From the Margins to the Mainstream: Can The Greens Govern the UK?
The Green Party within the UK has always been viewed as peripheral. Despite having a member in parliament since 2010, Caroline Lucas MP, they have never been seriously considered as a contender. This is evidenced by the BBC which did not include them in their election debate in Wales, despite including other smaller parties such as Reform UK and the Greens going on to win 4.7% of the vote (Grey, 2024 and Welsh Parliament, 2024). This is beginning to change as the Green movement spreads across the UK, and a growing number of Green MPs are elected to local councils: the party boasts 812 councillors after the May local elections, as well as importantly to parliament with 4 MPs being returned at the general election.
However, it is often forgotten that in countries with more representative political systems than our own First-past-the-post system, Greens have been a serious force in coalition governments across Europe. They form part of coalition governments in Germany, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, and until recently within the Scottish government (The Greens/EFA parliamentary group, 2024). The question has traditionally been about how effective the Greens can be in power and whether a party that remains firmly an opposition pressure group within Westminster can function in government.
The breakdown of the Bute House power-sharing agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Green Party this year has unfortunately highlighted a pattern that is being repeated across Europe. While Greens often do well to build support in opposition, this momentum falters after taking roles in coalition governments. This is due to the ongoing issue that while the public strongly supports the idea of taking action on climate change, specific policies that go to address the issue have much colder public support. In Germany, we have seen this issue play out. While 40% of Germans place Climate/Energy/Supply as the most important issue facing Germany today and 91% support a climate-friendly economic transformation, a sizable 40% state concern that current policies will lead to social injustice and threaten their status (German Federal Environment Agency, 2023). Therefore while they can build support for the message generally, once in government they experience significant difficulty in gaining support for their specific policy agenda, which has made governing very challenging.
Despite this issue, there is reason to be hopeful for the future of Greens in government. Green Parties across Europe have increasingly sought to occupy a wider political space that moves beyond just climate policy, towards a more general message of social, economic and environmental justice. In the UK for instance the Greens spent almost all of its campaign pitching themselves as a left-wing opposition to Labour, forefronting issues of wealth taxes and the controversial two-child benefit cap. Climate policy can lack support, often being seen as abstract. This poses a potential issue, for the future, specifically within countries outside of the UK such as the US, India and China, which are collectively responsible for 52.5% of global carbon emissions compared to just 0.89% produced by the UK (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research, 2023). However, if environmental policies are pitched as an essential component of a broader political movement focused on economic redistribution and social justice, it may resolve these issues, thus grounding the debate around climate in domestic issues more relevant to the average voter. For instance, framing the green transition of our energy grid as a way to reduce energy costs rather than to solely help the climate, but to get energy costs down, with onshore wind being up to 9x cheaper than gas, firmly placing it within the current cost of living crisis, making it a much more appealing to voters (Evans, 2022). Similarly, the issue of water companies polluting our rivers, one that has seen significant public outcry, opens up a space for a wider discussion of the role of the private sector within our economy and particularly our public services.
As the Green Party continues to navigate the complexities of political influence and governance, its success will hinge on its ability to integrate environmental goals with broader socio-economic policies. By framing green initiatives as solutions to pressing domestic issues—such as reducing energy costs, improving public health, and ensuring economic fairness—they can appeal to a broader electorate. Demonstrating that environmental sustainability goes hand-in-hand with social and economic justice will help the Greens build a more robust and enduring political presence. If they can effectively communicate that their policies are focused on creating a fair and just society for everyone, not just addressing abstract future concerns, the Green Party may transition from a peripheral player and an environmental pressure group to a central governing force in European politics.
References
Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research. (2023). GHG emissions of all world countries. European Commission.
Evans, Simon. (2022). Analysis: Record-low price for UK offshore wind is nine times cheaper than gas. Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-record-low-price-for-uk-offshore-wind-is-four-times-cheaper-than-gas/
German Federal Environment Agency. (2023). Environmental Awareness in Germany 2022.
Grey, Jack. (2024). The people taking part in BBC Wales’ general election debate. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw88j9jy3ego
The Greens/EFA Parliamentary Group. (2024). Where are the Greens in the Government? Greens/EFA. https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/fighting-for-you/greens-in-governments
Welsh Parliament. (2024). UK General Election 2024: The results in Wales. Senedd.wales. https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/uk-general-election-2024-the-results-in-wales/