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Running for Leadership of the Green Partyby Golem XIV on JULY 3, 2016 in LATESTI normally keep my political beliefs out of this blog. Trying instead to offer an analysis that might be useful no matter what political view you hold. However, I thought some of you might be interested to know that I am contesting the leadership of the UK Green Party.
I doubt I will win. Caroline Lucas is a very good MP, will make a very effective leader and is far better known than I am. BUT I thought running anyway could still serve a purpose, in hopefully spurring a debate. So here is my candidate statement. And one thing any of you could do for me. Which is to suggest what articles, from all the years I have been writing, you would tell people to look at if they want to know who I am and what I think. My name is David Malone. I am 54. I have spent over 20 years making science, history, and religion documentaries for the BBC and Channel 4. Since 2007, I have also written extensively about finance and economics. I wrote a book about the financial crash and I run a well-respected financial blog, GolemXIV. I have occasionally written for the Guardian and Thomson Reuters. I live in North Yorkshire. I am a father of three. I have been a member of the Green Party on and off since 1981. I am running for Leader because I think we need to have a serious debate in the party, first and foremost, about finance and economics. It seems to me that one of the defining facts of our times is that around the world the established political parties have surrendered to the idea that economics and finance no longer need to be under democratic control. This is wrong and dangerous. In the UK one major party is happy that economics is beyond democratic control and the other seemingly paralysed by the fact. I believe the Green Party needs to say clearly that bringing our economy, our financial structures, corporate tax and our currency back under effective democratic control, is a central issue. In fact I believe these issues need to be seen by the electorate as lying at the core of what the Green Party stands for. Why? Because unless we bring finance back under democratic control then we will not be able to do any of the other things we want to do. Unless we control our right to tax effectively, to regulate banks properly and to control our money supply as we see fit – unless we can do these things then all our other promises are in fact empty. The electorate already know the other parties’ promises are false. Let us not join them. The electorate are crying out for a party that is willing to stand up to the stifling uniformity of the main parties and their backers. We can be that party – but only if we convince the electorate that we are more than nice people who care for the environment. They need to be told, clearly and passionately, that we understand finance and the economy. That we understand that this nation faces a double crisis: of the environment and of democracy. We cannot save one without the other. I believe the next election will not be about left or right, but about neoliberal globalism versus democracy. The trade deals, CETA, TTIP and TISA, will be major issues. We must be ready to oppose them clearly, cogently and radically. They are issues that I care deeply about. They are what will decide my children’s future. Give me the chance to fight for them.
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David MaloneGreen Party Politiican, Film Maker and Financial reform Activist |