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  1. Politics
10 May 2010updated 27 Sep 2015 2:21am

No Green in a rainbow coalition

Caroline Lucas outlines the Green Party’s ambitions for the next parliament and beyond.

By Alyssa McDonald

Those who are still hoping beyond hope for a Labour-led “rainbow coalition” to challenge the Conservatives’ attempts to form a government should probably give up the dream now.

Some optimistic souls had suggested that Labour could reach a majority by joining forces with MPs from the Social Democratic Labour Party, the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. But, in an interview for the New Statesman’s post-election issue, Caroline Lucas — the Green leader and the newly elected MP for Brighton Pavilion — has confirmed that her party won’t be forming an alliance any time soon, though she didn’t rule out support completely.

As Lucas told me:

I think we would rule out a formal coalition, but we’re very interested in talking about ways we might co-operate.

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But now that the Greens have a presence at Westminster, they seem to have their sights set on more ambitious goals:

It’s only one seat — but it’s the first seat. It was only 24 years between the first Labour MP and the first Labour government.

Read the full interview in the next issue of the New Statesman, out on Wednesday.

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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