the government’s plans to combine assets in England and Wales’ 86 different local government pension schemes into eight funds by 2030. 

The details will be outlined in a pensions bill next year which the government has said will lead to ‘the biggest pension reforms in decades’.

Cllr Johnson added: “If we carry out these divestments now, then we can ensure that Greater Manchester’s contribution to Labour’s planned ‘mega-funds’ is clean.

“The Chancellor must swiftly detail her plans for these ‘mega-funds’, ensuring they drive the urgent transition from fossil fuels and arms production while offering members robust financial, environmental, and ethical protections.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors: 

The Green Party is an opposition party on Manchester City Council with three councillors. The leader of the Green group on the council is Cllr Anastasia Wiest. The deputy leader is Cllr Astrid Johnson.

The three Green councillors on the council are Cllr Anastasia Wiest, Cllr Astrid Johnson, and Cllr Rob Nunney. All three represent the ward of Woodhouse Park.

Manchester City Council is formed of 87 Labour members, three Greens, four Liberal Democrats, one Worker’s Party member, and one independent.

Cllrs Johnson and Wiest can be available for interview upon request. 

For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Greens convince Manchester to call to divest £1.7bn from fossil fuels and arms companies appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

Manchester Greens have urged Labour to U-turn on their decision to remove winter fuel payments for all but the very poorest pensioners.

At today’s Manchester City Council meeting, the city’s Green councillors supported an opposition motion calling on the Labour government to reverse its planned scaleback of the payments, which Labour claims are no longer affordable.

The motion also urged the council to launch a ‘significant awareness campaign’ to maximise the take-up of pension credits. 

The motion was rejected by the council’s Labour administration after it passed its own motion to promote a dedicated ‘pensioner hardship fund’, which will allow pensioners to access an emergency cash payment if they need it. 

Cllr Astrid Johnson, leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council, said: “Labour’s blunt policy to withdraw winter fuel payments from all pensioners except for those on pension credits is not just wrong but reckless. 

“Even if our council manages to contact all those eligible for the credits, this will be a cold winter for those that are just above the pension credit threshold and those on low or modest incomes. The struggle of having to apply for various funding pots will put vulnerable people under further pressure, and the health impact of older people living in unheated homes will increase the pressure on the NHS. 

“Targeting some of the most vulnerable people in society to fix the supposed ‘black hole’ in the public finances is cruel and unnecessary. Taxing multi-millionaires and billionaires a little bit more would not only easily cover the cost of winter fuel payments for all pensioners, but also generate additional funds for much-needed investment in our health and social care services.”

At today’s council meeting, Greens also supported an opposition call on the UK government to suspend all arms export licenses to Israel.

The motion, proposed by independent councillor Amna Abdullatif, aimed to keep the pressure on achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as the Israel–Hamas war is set to reach over a year in duration next week. It was passed as amended by Labour to call for a review of arms licenses to Israel rather than an outright ban.

The motion comes in the wake of escalating conflict in the Middle East, as Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon attracted retaliatory missile strikes from Iran.

Cllr Anastasia Wiest, deputy leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council, said: “For almost a year, Israel’s atrocities have been on public display. Our government has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and yet we are still sending Israel arms. Where are the deeds to back our calls?

“We cannot allow our weapons and components to be used to blindly exterminate people in Palestine and Lebanon. Our government must be on the right side of history and stand up for peace by ending UK arms sales to Israel and persuading other countries to follow suit.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors: 

The Green Party is an opposition party on Manchester City Council with three councillors. The leader of the Green group on the council is Cllr Astrid Johnson. The deputy leader is Cllr Anastasia Wiest.

The three Green councillors on the council are Cllr Astrid Johnson, Cllr Anastasia Wiest and Cllr Rob Nunney. All three represent the ward of Woodhouse Park.

Manchester City Council is formed of 87 Labour members, three Greens, four Liberal Democrats, one Worker’s Party member, and one independent.

Cllrs Johnson and Wiest can be available for interview upon request. 

For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Manchester Greens urge Labour to U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

Manchester Green Party has selected Thirza Amina Asanga-Rae as its candidate for the upcoming by-election in Baguley ward in Wythenshawe.

The by-election will take place on Thursday 5th September, having been called after one of the ward’s Labour councillors became the MP for Bolton West.

Thirza is a Nigeria-born UK national and a parent governor at a local primary school where she also set up the PTA. As a housing community organiser with GMTU, she has seen first hand the housing crisis we face. She founded a charity that seeks to stop the school to prison pipeline that young people face in inner cities.

Thirza’s passion lies in social justice. This has fueled a lifetime of activism, from representing members as a trade union officer in the railway industry for over 20 years to becoming active in mainstream politics, chairing local women committees and most recently campaigning in local elections.

Thirza stood for us in Manchester Rusholme in July’s general election and came second with a fantastic 23.5% of the vote!

Winning on 5th September would bring the Green Party back up to four seats on Manchester City Council, making us the joint main opposition party once again.

If you’d like to get involved in the campaign and find out about upcoming action days, please get in touch by emailing secretary@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Manchester Greens launch Baguley by-election campaign appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

On a night which saw four Green MPs elected to parliament, the Green Party of England and Wales received over 30,000 votes in Manchester, retaining its deposits in all six of the city’s constituencies and finishing second in three constituencies.

The overall result was the Green Party’s best-ever result in a general election, and the best-ever general election result in Manchester Green Party’s history.

The full summary of how Greens did in Manchester is as follows:

Blackley and Middleton South: Dylan Lewis-Creser, 3,197, 10.2% (+8.2%)

Gorton and Denton: Amanda Gardner, 4,810, 13.2% (+10.7%)

Manchester Central: Ekua Bayunu, 6,387, 16.1% (+13.2%)

Manchester Rusholme: Thirza Asanga-Rae, 6,819, 23.5% (+19.2%)

Manchester Withington: Sam Easterby-Smith, 8,084, 19.4% (+15.4%)

Wythenshawe and Sale East: Melanie Earp, 4,133, 10.6% (+7.1%)

After a much-deserved summer break, Manchester Greens will begin preparing for the next set of local elections, where they hope to add to their three seats on Manchester City Council.

The post Manchester Greens celebrate best-ever general election result appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

The six candidates selected by Manchester Green Party members are:

• Blackley and Middleton South – Dylan Lewis-Creser
• Gorton and Denton – Amanda Gardner
• Manchester Central – Ekua Bayunu
• Manchester Withington – Sam Easterby-Smith
• Manchester Rusholme – Thirza Asanga-Rae
• Wythenshawe and Sale East – Melanie Earp

Scott Robinson, Chair of Manchester Green Party, said, “In recent years, more and more people have realised that far from being just about the environment, the Green Party stands for a way of doing politics totally differently and for pragmatic, proven policies that can transform our country.

“It’s clear for everyone to see that our country is in a total mess: politics as usual hasn’t worked. We need a new approach. That’s why the Green Party has grown so rapidly – we’ve seen a surge in Green Party politicians elected at all levels over the last couple of years, and we can see the same at this general election.

“Only the Green Party has a credible plan to sort out all of the major problems we face. Tackling the cost of living crisis also means rapid action to tackle the climate emergency, and both of these things connect to building a much fairer Britain.

“If you agree with us that the time has come for a genuinely different approach that will get Britain back on its feet after the turmoil of recent years, please vote Green on 4th July for real hope and real change.”

Our key policy areas

Climate and Nature
We will defend nature and urgently tackle the climate emergency, with an understanding that protecting our planet will also lead to better lives for all our citizens.

Housing
Affordable homes for everyone, in the right place and protection for renters through rent controls and an end to no-fault evictions.

Gaza
We have consistently called for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages since the beginning of the current conflict between Israel and Palestine, and will continue to do so as parliamentarians.

Standard of Living
We support common-sense steps like increasing Universal Credit by £40 a week and bringing up the minimum wage to £15 an hour for everyone over 16.

NHS
Push for proper funding to bring down waiting times and ensure everybody can see a GP & dentist.

Water Quality
We will protect our seas and rivers from sewage dumping by bringing water companies back into public hands.

Our candidates

Dylan Lewis-Creser (Blackley and Middleton South)

I am standing in Blackley & Middleton South because we deserve politicians who will stand up for people and planet over profit, and who will represent their communities faithfully in Parliament.

As a Green Party MP, I would be free to stand up and vote with my conscience and in line with your views, rather than having my vote decided for me by party leadership. With a vote for me, you get a vote for principled politics, supporting social justice and fighting for a fairer Britain.

We deserve better from our politics, and I am determined to offer that in Blackley & Middleton South. On the 4th July, vote for principles – vote Green.

Amanda Gardner (Gorton and Denton)

Amanda was born and raised in Denton, now living in Levenshulme within the Denton & Gorton constituency. Working in the Health and Safety sector with a focus on residential fire safety, she is an advocate for tighter regulations for landlords – namely energy improvements to living standards and energy efficiency.

Amanda is a keen gardener such is her moniker, and as a former chef loves to cook and bake for her friends and family. Amanda wants a focus on well-connected travel links around the constituency that benefit everyone who lives there, either by taking cars off the road to relieve congestion with fully functioning and accessible railway lines and bus corridors, or promoting safe walking and cycling routes for those who are able.

If elected, Amanda would strive to tackle the inequality felt by the residents of Denton and Gorton across the constituency, advocating for cleaner streets, support with the cost of living, and a focus on fairer housing.

Ekua Bayunu (Manchester Central)

I served on Manchester City Council for 3 years as a Manchester Central councillor and Deputy Leader of the Green Group of councillors.

I can now focus this experience on serving the wider communities of Manchester Central. I will be proud to be your advocate in Westminster and because the Green Party knows that there is no climate justice without social justice, I can make pledges that help both people and planet.

I am a 62yr old woman of mixed Nigerian and Irish heritage, born and raised in England, who has lived and worked across Manchester for the last 31 years. I am Muslim, Christian, queer and socialist.

I moved to Central Manchester with 2 young children, who went on to study at Salford and Manchester Metropolitan Universities and now have children of their own. As a grandparent I believe its our duty to consider the needs of future generations and it’s this foundation of responsibility that led me to joining the Green Party.

I chair and am a founding member of Global Arts Manchester, an arts organisation which promotes systemic and structural change through the arts. I am also a practising artist in my own right.

I am a passionate housing activist, long term member of the Moss Side branch of Greater Manchester Tenants Union and I also chair the Union’s anti-racism committee helping ensure the union serves all its membership and also supports our engagement in the wider community of active antiracist work being done across the city region.

Thirza Asanga-Rae (Manchester Rusholme)

Thirza Amina Asanga-Rae is a Nigeria born UK national and a parent governor at a local primary school where she also set up the PTA. As a housing community organiser with GMTU, she has seen first hand the housing crisis we face. She founded a charity that seeks to stop the school to prison pipeline that young people face in inner cities.

Thirza’s passion lies in social justice. This has fueled a lifetime of activism, from representing members as a trade union officer in the railway industry for over 20 years to becoming active in mainstream politics, chairing local women committees and most recently campaigning in local elections. She has lived in Moss Side since early childhood and understands the needs of Manchester Rusholme.

Sam Easterby-Smith (Manchester Withington)

Sam is our candidate for Manchester Withington, also covering Ladybarn, Old Moat, Chorlton and Didsbury. Sam has lived in Withington itself for over 10 years and is extremely proud to be standing up for our community in the General Election.

Sam is particularly focussed on walking, cycling and public transport. Ensuring that our streets are safe and livable for people. He is a firm advocate for building sustainable transport infrastructure from cycleways to railways, to achieve our long term climate and mobility goals. He’s not one to shy away from controversial topics, and was a strong advocate for the Withington Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme.

Sam also supports the preservation and creation of green spaces. He campaigns locally to improve access to parks and nature.

Professionally, Sam is a software engineer and has a deep understanding of the tech industry. He is working with the Green Party on our Digital Bill of Rights: to ensure fairness, equality, privacy and safety from the digital services and devices that we all rely on.

Melanie Earp (Wythenshawe and Sale East)

Mel has experience of being a parliamentary candidate, having run in Manchester Central against Lucy Powell in 2019. She has also been a candidate in Hulme in local elections.

Mel is best known for being the Green Party candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor in 2021, standing against Andy Burnham. In that election she attended 27 hustings and numerous radio, TV and newspaper interviews setting out the Green vision for our city region.

Elsewhere in the Green Party, Mel is the Co-Chair of Green Party Regional Council and a member of Standing Orders Committee.

The post Manchester Green Party announces candidates for 2024 general election appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

Cllr Rob Nunney was re-elected in the Wythenshawe ward of Woodhouse Park, making it four wins in a row for the Greens in the ward and maintaining the ward’s full slate of three Green councillors.

Scott Robinson came close to becoming the Green Party’s first councillor in Piccadilly, while the party also achieved strong second-place results in wards like Deansgate.

There was one sad result for the Greens, however, as Cllr Ekua Bayunu’s seat in Hulme returned to Labour after she served two years as a Green councillor. She joined the Greens in 2022 after she was elected as a Labour councillor in 2021.

Although Manchester Greens didn’t gain a seat this year, the local elections proved promising overall for the party, as it remained Manchester’s most popular opposition party.

A full slate of 33 Green candidates stood across Manchester’s 32 wards, with the party winning a record 17.9% of the vote and finishing second place in 14 wards across the city.

Cllr Astrid Johnson, Leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council, said: “Overall, these results give us plenty of optimism. They show that people here in Manchester have put their trust in the Green Party – they know we do politics differently and put local people and our environment first.

“Congratulations to my colleague Rob on his re-election – he will continue to give his all to address the issues that matter most to residents.

“Thank you to every voter and campaigner who helped get Greens elected here. Our councillors will continue to work tirelessly for a fairer, greener Manchester.”

– ENDS-

Notes to editors: 

The Green Party are the second largest opposition party on Manchester City Council with three councillors. The Green group leader is Cllr Astrid Johnson.

Manchester is one of five Greater Manchester boroughs with Green representation. In addition to councillors in Manchester, the Greens have active councillors in Bolton, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford.

The Green Party now has over 800 councillors across England and Wales, two members of the House of Lords, three London Assembly members and one Member of Parliament. 

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Manchester Greens celebrate positive local election results after defending seat appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

Manchester Greens have urged Manchester City Council to take the lead on climate action by banning the advertisement of high-carbon products.

At today’s full council meeting, the city’s Green councillors proposed a motion calling on the council to stop all promotion of high-carbon products such as fossil fuel-powered cars and flights on council-owned advertising units.

The motion, which was rejected without amendment by Labour, aimed to get Manchester to follow other city councils like Sheffield and Coventry who have explored restricting such advertising to help them reach their zero-carbon targets.

Cllr Anastasia Wiest, Green councillor for Woodhouse Park ward, said: “Manchester City Council has made clear its commitment to take the climate crisis seriously, stating that we will be a zero carbon city by 2038.

“The messaging of high-carbon adverts is contradictory to our own stated goals and principles, and it makes no sense that we allow them while purporting to act in the best interests of the climate and our citizens.”

Manchester City Council owns just a small proportion of advertising units across Manchester, but the city has successfully managed to implement prohibitions on advertisements for gambling, smoking, vaping and high fat, salt and sugary foods.

The motion called on the council to review its advertising agreements immediately to look into the possibility of including a similar prohibition on advertising high-carbon products.

It also encouraged the council to work with partners at Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and other borough councils to uniformly apply the policy throughout Greater Manchester.

Green councillor Rob Nunney, who seconded the motion, said: ”Manchester City Council is on track to hit its target of net zero carbon emissions from its own activities. However, it is proving more difficult to get Manchester on track to reach its target as a city, and we are far behind where we need to be. 

“It makes no sense to allow advertising on our own billboards of flying, fossil-fueled SUVs or of fossil fuel companies themselves. We have the power to use the influence of advertising so that it helps towards a brighter future for all.”

At today’s council meeting, Greens also supported independent councillor Amna Abdullatif’s motion which aimed to uphold the right to protest – a right which has received renewed attention in the wake of the current crisis in Gaza.

In recent years, the government has passed legislation which significantly restricts the right to peaceful protest, such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Act and the Public Order Act.

It has now successfully passed a statutory instrument to introduce a new definition of ‘serious disruption’, giving police the power to impose restrictions on protests if it could result in a ‘more than minor’ hindrance to day-to-day activities.

The motion, seconded by Green councillor Ekua Bayunu, and passed as amended by Labour, committed the council to write to the Home Secretary James Cleverly in opposition to the government’s ‘authoritarian’ actions.

Cllr Bayunu, deputy leader of the Greens on Manchester City Council, said: “What this Tory government fails to understand is that it is our responsibility as politicians to protect our citizens’ right to hold us to account outside of the ballot box.

“We are all appalled by the awful Islamophobic tropes that have been spouted by this Tory government in an attempt to shore up this disgusting attack on all our civil liberties. I hope we will all join in this action to condemn it.”

Cllr Astrid Johnson, leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council, added: “The government is seeking ‘strategic ambiguity’ in its legislation which provides the flexibility for it to act against groups as it sees fit.

“This is deeply disturbing at any point in history, but particularly at a time when so many people across the world and in Manchester feel such a powerful sense of anger and injustice at recent geopolitical events.

“This destabilises democracy. The government has no power to guarantee the virtue of any future government which may exploit ambiguous legislation to even further erode civil liberties.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors: 

The Green Party is the joint opposition party on Manchester City Council with four councillors. The Green group leader is Cllr Astrid Johnson. The deputy leader is Cllr Ekua Bayunu.

The four Green councillors on the council are Cllr Astrid Johnson, Cllr Anastasia Wiest and Cllr Rob Nunney, who represent the ward of Woodhouse Park, and Cllr Ekua Bayunu who has a seat in Hulme.

Manchester City Council is formed of 87 Labour members, four Greens, four Liberal Democrats, and one independent.

Cllr Astrid Johnson will be available for interview upon request. 

For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Greens urge Manchester to lead on climate by banning high-carbon advertising appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

The city’s Green councillors, alongside independent councillor Amna Abdullatif, proposed a motion calling on the government to extend local election rights in England and Northern Ireland to all qualifying foreign nationals, in line with rules in Scotland and Wales.

The motion, passed with Labour backing at today’s Manchester City Council meeting, looked to support the many Mancunians set to lose their right to vote in local elections due to government changes.

Cllr Ekua Bayunu, deputy leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council, said: “All our residents bring infinite value to Manchester, no matter where they were born. 37% of Mancunians were born abroad and 12% are from the European Union (EU). They live, work, study, make use of public services, and call Manchester their home.

“When we charge them council tax, we do not discriminate based on anyone’s nationality. So why should the right to vote which shapes who your representatives are and how your council tax is spent be a privilege reserved to only some nationalities?”

The motion comes in response to the government’s Elections Act, which has brought changes to EU citizens’ voting rights.

Currently, all British, Irish, and Commonwealth and EU citizens can vote in local elections, while British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens can vote in all other elections.

Under the Act, all EU citizens who arrived in the UK by the end of 2020 will maintain their right to vote in local elections. However, EU citizens who arrived in the UK from 2021 onwards will only be able to vote if their country of origin has a signed agreement with the UK.

While the Act will not affect voters at this May’s local elections, the changes are set to take effect from June 2024, locking many EU residents out of the ballot box locally.

The Greens’ successful motion calls on government to amend the Elections Bill and ensure a UK-wide and fair approach to voting rights.

Cllr Astrid Johnson, leader of the Greens on Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is home to an exceptionally diverse and vibrant population, which makes this the city people want to call home. That makes it even more important that we all have to thrive to work for ever more democracy.

“The Government needs to work collaboratively with Manchester City Council and voluntary sector organisations to develop a strategy of communications about voter eligibility following the Elections Act.

“The changes to the voting law that we have proposed will make this work easier. We would achieve a higher voter turnout and empower more of our residents.”

At today’s council meeting, Greens also supported calls to extend the Household Support Fund, which is set to end in March this year.

The council currently uses this to support around 60,000 residents in managing cost-of-living pressures.

After having a proposed amendment voted down, Green councillors also opposed a Labour motion which urged Lib Dem MP Ed Davey to apologise for the British Post Office scandal, calling the motion ‘frivolous’.

“Labour’s motion was nothing but a cheap pop at one man,” said Cllr Rob Nunney, Green councillor for Woodhouse Park. “It does nothing to improve the situation for those who were wronged. It merely diverts attention from all those who played a part in this dreadful miscarriage of justice and focuses it on a single individual.

“Our amendment sought to change the motion from one of mudslinging to one which called for immediate reparations, which is what the victims really need.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

The Green Party is the joint opposition party on Manchester City Council with four councillors. The Green group leader is Cllr Astrid Johnson. The deputy leader is Cllr Ekua Bayunu.

The four Green councillors on the council are Cllr Astrid Johnson, Cllr Anastasia Wiest and Cllr Rob Nunney, who represent the ward of Woodhouse Park, and Cllr Ekua Bayunu who has a seat in Hulme.

Manchester City Council is formed of 87 Labour members, four Greens, four Liberal Democrats, and one independent.

Cllr Astrid Johnson will be available for interview upon request.

For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Greens lead call to give all Manchester residents right to vote appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

The city’s Green councillors joined colleagues in calling for a sustained ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with the two sides having observed a temporary ceasefire since 24 November.

The statement, announced at today’s Manchester City Council meeting, aims to ease community tensions in the wake of the conflict, which has caused a sharp rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks across Greater Manchester.

Cllr Astrid Johnson, leader of the Green Party on Manchester City Council, said: “The Green group, the Labour group, the Lib Dem group, and our independent councillor Amna Abdullatif are united in calling for a lasting ceasefire now. 

“The killings have to stop. The killing of children must stop. There is no military solution. This call comes not from a weak place, but a strong one. We know that we must come to a peaceful solution. The path to peace will be difficult, especially after recent events in the Middle East, but violence only breeds violence.

“We call on the government and the main opposition party Labour to listen to the people of Manchester and their elected representatives. In our city we can do our part by healing the pain between different communities and ensuring mutual love and respect.”

The statement by Manchester’s 96 councillors calls for the UK government to work for a ‘long-term ceasefire on all sides’ of the conflict, and an international effort to bring about the creation of a Palestinian state.

Councillors have also pledged to engage with the city’s interfaith leaders to promote dialogue and cohesion, and offer their support to create a ‘safe and tolerant’ community without threats of violence or prejudice.

The statement from Manchester City Council read: “In the face of the horrific violence of the last few weeks and growing concerns in the West Bank, we are clear that a lasting peace is the only way to guarantee the dignity and security which both Palestinians and Israelis deserve.

“As a council, we have the responsibility to create a safe city for people of all backgrounds and faiths. We have a duty to support all communities impacted by the events in Israel and Palestine. We must ensure that people feel comfortable and safe accessing vital local services.

“As politicians we recognise that residents of Manchester are appalled by the loss of life in Israel and Palestine, and come together united in these difficult times.

“Manchester will continue to be a strong and consistent advocate for justice, human rights and international law and condemn the unacceptable use of violence towards civilians everywhere.

“Manchester is a city that knows the importance of coming together as one to support each other, and restates [that] we are stronger when we stand together.”

Cllr Ekua Bayunu, deputy leader of the Greens on Manchester City Council, added: “This statement is not ours. It is rooted in the passion, the energy, the deep-rooted desire for justice that our residents demand from us. 

“It bears witness to every march, to every vigil; to every letter written to our MPs, to our councillors, to our union leaders; to every penny raised by ordinary – no, extraordinary – people for humanitarian aid for people we will never meet.

“It is the words of the people that matter. This is your statement, and this is the beginning of our response.”

At today’s council meeting, Greens also supported a motion to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

FASD is a brain and body disability caused when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, interfering with an unborn child’s brain development.

The motion aims to make the council’s services more conscious of FASD, which affects up to 4% of Greater Manchester’s population.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors: 

The Green Party is the joint opposition party on Manchester City Council with four councillors. The Green group leader is Cllr Astrid Johnson. The deputy leader is Cllr Ekua Bayunu.

The four Green councillors on the council are Cllr Astrid Johnson, Cllr Anastasia Wiest and Cllr Rob Nunney, who represent the ward of Woodhouse Park, and Cllr Ekua Bayunu who has a seat in Hulme.

Manchester City Council is formed of 87 Labour members, four Greens, four Liberal Democrats, and one independent.

Cllr Astrid Johnson will be available for interview upon request. 

For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Manchester Greens join cross-party call for lasting peace in Gaza appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

Manchester Green Party councillors have called for unity over the conflict in Gaza from across all political parties in Manchester.

The city’s four Green councillors have issued a joint statement to acknowledge the impact the current war in Gaza is having on communities across Manchester.

The councillors issuing the statement are Cllrs Astrid Johnson, Ekua Bayunu, Rob Nunney and Anastasia Wiest.

The statement reads as follows:

“We support the statement issued by the Green Party of England and Wales calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the removal of the blockade of food, water and fuel, and the forced displacement of the civilian population.

“We urge our colleagues across the political spectrum in Manchester to join in this call and to acknowledge the impact these mass killings of Palestinian and Israeli civilians have on our communities across the city.

“We condemn anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, Afriphobia and all forms of racism, and support our citizens who have joined in peaceful protest to demand the Tory government, the Labour Party in opposition and the international community put pressure on the Israeli government to act in accordance with international law.

“We condemn the actions of Hamas.

“We also fully support the solution offered by Carne Ross, Green Party spokesperson for Global Solidarity, in calling for ‘an urgent and vigorous international effort to bring about the creation of a Palestinian state, allowing Israel and Palestine to exist safely within their own borders’.”

For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Green councillors call for unity over Gaza conflict appeared first on Manchester Green Party.