Decline of the Green Party

Decline of the Green Party The UK Green Party's 15% vote share in the 1989 European Elections was

the best result achieved by any Green Party (ever), but whilst Green

candidates from countries across Europe were elected, Britain's

'First-past-the-post' voting system denied the UK any Green

representation. Under a fully proportional system, the Greens would

have returned 12 MEPs.

More than anything else, the continued use of 'First-past-the-post' in

elections at all levels has kept the Green Party on the fringe of

British politics. Following the outcome of the 1989 elections, even

the party's strongest supporters were more inclined to vote tactically

rather than 'waste' it on the Green Party. And the party went into

decline.

By the time of the next European Elections in 1994, a greatly depleted

Green Party still managed to field a full slate of candidates. As in

the 1992 General Election, the press and broadcasting media focused

almost entirely on the three main parties and virtually ignored the

Greens. The party polled 3.4% of the vote, and saved a handful of

deposits. Had the media covered their campaign, the party might have

gained an extra percentage point or two, and saved a great many more

deposits.

Between the years of 1990 and 1995 the membership of the Green Party

dropped from almost 20,000 to under 4000. Since then it has

experienced a modest but steady recovery, currently approaching 5000.

In the 1997 General Election the party adopted a strategy based on the

reality of the political situation. Green supporters would be inclined

to use thei...

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`In conclusion, I would argue that the British Green Party has not

declined, the 1989 result being a fluke, due to a combination of

different factors but the party itself has problems, both

ideologically and structurally which are preventing it from making a

greater impact on British society. I see ecologism as being superior

to environmentalism as it is a radical, long-term, anti-capitalist

view of society whereas environmentalism is a reformist anti-

industrialist theory, but the British political and social culture is

not receptive to such a view - yet. More serious is the need to

formulate a workable strategy and a party structure that will allow

argument and different opinions without collapsing into factions.

`Until these problems are resolved, then the Green Party will remain

marginalized.