Green Party accuses Lib Dems of backing austerity programme that cost 130,000 lives

Sian Berry said Vince Cable’s party was part of the ‘old politics’ from which voters are turning away

Green Party co-leader Sian Berry has turned her fire on the Liberal Democrats, accusing them of signing up to a coalition austerity programme that cost 130,000 lives.

Greens are competing with Lib Dems for many of the same voters who want to stay in the EU and support action to slow global warming.

The parties have co-operated in some areas in the past but Ms Berry told the Green national conference in Scarborough that Vince Cable’s party was part of the “old politics” which had delivered austerity, tuition fee hikes and welfare cuts.

“Everywhere we go we hear one thing repeated,” she said. “People are sick and tired of business-as-usual politics.

“They’re sick of half-measures, of back-room deals. Of politicians who say one thing and do another.

“Conference, the old politics is not working, and all the old parties are responsible.

“They have all given ground to the right, on freedom of movement, on Europe, on public spending. Labour and Conservatives yes, but let’s not forget that while the Lib Dems paint themselves as the defenders of liberal, internationalist values, they were all too happy to sign up to the austerity programme that has cost an estimated 130,000 lives.

“They waved through the bedroom tax. They hiked tuition fees. They cut our welfare state. And no amount of rebranding will change that.”

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran branded Ms Berry’s comments “a shame” and said the parties should be “natural allies”.

“The attack by Sian Berry today on Liberal Democrats while claiming to be non-tribal is such a shame,” said Ms Moran.

“We have so much more in common than not. I was elected post-coalition by many progressive voters in Oxford West and Abingdon of all colours. This is the future. Common cause, look forward.

“I think it’s a sign we need to engage in more trust-building across all remain parties. We fight against the same electoral system. It encourages adversarial politics and we need to rise above it.

“I believe Greens to be our natural allies not our enemies.”

Ms Berry’s comments came in a joint speech with fellow co-leader Jonathan Bartley, who said the Greens would fight “the rising tide of far-right hate”.

“The Green Party are at the forefront of standing up to the far right – right across Europe,” said Mr Bartley.

“They have their own violent vision for the future. But we hold the tools to stop them.

“We say to everyone on the verge of joining our movement. The time is now. We will beat the climate crisis and we will beat the rising tide of far-right hate.

“Join us, and all the millions of people who voted Green in May, who voted for what the far right fear most – hope for the future.”