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Greens seek to widen election appeal Natalie Bennett predicts "big shift" to Greens and UKIP
(about 9 hours later)
The Green Party of England and Wales is gathering for its autumn conference, with leader Natalie Bennett looking to set out distinctive policies ahead of next year's European elections. Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has predicted a "big shift" from the three main parties to the Greens and UKIP.
Members meeting in Brighton will discuss plans to ban all advertising aimed at children as well as proposals to boost the economy. Although the two parties are polls apart on policy, voters are increasingly looking for "new answers," Ms Bennett told the BBC.
Several sessions will be open to the public, including those on education and the future of the UK's railways. The party is training activists at its annual conference in Brighton how to emulate UKIP's recent success.
The conference continues until Monday. Members will also debate policies on cutting energy prices and opposing NHS and Royal Mail privatisation.
The Greens gained five council seats at this May's local elections in England but the party has failed to make a breakthrough, except in Brighton. The party wants to ban all advertising aimed at children and plans to set out proposals to boost the economy and end food poverty.
'Mass awareness' The conference is due to open later and ends on Monday.
On Saturday, members will discuss how it can "break into mass popular awareness" in the way that Nigel Farage's UK Independence Party managed in May's local elections, when it gained 139 councillors.
Voters now talk about UKIP and the Greens "in the same breath", Ms Bennett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Obviously our politics are very different. But people are looking for new answers and we're going to see big shifts in British politics in the next few years."
The party is also running "election boot camps" for candidates and activists at its conference in an effort to increase success.
Uncertain future
The Greens gained five council seats at this May's local elections in England but the party has failed to make a breakthrough, except in Brighton and a handful of other areas in England.
Former leader Caroline Lucas has been MP for Brighton Pavilion since 2010 and the party has run Brighton and Hove City Council as a minority administration since 2011.Former leader Caroline Lucas has been MP for Brighton Pavilion since 2010 and the party has run Brighton and Hove City Council as a minority administration since 2011.
There are currently two Green Members of the European Parliament representing UK regions. Ms Bennett, a former journalist who became leader last year, addresses the conference on Friday afternoon.
Ms Bennett, a former journalist, speaks on Friday afternoon and she will be keen to promote the idea that the Greens have concerns stretching beyond the environment. She told the BBC climate change would remain "one big part" of her speech.
Discussions are planned on how best to provide housing for the poor and on the government's programme of creating academies and free schools. And she predicted the government would have to reverse its policy on fracking.
The future of the UK's railways will also be debated, along with mental illness, immigration and food poverty. The Greens have been prominent in the protests against the controversial drilling for shale gas.
On Saturday, the party is to discuss how it can "break into mass popular awareness" in the way that Nigel Farage's UK Independence Party managed in May's elections, when it gained 139 councillors. "If we go for the 'dash for gas'... we're going for a really high cost, uncertain energy future," she added.
The Greens are also running "election boot camps" in an effort to increase success. But she said the environment was only part of her focus and would also talk about reversing rail privatisation and tackling fuel poverty.
The conference takes place at Brighton's Metropole Hotel.The conference takes place at Brighton's Metropole Hotel.