Greens set sight on electoral success

The Greens have enjoyed electoral success

The Green Party has put the crisis in agriculture and the foot-and-mouth outbreak at the heart of the agenda at its spring conference.

A "Green strategy" for the crisis was discussed on Friday in an emergency debate held as the party began its spring conference in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Among the issues debated were the effect of transporting live animals, the impact of closing small local abattoirs and the pressure of globalisation on the agricultural industry.

British agriculture needs a revolution. That is what the Green Party will be offering in the coming general election

Lord Beaumont of Whitley

Lord Beaumont of Whitley, spokesperson on Agriculture Fisheries and Foods, and patron of the Family Farmers Association, said: "The government's handling of the crisis is less than inspiring."

He argued vaccinations should be used to "ring fence" areas hit by the disease, with the option for a wider vaccination programme kept open.

"It's crucial that we learn for the future by looking critically at past policy," he said.

"This disease was able to spread very rapidly because of the way live animals and meat are transported unnecessarily long distances in a profit-driven system which pays scant attention to animal welfare and environmental impact."

Lord Beaumont described the government's food and agriculture policies as a "multi-faceted disaster."

He added: "British agriculture needs a revolution. That is what the Green Party will be offering in the coming general election."

Election standby

The party's policies for that election will also be discussed at the conference, which runs until Sunday.

Transport and education are likely to figure prominently in the debates.

One of the country's most prominent Green Party politicians, Greater London Assembly member Darren Johnson, will be leading discussions on what the party has learned from its role in the new authority and how that is relevant in other British cities.

Darren Johnson plays a key role in the London assembly

The Greens have enjoyed an unprecedented wave of electoral success in the European parliament, the Scottish Assembly and in last year's London assembly elections.

They will be hoping to build on that at the forthcoming local and general elections, although they have historically struggled under the first past the post electoral system.

One of the Green Party's principal speakers, Mike Woodin, is due to address the conference on the party's prospects for the "general election and beyond".

Other issues up for discussion are "the Green deal for women", "environmental justice and the bleak outlook for climate change", and globalisation.