Around 50 Green Party members and supporters gathered at Chacewater Village Hall yesterday for the Cornwall Greens’ conference. It was a day of speeches, strategy sessions and constituency-level organising. The majority of attendees were active members, councillors or committee representatives, joined by a handful of independent councillors and representatives from Mebyon Kernow. This is the first Green’s conference in Cornwall since the election of Zack Polanski as leader on the 2nd of September.

The day opened with a keynote address from former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, who reflected on the party’s early breakthroughs including the election of its first MP. She then turned to the future with an optimistic message about the Greens’ rising support and the leadership of Zack Polanski.

After a short coffee break, Cornwall’s three Green Cornwall Councillors took the floor to share their approaches to electoral success. Their advice emphasised deep community engagement from grassroots organising to serving on town and parish councils as the foundation of Green victories. They also issued a rallying call for more members, particularly younger ones, to stand for election.

Following a short intermission, members broke into constituency-based groups to debate whether the Cornwall Greens should devolve more decision-making power to local branches rather than relying on a central committee. Though views varied, the general mood favoured localisation, with many arguing that different constituencies face very different challenges and opportunities.

The afternoon continued with an address from ecologist and broadcaster Gillian Burke, who spoke about the urgent need for systemic change to tackle the climate and ecological crisis.

Throughout the day there was a strong sense of optimism and a clear recognition that the Greens must position themselves as the leading opposition to Reform UK across Cornwall. Many members voiced confidence in Zack Polanski’s ability to grow the party further, although there were rumblings from some more conservative leaning members who cautioned against becoming a party of slogans and soundbites.

One thing was clear by the end of the conference. When the Greens target a seat they can win it. With Labour seen as failing Cornwall and the Greens frequently placing second to Reform in key wards and divisions, large swathes of Cornwall could soon become a battleground between Green politics of hope and Reform politics of division.

Image Via: Bristol Green Party.