Green and Labour ​​candidates agree to work together in Bristol North West.

There has been a lot of talk about forming a Progressive Alliance. This fell through at the formal level following the refusal of Labour and Lib Dem leaderships to enter into talks with the Green Party.

Nonetheless, local Parties have been left free to form their own informal pacts, and this has now borne fruit in Bristol North West.

In an effort to unseat Charlotte Leslie, Bristol Green Party have agreed to stand down their campaign in Bristol North West in order to give Labour’s Darren Jones a fighting chance of winning the seat. As Green candidate Sharmila Bousa puts it:

“My decision to step aside from active campaigning has not been taken lightly, however I live in the heart of this constituency and I know that people here want the progressive parties to work together. I believe that this is an exceptional election called in exceptional circumstances, and its outcome will have an exceptional impact on our futures” “We need new ways of thinking and new ways of doing politics. Sometimes that requires people to make sacrifices for the greater good and to put party politics to one side. Darren has made several concessions on policy, and in return I am making the concession of immediately withdrawing from active campaigning in Bristol North West. Our joint aim is to deliver a progressive MP for Bristol North West better able to represent ALL of its people.”

Now, many of the more tribal Labour activists think the Green Party should simply merge with Labour and be an internal pressure group, accusing us of stealing votes that, by some kind of divine right, belong to them. This is the kind of argument taking place in Bristol East.

But for me, the important thing to emphasise about the pact in North West is that Green agreement comes only with Labour agreement to a number of political asks. Darren Jones has agreed to:

1) Call for a referendum on the final Brexit deal if it is rejected by parliament

“As a pro-European candidate, Mr Jones will call for a referendum on the final Brexit deal if it is rejected by parliament – giving the British people the choice of which direction their country takes, once the alternatives can be clearly seen.”

2) Campaign and vote for electoral reform, including PR

“A commitment by Mr Jones to campaign and vote for electoral reform, including the adoption of a truly proportional system of representation for UK General Elections and other local and regional elections. This will include actively campaigning to change the voting system so that the make-up of parliament and other elected assemblies more accurately reflects the voting patterns of the UK electorate.”

3) Regular meetings with Bristol Green Party representatives during his term of office

“A commitment by Mr Jones to regular meetings with Bristol Green Party representatives during his term of office to discuss issues that are of particular concern to the Green Party. These include: improving air quality, increasing the levels of social rent housing, developing renewable energy schemes, expanding energy efficiency programmes, protecting the environment, and reducing inequalities.”

When you hear Kerry McCarthy and assorted Labour activists in Bristol East complaining that the Green Party are “stealing our votes”, it’s worth noting that only the kind of political agreement we’re seeing in Bristol North West can form the basis of a serious stand aside arrangement.

After all, the reason people vote Green instead of Labour is because what Labour has to offer isn’t winning those people’s votes. Kerry simply expects the Greens to stand down without any commitments from Labour in return.

And let’s not even get started on what Thangam Debbonaire over in Bristol West thinks!

Just because Greens stand down from campaigning, it doesn’t mean Green voters will automatically vote Labour. It is the height of arrogant self-entitlement to say that votes belong to this or that Party; no Party owns anyone’s vote. In a democracy, you earn each and every vote, each and every election. I think this is something Greens tend to appreciate much more than Labour, as we don’t have the luxury of assuming any seats to be safe.

What this kind of electoral pact offers is a process and set of commitments that demonstrates to Green voters in Bristol North West that Darren Jones is someone Bristol Green Party thinks they can work with, and that he will represent Green voters’ interests in Parliament.

Crucially, commitment 3 demonstrates that he is willing to be held to account too. If Darren is elected and reneges on his commitments, Bristol Green Party will withdraw support, and his seat will be in trouble.

Of course, the Lib Dems in North West have belligerently refused to get around the table to discuss a pact. Even this close to the election there is still time for that to happen, so if you are a Lib Dem voter in Bristol North West, and you are desperate to oust Charlotte Leslie, I suggest you do two things:

1) Contact Celia Downie to urge her to cut a deal with Darren Jones.

2) Vote Labour on 8th June.