Councillor McAsh defects to the Greens

[Jenijenjen]

I disagree with the use of the word "sectarianism" in this context and Starmer is a total a*se to have introduced it. In my mind, sectarianism conjures up the hatred and vicious violence of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. 

The divide between the Greens and Reform are a long way from that and is more reminiscent of a time when the two main parties actually stood for something and voting was more a matter of following one's political beliefs. Nobody called that sectarianism. 

[Jules-and-Boo]

16 hours ago, DGM-1986 said:

country is in a real state at the min and all party’s have a part to play in that.

what the future holds who knows but it is worrying.

The country is in a real state. 
What worries me about the Greens is encouraging migration and openly offering benefits to all with visas. 
Where is the money for that coming from? 
As if there is spare money, as if there is growth. Where I their holistic manifesto, ensuring funds are available and this is sustainable, and regulated?

Incredibly dangerous and idealistic 

Edited 5 hours ago by Jules-and-Boo

[HeadNun]

1 hour ago, Jenijenjen said:

I disagree with the use of the word "sectarianism" in this context and Starmer is a total a*se to have introduced it. In my mind, sectarianism conjures up the hatred and vicious violence of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. 

The divide between the Greens and Reform are a long way from that and is more reminiscent of a time when the two main parties actually stood for something and voting was more a matter of following one's political beliefs. Nobody called that sectarianism. 

Oh I didn't realised Starmer had used the word. I don't mean they are stirring up division between themselves (ie between Reform and Greens), I mean they are stoking division within communities, and stirring up racial prejudice and religious discrimination. That is sectarianism, in my view. 

[Jenijenjen]

So I've done a little more research into the current use of the word, I hadn't realised it had latterly been used to describe anti Muslim feelings. Still don't like the use of the word.

These are horrible times and am fearful for the future.

[HeadNun]

55 minutes ago, Jenijenjen said:

So I've done a little more research into the current use of the word, I hadn't realised it had latterly been used to describe anti Muslim feelings. Still don't like the use of the word.

These are horrible times and am fearful for the future.

I didn't realise that either! I thought it just meant division within communities - religious, racial or otherwise. 

Yes, it is frightening. The days of the broad church political party are over. 

[alice]

 that’s just been misused first by Faraz and then Starmer. It’s evocative and negative.  But it’s flooding the news today.

[Sue]

4 hours ago, HeadNun said:

Spot on. Both peddling sectarianism. 

Sorry to be dim.

How are the Greens "peddling sectarianism"?

I have googled a definition and I can see how this might apply to Reform 🤬 but I can't see how it applies to the Greens?

[Suggsy]

2 hours ago, HeadNun said:

 I mean they are stoking division within communities, and stirring up racial prejudice and religious discrimination. That is sectarianism, in my view. 

Precisely this. It was alarming when Zac Goldsmith tried to exploit ethnic tensions as part of his London mayoral bid (he specifically targeted Hindu, Tamil and Sikh communities saying their jewellery was at risk from a Sadiq Khan wealth tax) but to my mind the Greens have practised this on a far more significant scale in Gorton and Denton. I don't know who Democracy Volunteers are, but reports of an uptick in family voting is also of concern. 

[Sue]

On 27/02/2026 at 12:32, Jenijenjen said:

It isn't our generation (sorry @Sue if I'm being presumptuous!) that will decide the outcome of elections but those in their 20s, 30s, 40s ... if they can be bothered to vote.

Ahem. No not presumptuous.

My grandchildrens' generation.

One can already vote and the other will soon be able to.  And I'm pretty sure they will do.

[alice]

But the democracy volunteers don’t seem to report their concerns until the voting closed. 

[Jenijenjen]

6 minutes ago, Sue said:

10 minutes ago, Sue said:

Sorry to be dim.

How are the Greens "peddling sectarianism"?

I have googled a definition and I can see how this might apply to Reform 🤬 but I can't see how it applies to the Greens?

 

I think the accusation derives from the Greens mobilising the Muslim vote, hence engaging in sectarian politics.

But happy to be corrected

 

 

[Sue]

6 minutes ago, Suggsy said:

Precisely this. It was alarming when Zac Goldsmith tried to exploit ethnic tensions as part of his London mayoral bid (he specifically targeted Hindu, Tamil and Sikh communities saying their jewellery was at risk from a Sadiq Khan wealth tax) but to my mind the Greens have practised this on a far more significant scale in Gorton and Denton. I don't know who Democracy Volunteers are, but reports of an uptick in family voting is also of concern. 

Could you be more specific as to how "the Greens have practiced this on a far more significant scale in Gorton and Denton"?

How exactly did they "try to exploit ethic tensions"?

[Suggsy]

@Sue the Green's campaign video showing Keir Starmer shaking hands with Modi and David Lammy shaking hands with Netanyahu is one such example. 

11 minutes ago, alice said:

But the democracy volunteers don’t seem to report their concerns until the voting closed. 

As I say, I don't know the organisation, but I would expect election observers to only report after polls have closed. To do otherwise could be perceived as interfering in the election. They might need to check patterns across multiple polling stations. Any public criticism by an independent observer mid-poll could discourage participation and could be interpreted as campaigning. Much safer / more robust to check observations and release after the event. 

Sorry - those posts merged. Not intended. 

 

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

12 minutes ago, Sue said:

How are the Greens "peddling sectarianism"?

a) Because they published a leaflet in Urdu promising to give "Muslims a strong voice". This is reprehensible - just as a party that promised to give Protestants or Jews or Buddhists alone "a strong voice" would be acting in a sectarian manner. Parties - especially socialist ones like the English & Welsh Greens are now - should not be assymetrically promoting the interests of one religious group.

b) Because they published a video in Urdu and Bangla criticising Kier Starmer for meeting Narendra Modi, when Modi has nothing to do with the issues discussed. Modi is a Hindu nationalist bigot - but in this context, the Greens are just shitstirring existing tensions between British Hindus and British Muslims for the purpose of trying to win Muslim votes - see the first point.

FWIW I don't have any problem with parties communicating with the electorate in languages other than English (from Irish to Polish to Malayalam). What is very suspicious is when parties pump out sectarian messages only in one language... When Mamdani ran for Mayor of NYC (and won) he released plenty of campaign videos in multiple languages - but always with English subtitles too. There was never a suggestion he was sending different, sectarian messages to different groups.

 

 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/why-greens-made-advert-urdu-164616073.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/uk-green-party-accused-of-sectarianism-after-releasing-videos-in-urdu-and-bangla-featuring-pm-modi-and-gaza/articleshow/128826689.cms

 

[Suggsy]

She also suggested that the 2017 Manchester terror attack (perpetrated by an Islamist extremist) was due to "divisiveness" and tried to pin the blame on the far right. Grim, really.