There was much confusion within the Isle of Wight Green Party yesterday when a press release from the Isle of Wight Labour Party revealed how they rejected “an approach by the local Green Party seeking a pre-election vote-trading agreement”.
Palin: Island Labour very publicly offered an ‘olive branch’
Cameron Palin, Campaigns Officer for the Isle of Wight Green Party, got in touch with News OnTheWight to explain,
“There was an air of bewilderment in the IOW Green Party yesterday evening, after reading the press release by Julian Critchley.
“Back in February, Island Labour very publicly offered an ‘olive branch’ and as a progressive party, the IOW Greens agreed to an informal meet with Julian Critchely and Richard Quigley to get clarity on what such an olive branch might produce.
“After months of silence, the IOW Green committee decided we should informally reach out to Island Labour to get clarity on the situation.”
Palin: If Labour have retracted olive branch, there’s little we can do
He went on to add,
“To then receive details of Labour rejecting their own olive branch, via a press release, has left us very confused.
“The Isle of Wight Green Party will always push for what’s best for the Island. If that means being open to working with other progressive parties/individuals to potentially topple what has been an abysmal Council, then we will likely explore those options.
“In this case, we’re disappointed but if Labour have decided to retract their own olive branch, there is little more we can do.”
Olive branch welcomed by Greens
The email sent by Cameron on behalf of the Isle of Wight Green Party Committee to Labour – which sparked a response from Robert Jones (read here) is laid our below.
Dear Julian Critchley, Chair of the Isle of Wight Labour PartyI am writing to you on behalf of the Isle of Wight Green Party Executive committee in regards to an electoral Agreement for the 2021 Local Elections. We request that this letter is distributed amongst your committee members and all local branches.
On February 7th 2020 yourself and former Labour PPC, Richard Quigley, spoke with Isle of Wight Radio offering the Isle of Wight Green Party an “Olive Branch” to “get rid of the Tory Administration”. We welcomed this invitation, as we share the desire to improve on the current administration, we are yet to receive any formal invitation to talks or even informal discussions about possibilities and how we would see it work.
We would be very open to organise a virtual meeting via Zoom at your earliest convenience to discuss reciprocal agreements for local seats. We also would be sending an invitation to the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats and Island Independents to these talks, we must work together positively and productively without grudges as otherwise we will face another five years of this Administration.
If these talks were to result in a coalition council it is something we could all call a success. Having the ability to completely change its direction and work for islanders is something we should all work towards.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Cameron Palin, Campaigns Officer for the Isle of Wight Green Party
Image: the Bialons under CC BY 2.0
