Members of the Green Party are facing criticism for an amendment proposed by activists that seeks to end the party's support for sending military aid to Ukraine. The amendment, set to be debated at the party's upcoming conference in Brighton, aims to replace calls for increased aid with a demand for a diplomatic resolution and a departure from militarized responses.
Ashley Tubb, a prominent Green activist and the amendment's author, has characterized the conflict as "NATO's war" and described Ukraine as a "sacrificial partner" exploited by large powers to achieve the West's goal of "balkanising Russia." Tubb has also suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy succumbed to "massive pressure from NATO members" in his stance on the war.
The amendment is supported by 14 Green Party members, including Paul Ingram, a member of the party's national council, and five former Green Party candidates. This initiative has drawn sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Conservative International Secretary Dame Priti Patel stated that the Green Party's stance would be a "danger to our national security." She accused the activists of "peddling conspiracy theories about NATO" and suggested their actions aided Russian President Vladimir Putin's objectives. Patel emphasized the importance of NATO and armed forces in maintaining freedom, vowing continued support for Ukraine.
Labour MP Luke Akehurst described the amendment's proponents as offering "a shameful insult to the Ukrainian people," rejecting the characterization of Ukraine as a "sacrificial partner." He called the attempt to weaken military support for Ukraine "morally bankrupt."
Fellow Labour MP Phil Brickell echoed these sentiments, calling the description of Ukraine as a "sacrificial partner" fighting "NATO's war" "grotesque" and characteristic of "Kremlin talking points." He questioned the Greens' motives for seeking to reduce military aid to Ukraine while blaming the West.
A spokesperson for the Green Party stated that party policy is determined democratically by its members and that comments made on conference forums do not represent official party views. The spokesperson added that the forum is intended for robust discussion and disagreement, and that members are expected to adhere to its code of conduct.
Tubb's past comments, as reported by The Times, also included claims that protests in Iran were "instigated and armed by the Americans and the Zionists."