John,

It's conference season but our four new MPs haven't taken time out from pushing the Labour Government to be bolder and better. Scroll down to find out the latest Green news and what's happening in the party.

A wealth tax on multi millionaires and billionaires is a much fairer way of rebuilding Britain than targeting the most vulnerable with spending cuts. Co-leader Carla Denyer said that Labour was facing increasing pressure to reverse its decision to cut winter fuel allowance and that taxing the super rich would provide enough money to cover the cost of the allowance to all pensioners and invest in health and social care.  

All arm sales to Israel should be suspended given the clear risk they will be used to breach international humanitarian law. Responding to the Government's announcement that just 30 arms export licenses will be suspended out of a total of 350, Ellie Chowns asked Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the House of Commons why so many licences were exempt from the suspension and the principle wasn't being applied consistently.  

Deputy leader Zack Polanski called for tighter rules on political funding after it emerged Labour received a £4 million donation before the general election from a hedge fund registered in a tax haven with links to oil, gas and arms - one of the biggest donations ever made to a political party. Labour is no longer a party for working people but one "indebted to bankers and bosses who profit from pillaging our public services and planet" he said.

The Government has failed the first test of its commitment to a just transition. Anthony Slaughter said Labour had raised hopes in the run up to the general election that the move to cleaner production could be achieved without devastating communities. He was reacting to the news that Tata Steel is to get a £500 million subsidy to build a greener electric furnace at Port Talbot but that 2,800 workers will be made redundant.  

Sian Berry outside parliament with climate scientists and experts.

Parliament returned from the summer recess briefly before breaking up for conference season. On the first day our four MPs were met outside by a large gathering of scientists and climate experts calling for the Climate and Nature Bill to be fast tracked through parliament  - legislation first introduced by Caroline Lucas in 2019. 

The session was dominated by growing opposition to the Government's inept and immoral cuts to pensioners winter fuel allowance. All four Green MPs supported a motion to reverse the cut in a heated debate but the motion was comfortably defeated, with only one Labour MP brave enough to stand up to some heavy duty whips.  

There was Green backing for the Great British Energy Bill which Adrian Ramsay hailed as a step in the right direction. Adrian was concerned though by reports that the nature-friendly farming budget is to be cut by £100 million a year. Instead it needs to be increased to meet the Government's own climate and nature targets.

The capacity crisis in prisons featured too with Sian Berry asking what is being done to ensure women released early had safe accommodation to go to, while Ellie Chowns highlighted the extraordinarily harsh sentences given to some climate protestors recently, and called for new guidance for judges to ensure that sentencing for peaceful protests is realigned with "common sense, democratic principles and international law".

Finally, in the House of Lords, Green peer Jenny Jones pressed the Government - again - to consider nationalising water, as Thames Water teeters on the brink of collapse. She argued prison was too good for the water bosses destroying our waterways. They should be given community service for sewage dumping and made help clear up the mess instead.

Jenny Jones and James Wallace, CEO of River Action, at the Nature Political Impact awards where Jenny won the River and Seas award.

Dozens of council seats are up for election as newly elected MPs who are sitting councillors resign. The Green Party plans to stand candidates in all by-elections and campaign in strategically significant ones. Hopes are high after the huge surge in Green support during the general election and a fantastic by-election win earlier this month in Hackney when Young Green Liam Davis took the seat comfortably from Labour. It was the first Green by-election win in the capital since 2008 and means that there are now three Greens sitting on the North London council, a Labour stronghold. By-elections will be announced on a rolling basis in the coming weeks so keep your ears peeled for updates from your local party and join the campaign to get more Greens elected!  

Newly elected Liam Davis (centre) with fellow councillors Alistair Binnie-Lubbock and Zoë Garbett.

CEO Mary Clegg has stepped down after five years where she helped steer the party to record electoral success. Mary took over just before the 2019 general election and since then has overseen huge change, from the implementation of a new political strategy focused on getting Greens elected, significant expansion of the staff team, and professionalisation of campaigning, communications and fundraising. She was respected by colleagues throughout the party and we wish her well. Deputy CEO Chris Williams and Head of Governance Sarah Santos are covering the role of CEO on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found. 

Adrian Ramsay speaking to the media at conference.

Missed our fabulous conference in Manchester? Adrian Ramsay made clear in a compelling leaders speech that the party will challenge Labour's doom and gloom and push it to tax wealth fairly and invest in a fairer, greener future for everyone. With the new Government's popularity nose diving already, much discussion in workshops and fringes centred on how we can build on our historic election success to get a bigger group of MPs elected next time. Conference also provided an opportunity to celebrate the first Green MP in an emotional farewell event to Caroline Lucas.

Catch up on conference highlights here.

This goes to Nate Higgins, a Newham councillor and Green Party spokesperson on democracy and citizenship engagement. He made a brilliant speech at a full council meeting earlier this month talking about his upbringing and calling for the scrapping of the two child benefit cap. He has little sympathy for politicians caught up in the ongoing freebies row. "As councillor for the Olympic Park, with many world class sports venues, you can bet I get offered free tickets. Do you know how many I’ve accepted? Absolutely none. How can I scrutinise these venues behaviour in my community if I’m also taking freebies?" Spot on Nate!

As Greens we know that things can get better - and fast - but only if the new Government has the courage to invest in a fairer, greener future for everyone. By becoming a Green Friend you can help our Green MPs hold the Government to account and deliver real hope and real change. Are you in?

Have a great weekend,

The Green Party 💚

Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ