Is the Green Party a serious contender in this election?

The Green Party of England and Wales (the Scottish Greens are separate but linked) was unlucky with the timing of its election campaign launch. Though joint leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay are hardly household names even in their own kitchens, and their plans for a more sustainable future were never going to hog the front page of the Daily Mail, the party does increasingly matter.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Indeed, it seems set for a record share of the vote at this general election, polling at some 6 per cent, and may win at least one more parliamentary constituency. Its prospects are brighter than ever.

What can the Greens show for their efforts so far?

One MP elected in 2019; two members of the House of Lords; two roles (until recently) in the Scottish government; 848 councillors across Britain; control of Mid Sussex Council; and the largest party on Bristol and Hastings councils. Most significantly, though, their national vote share has risen from 1.6 per cent at the 2017 election to 2.6 per cent in 2019 and now a consistent poll rating of 6 per cent.

Few now recall their brief moment of glory in the 1989 European parliament elections when they scored third place and 14.9 per cent of the vote (at a time when the Liberal Democrats were in disarray). That distant, freakish event does, though, suggest that the Greens have plenty of potential.

What are they campaigning on?

The environment, climate change, the NHS, housing, and the quality of water. They’ve pledged to create 150,000 new council homes, end the right to buy scheme, introduce rent controls, and end no-fault evictions. More broadly, they want to hold a Labour government accountable on behalf of progressives from a leftist, green perspective.

Where do they hope to win?