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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Natalie Bennett says Greens are only alternative | Natalie Bennett says Greens are only alternative |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Party leader Natalie Bennett has told supporters the Greens are the only alternative to the "indistinguishable" big Westminster parties. | Party leader Natalie Bennett has told supporters the Greens are the only alternative to the "indistinguishable" big Westminster parties. |
| She predicted a change in British politics as voters look to parties like hers and UKIP for "new answers". | She predicted a change in British politics as voters look to parties like hers and UKIP for "new answers". |
| 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. |
| In her speech, Ms Bennett attacked the coalition over the economy and Labour for not providing an alternative. | In her speech, Ms Bennett attacked the coalition over the economy and Labour for not providing an alternative. |
| "There is one alternative to the three virtually indistinguishable neoliberal parties," she told party members. | "There is one alternative to the three virtually indistinguishable neoliberal parties," she told party members. |
| "That alternative is the Green Party." | "That alternative is the Green Party." |
| The Greens want to ban all advertising aimed at children and plan to set out proposals to boost the economy and end food poverty. | |
| They will use the conference to discuss how to tackle fuel poverty and oppose the privatisation of the NHS and Royal Mail. | They will use the conference to discuss how to tackle fuel poverty and oppose the privatisation of the NHS and Royal Mail. |
| Ms Bennett said the NHS was being "torn to shreds" and "handed over to a corrupt, fraudulent... handful of multi-national health companies". | Ms Bennett said the NHS was being "torn to shreds" and "handed over to a corrupt, fraudulent... handful of multi-national health companies". |
| Boot camps | Boot camps |
| On Saturday, the conference 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, the conference 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 earlier. | Voters now talk about UKIP and the Greens "in the same breath", Ms Bennett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier. |
| "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. |
| 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. |
| Uncertain future | Uncertain future |
| 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. |
| She told the BBC's Daily Politics programme the party could triple its tally of MEPs in next year's European elections, from two to six. | She told the BBC's Daily Politics programme the party could triple its tally of MEPs in next year's European elections, from two to six. |
| Ms Lucas said the conference was the party's chance to encourage people to vote Green in the elections "if they want a safer environment and a fairer social system". | Ms Lucas said the conference was the party's chance to encourage people to vote Green in the elections "if they want a safer environment and a fairer social system". |
| Party leader Ms Bennett, a former journalist who took the reigns last year, predicted the government would have to reverse its policy on fracking. | Party leader Ms Bennett, a former journalist who took the reigns last year, 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. | "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 is taking place at Brighton's Metropole Hotel. | The conference is taking place at Brighton's Metropole Hotel. |