Union chief: use strikes to push green agenda

It’s day two of the Green party conference today in Brighton. There’s an air of expectation at this year’s jamboree as first-time attendees mingle with veteran eco-activists, clutching their pro-Palestine leaflets and tupperware lunchboxes. Mr S is a regular on the political conference circuit but even he didn’t expect the shindig to chime with his prejudices to this extent. From the all veggie menu to the copies of Jolyon Maugham’s book on sale, the homemade protest badges to the 20 minute check-in queues, at least the Greens are in keeping with traditional perceptions of the party.

But the Greens are now – they’d have you believe – a serious party of government, having quadrupled their number of councillors since 2019. They’re gunning for four seats at the next election and are willing to embrace a whole new swathe of tactics to keep the focus on green issues. So Mr S was intrigued to hear of one novel approach floated by John Moloney, Assistant General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which boasts almost 200,000 members.