The Green Party appears to be split over its defence policy after its members put forward a motion calling for the party to allow the use of semi-autonomous drones and anti-ballistic missile systems – in what would be a U-turn on current policy.
The motion, which is designed to provide a “much-needed strategic update” to the party’s approach to defence, has been put forward for debate at the party’s autumn conference.
It would scrap the party’s commitment to end all anti-ballistic missile-related activity in Britain, saying such a policy is “incredibly dangerous” and “strategically incoherent” with nuclear disarmament.
The motion, which comes amid concern over its defence policy, would also commit the party to “significant investment into a multi-layered air defence architecture”, as well as permitting the use of drones.
The Independent understands that the party’s leadership is not lending its backing to the motion. It comes after a YouGov poll conducted last year found that just 17 per cent of voters trusted the Greens on defence – the lowest of 18 different issues. Some 57 per cent said they lacked confidence in the party’s defence policy.
The motion, seen by The Times, says the party must prepare for an era “increasingly defined by global instability” and provide “serious, realistic answers” to questions about UK defence policy.
“National security and defence consistently rank among the Green Party’s lowest-rated policy areas in public polling”, the motion reads.
“Historically, the party has been dismissed by critics as overly idealistic, and our platform has often struggled to convince the electorate that we possess the pragmatic strategies required to defend the UK.
“We offer a radical yet responsible blueprint for the future. This motion offers a principled, credible alternative that robustly protects the UK without contributing to global conflict.”
A source involved in coordinating the policy told The Times that it was aimed at convincing voters the party can be trusted when it comes to Britain’s military.
They said: “The Green Party has always made a strong moral case for its positions on security and defence, but to win the trust of the public we need to reinforce these with strategic argument.
“We hope that this motion grounds the party policy of ‘non-offensive defence’ in specific proposals.”
Leader Zack Polanski has previously been accused of being “soft on Putin” after he advocated leaving Nato and weaning itself off its reliance on US military cooperation in an interview with the Guardian.
“Donald Trump has so much domination within Nato that I don’t believe it’s possible to reform Nato from within”, he said, adding that Britain “should be reviewing US bases on UK soil, and actually looking at a genuine strategic defence review.”
He also said the government should be trying to persuade other nuclear-armed countries to disarm, saying: “If we’re not willing to have conversations about peace and diplomacy – that part of those conversations look at everyone denuclearising – then what are we doing here?”
A Green Party spokesperson said: “Members bring a range of motions: only a small number are debated. They only become policy if passed by conference.”
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