Party Conference: selection of policy motions passed

A selection of the motions passed at the recent Green Party Conference (below) shows the broad position and appeal of the party (full details of all party policies here). I'm particularly pleased to see the policies on: higher minimum wage; the right to rent if unable to pay your mortgage; zero carbon new houses by 2012; decent treatment for service personnel; a fair deal for Gurkhas; support for the Green New Deal; marine reserves.

* Support for the right of trade unions to establishworkplace
environmental representatives (a cause being supported by the TUC and many
unions).

* A call for an immediate end to the British opt-out of the European
Working Time Directive, and for the national minimum wage to be increased
to be in line with the Council of Europe Decency Threshold (60% of net
national earnings). This would currently mean a minimum of £8.17 per hour.

* A "right to rent" policy so that homeowners unable to meet mortgage
payments and under threat of repossession could transfer ownership of the
home, at less than market value, to the council, and then remain in the
home as council tenants.

* Policy was clarified to make it clear that the party is in favour of the
universal provision of a free lunch in all state schools in England and
Wales on every school day.

* A call for a plan to licence and purchase the Afghan opium crop, to be
processed into morphine and heroin for free or low-cost distribution in
developing countries for the use of pain relief in palliative care and for
other medically approved purposes.

* A call for building regulations to be tightened, and additional training
of architects and builders arranged, so that new buildings, extensions or
conversions meet tougher standards than those now applicable, and so that
all new dwellings are zero-carbon by 2012. (As a result of the workshop on
this motion a new housing email list is to be formed – contact internal
communications if you would like to join it.)

* A motion was passed stating that "Members should at all times, including
when proposing and implementing policy, be sensitive to the fact that the
Green Party does not and will not endorse or tolerate antisemitism, or
discrimination of any form."

* A call for a new contract between service personnel and the state
promising decent living standards to those injured, and to the dependants
of those killed, while asking them to sign a pledge to follow international
law, and to disobey any order requiring them to fire on unarmed civilians.

* Policy committee was asked to develop a new crime policy, and to
establish a crime and policing policy working group...

EMERGENCY MOTIONS

a. A call for Gurkhas and their families to be given fast track eligibility
for either the right to remain or citizenship in the UK, given their
exceptional service..

b. A call for Westminster MPs, who have control over the issue, to grant
the same access to abortion in Northern Ireland (where it is now almost
totally banned) as is available to women in England, Scotland and Wales.

c. A call for a full enquiry into the problems with policing the Climate
Camp at Kingsnorth.

d. A call for extensive highly protected marine reserves around the coast
of Britain to cover 30% of UK waters to 200 nautical miles by 2015.

e. Offering support for the Green New Deal (which was outline in a panel
session chaired by Caroline Lucas at which Tony Juniper, Jeremy Leggett,
Colin Hines and Ann Pettifor spoke).

f. Condemning plans by the Home Office to launch a central database of all
so-called "communications data" as a violation of civil liberties.