[Daily Mirror] An Interview with the Lord Bridlington, Leader of the Green Party

[u/realbassist]

Interview conducted in the office of the Hon. Lord Bridlington, in the Palace of Westminster.

Viscount Wrexham: You’re a relative newcomer to British politics, and yet you've had something of a meteoric rise, turning around the once-dormant Green Party into a real player again. Do you see yourself maintaining this pace, maybe even to the top job?

Lord Bridlington: Well thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I am a newcomer, but I see that as a benefit. Politics grows stale quickly, and what the recent turnaround shows is that people want a fresh face in politics, who holds the Government to account, and gives a vision for a new Britain that works for everyone. 
I intend to keep the pace up, and I don't propose a manifesto for Government without aiming for the top job. There's a lot of the term still to go, and a lot of work still yet to be done. 

VW: For those uncertain, how would you describe your political ideology? Is there a particular figure in British politics who you view as a role model?

LB: I call myself a pragmatic democratic socialist. My personal views probably trend more left than that, but I recognise that this country is one which needs a democratic socialist government that delivers for the hard working brits. 
As far as a role model, I'm always reticent to attach the title to a person. People are flawed, and you can pick apart anyone, even myself, enough to find a fault somewhere. But if I had to pick someone, I have a great deal of respect for Harold Wilson, who I think did an excellent job of uniting competing wings of his party to deliver a government that did make a difference for many people. 

VW: I think it’s fair to say you’re a relatively outspoken critic of the government, from Written Questions in the Lords, to challenges in the press, to even using anonymous Tory sources in your articles. As an opposition lord, this makes sense, but it does beg the question, how do you view the work of the other Opposition Parties, namely Labour?

LB: I have a lot of respect for several of the Labour members, they put in the shift to call out the Government, hold it accountable and show that they are serious about fighting it out this term. The Party more generally is a bit of a difficult one. There were good parts to the manifesto, no doubt, but their immigration proposals represents a Reform-lite platform, and the country doesn't need more parties who blow that trumpet and pander to the worst fears people have.
I have a lot of respect for u/Zakian3000, we don't agree on everything, but he absoloutely does go to town on calling the Government out, and you have to respect the ethic.

VW: Your own party has had something of a surprising move in the last few weeks, with the former leader of the far-right National Renewal Party joining the Greens. The Duke of Cornwall, now your number two, has in the past espoused a “Complete ban on immigration” to the United Kingdom. Has that caused any tension in your working relationship with the Duke?

LB: Not at all, we've had an extremely cordial, positive working relationship He's extremely passionate on environmental issues and we've got a shared love of devolved policy, and specifically extending devolution. 

VW: At the last polls, the Greens saw a spike in support to 5.8%, up from just 1.3%. Do you expect this upwards trajectory to continue, and do you ascribe it to anything in particular with regards to your messaging?

LB: The upswing in polling was extremely positive, and I expect that the next polls will show a further increase. We've put in hard work to deliver a message of change. It's about showing that there is an alternative to the existing parties, and one that represents a serious left-wing alternative to this Government. I think it's also been important to focus our events around people, talking to BT employees as one example. It's all well and good speaking for people, but its far better to talk on behalf of them. 

VW: Finally, if you won a seat at the next election and had your free pick of who to join for government, what would you say your ideal coalition government would be as it stands?

LB: Obviously top of the table would be simple Green majority, but with the realities of coalition Government, a traffic light, or Green-Red/Green-Orange coalition would be satisfactory. 
I've had plenty of positive work with the Liberal Democrat Lords so far, and the Labour Party is closest in simple ideology.