ABSTRACT
Britain's Green party is the oldest in Western Europe, having been founded in 1973, and becoming a recognisable national political party by 1975. The Green party has changed its name twice in its brief history, something which is perhaps symptomatic of its uncertainty over its own role in British politics. The Greens are also strongly in favour of changing Britain's electoral system, to put it on a more proportional basis. At their 1987 Annual Conference, the party decided to opt for the Additional Member System as their preferred system. In short, the green ideology is visionary and idealistic. Another inhibiting factor on the political opportunities open to the Greens is the existence, attitudes and status of the environmental pressure groups. The Green party is effectively competing with these groups for people's time, energy and committment. The Greens are also strongly in favour of changing Britain's electoral system, to put it on a more proportional basis.
