London Greens are pledging to impose a ban on advertisements for meat and dairy products and facilitate pro-Palestine protests if they emerge victorious in the local elections this week. The party's manifesto in Hackney also includes promises to sever ties with the Israeli city of Haifa and ensure that undocumented immigrants can access council services.
Green Party's Ambitious Agenda
This ambitious platform could be implemented within days, as Labour faces the prospect of losing a borough it has controlled for decades. A recent poll by More in Common indicates that Zack Polanski's party could take charge of the council, holding a three-percentage-point lead. If successful, it would mark the first time the Greens have secured the highest vote share in a London borough, though they are also competitive in Islington, Lambeth, and Lewisham.
Ban on High-Carbon Advertising
The Hackney Green Party manifesto, titled 'Hope for Hackney,' outlines plans to build on an existing 'ethical' policy that prohibits high-carbon advertising on council property. This could be extended to include a ban on meat and dairy adverts. The document also states, 'We will also lobby the national government to legislate to give councils more powers to block and remove advertising sites.'
Divestment and De-Twinning
The manifesto addresses Israel and Palestine, criticizing the Labour-led council for refusing to cut ties with Haifa under the twinning scheme. It claims, 'In Haifa, Palestinian people live under occupation and apartheid by the Israeli state; this is not a city that reflects Hackney's values.' The Greens also pledge to divest council pension funds from companies profiting from 'genocide, war, occupation, environmental destruction and social degradation,' as well as from fossil fuels, gambling, and tobacco.
Support for Pro-Palestine Protests
The manifesto highlights that Hackney Mayor candidate Zoe Garbett has condemned the 'misuse and abuse of powers' against the pro-Palestinian movement. The party commits to 'respect peaceful protest on council land in visible places, such as in front of Hackney Town Hall.'
Trans Rights and Migration Policies
The Greens also pledge to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring trans residents can access all areas of public life, including single-sex toilets. They will lobby for the Code of Practice to be rewritten to allow trans inclusion in single-sex services. On migration, the manifesto condemns Labour for causing 'untold harm to migrants and their families,' and proposes providing services in migrants' own languages, extending support regardless of immigration status, and ensuring data is not shared with immigration enforcement agencies.
