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| Natalie Bennett predicts 'big shift' to Greens and UKIP | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has predicted a "big shift" from the three main parties to the Greens and UKIP. | Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has predicted a "big shift" from the three main parties to the Greens and UKIP. |
| Although the two parties are poles apart on policy, voters are increasingly looking for "new answers," Ms Bennett told the BBC. | |
| The party is training activists at its annual conference in Brighton how to emulate UKIP's recent success. | The party is training activists at its annual conference in Brighton how to emulate UKIP's recent success. |
| Members will also debate policies on cutting energy prices and opposing NHS and Royal Mail privatisation. | Members will also debate policies on cutting energy prices and opposing NHS and Royal Mail privatisation. |
| The party wants to ban all advertising aimed at children and plans to set out proposals to boost the economy and end food poverty. | The party wants to ban all advertising aimed at children and plans to set out proposals to boost the economy and end food poverty. |
| The conference is due to open later and ends on Monday. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | The party is also running "election boot camps" for candidates and activists at its conference in an effort to increase success. |
| Uncertain future | 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. | 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. |
| Ms Bennett, a former journalist who became leader last year, addresses the conference on Friday afternoon. | Ms Bennett, a former journalist who became leader last year, addresses the conference on Friday afternoon. |
| She told the BBC climate change would remain "one big part" of her speech. | She told the BBC climate change would remain "one big part" of her speech. |
| And she predicted the government would have to reverse its policy on fracking. | And she predicted the government would have to reverse its policy on fracking. |
| The Greens have been prominent in the protests against the controversial drilling for shale gas. | The Greens have been prominent in the protests against the controversial drilling for shale gas. |
| "If we go for the 'dash for gas'... we're going for a really high-cost, uncertain energy future," she added. | |
| But she said the environment was only part of her focus and would also talk about reversing rail privatisation and tackling fuel poverty. | 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. |