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Manifesto of the Ecology Party of the UK

By Ecology Party (UK)

DECENTRALISM FILE

Ecology Party (UK)

The Ecology Party (UK) succeeded the People Party after a name change in 1975. The Ecology Party fielded 53 candidates in the 1979 General Election, entitling them to radio and television election broadcasts. The Party received 39,918 votes (an average of 1.5%) and membership jumped tenfold from around 500 to 5,000 or more.  After some low-level electoral successes and significant factional  conflicts, the party and changed its name to the Green Party in 1985. By 1990, however, it had disappeared.

 The Ecology Party published its Manifesto in 1979, edited by Teddy Goldsmith. It contained “eco-policies” for Agriculture, Health, Family & Community, Government, Work, Energy, Transport, the Common Market, and the Third World.  Under “Government” the Manifesto advocated these policies:

(2) Devolution. Set up the Scottish and Welsh assemblies without further delay. They must have extensive economic powers, without which devolution is a meaningless gesture.

Prepare now for regional assemblies throughout the United Kingdom, in such a way as to ensure that they do not become power-hungry mini-Westminsters, but are properly geared to play their part in the transition to a more stable society.

 

(3) Decentralisation. Work toward a fully decentralised society. Make it a priority for Central government to set up legislative and administrative structures to facilitate all local initiatives in this direction. Central government only to retain nationally vital functions such as foreign policy, resource management and pollution control. Emphasize the dual priority of economic self-reliance and political self-determination, based on a network of small independent communities.

Consistently apply the golden rule of decentralization – that nothing should be done at a higher level which can be done at a lower level. Participation is the key to success in any democracy.

We believe that the greatest unfinished task of our democracy is to transfer responsibility away from Central government back to the people of this country. It is only by doing this that we shall restore the balance between the individual, the community and the nation.

 

Published in full in The New Ecologist No. 2, March-April 1979.

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