Greens flop as Labour overtakes as most popular party among students

The grass isn’t so green any more


Hippy Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has fallen from grace. 

A recent poll by YouthSight saw the previously popular Greens fall to third place behind Labour and Conservatives, with just 15 per cent of students saying they’ll vote for them, nosediving by 13 points.

The Labour Party remains in the top spot for student voting with 35 per cent of the share, and the Conservatives are in second place with 25 per cent – both up two points since last February.

Bennett, who told The Tab she once ate a hash cake, has lost her touch with wacky-backy policies which “just don’t add up”.

In another sad turn, 60 per cent of students said they were inclined to vote Green because they don’t trust any other party, and 52 per cent said the other parties don’t represent them.

But now the Green’s popularity has dwindled over the last six months, despite being ahead of the Lib Dems and Conservatives until recently.

Louis Patterson, a second year Theology student at Bristol University, said: “The Green Party seem like the trendy liberal party to vote for, but a lot of their economic policies just don’t add up.

“The Greens seem to be allocating a lot of money and time to climate change, and yes that is important, but it’s not what needs to be focused on right now.”

Not so popular anymore

Nick Wills, English student at Leeds University, added: “Realistically, the Green Party won’t win the election.

“People voting for it are taking votes away from Labour, the only party who could actually keep the Tories out.”

Ironically, voting for the Green Party may be a potentially wasteful vote.

Some of the Green’s policies include scrapping university tuition fees, increasing the minimum wage and creating a “fairer economy”.

All of these made the Green Party a pretty attractive option, especially for students, which explains their initial popularity.

However, they’d also abolish benefits and tax-free personal allowance in favour of a citizen’s income, decriminalise joining terrorist organisations and legalise brothels.

Britain is populated by sceptics and realists, and realistically, it seems Labour is the more likely option to win.

It’s estimated 69 per cent of students will vote this year, compared to 66 per cent in the last General Election.

The Green Party declined to comment.