Why it's time for a blue green party
We Blue Greens are a large, under-represented faction
The assumption today seems to be that if you are green, you must also be left wing. But there are many of us who are committed to green issues and have centre-right views. It is just that our voice is not heard.
Environmental policy has been hijacked by the left. We in the centre need to reclaim it, and end its association with a depressing retreat to a lower standard of living, restrictions on individual freedoms and excuses for stealth taxes.
Our primary concern is climate change (including preserving climate-stabilising assets such as rainforest, ocean and other wilderness). The other concerns, such as waste, recycling, etc., although serious, are not an existential threat to our way of life.
Mrs Thatcher had it right. Her 1988 warning: ‘No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy - with full repairing lease’ was right then, and is right now. As an Oxford-educated chemist, she was the first political leader who really understood the greenhouse effect. She was genuinely worried about human activity changing the composition of the atmosphere. Unfortunately she lost power just as she was getting to grips with the problem, otherwise she might have dealt with it as firmly as that other global environmental problem, the ozone hole, which at the time was also thought to be ‘impossible to fix’. Even so, she was instrumental in bringing climate change to worldwide attention and promoting the IPCC.
This is not about touchy-feely greenery. We need hard-headed policies, clear thought and firm action.
A truly radical, market-driven approach to the environment that works with human nature, not against it, has been missing for too long – and we are the ones who can provide it.
We need to stand up and show that you do not have to be red to be green. On the contrary, we believe the most effective way to be green is to be blue.
Why a new party
Many sensible moderates are uncomfortable being labelled ‘green’, let alone voting for a green party. Our party welcomes people who do not naturally see themselves as green.
We seek to represent people with common-sense middle-of-the-road views who are passionate about our world and its future, but who do not feel represented by existing environmental parties.
We blue greens intend to put the environmental agenda into the centre ground of politics.
Surely all this stuff about climate change is just someone’s agenda?
You may think that climate change is a lot of hot air, promoted by left-wing types with an agenda to curtail your lifestyle, impose green taxes and turn you vegetarian.
We know what you mean – we have encountered these agendas too. But it is important to distinguish the agenda from the problem. The problem is serious, but it does not require us to adopt a left-wing agenda. Rest assured that we have no intention of interfering in your life; on the contrary, we aim to solve the problem and make you better off into the bargain.
We believe that tackling climate change will bring great prosperity
You may not accept that mankind is responsible for climate change, or even that it exists, but let’s put those arguments on one side for now. Even if you do think that, we still have a great deal to offer you.
We think that tackling climate change is the best opportunity for economic growth the world has ever seen.
Suppose we started a new industrial revolution that allowed us to harness boundless pollution-free energy at low cost, independent of the whims of foreign countries?
Suppose that revolution allowed us to achieve a high-tech, low-tax society, with greater wealth and opportunity for all into the bargain?
We believe that all this and more can be done. In fact, it is already being done by individuals and companies across the world. It is our politics that needs to catch up.
So we are pro-green, pro-economic growth and pro-technology. Perhaps you could think of it as boldly going forward to Star Trek rather than back to The Flintstones.
We don’t expect you to be an eco-saint
You don’t need to be an eco-saint to vote for us. We certainly aren’t. It is more important to vote for our programme than to become a carbon martyr, even if it means you have to drive your Hummer to the polling station. We want your vote, not your guilt.
In fact we go one better: see the Our Philosophy section on why we are against measuring individual carbon footprints.
Go to the Our Philosophy Section 
How do we relate to the Green Party?
We generally agree with the Greens on the importance of environmental issues. However, we believe that their climate change proposals are misguided, as they rely on targets. We generally disagree with the Greens on most aspects of social policy, which currently dominate their manifesto.
Why not the Conservatives, Labour or Liberal Democrats?
While the major parties may be paying lip service to the environment, their current manifesto pledges do not even begin to deal with the issue. Vague targets to cut emissions in the future may be better than nothing. But without real action, they risk being as useless as the ‘Peace in Our Time’ Munich Agreement.
On matters aside from our approach to climate change, we would generally be in agreement with the Conservatives.
|
