- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday May 26 1999 16.06 BST
Launching its manifesto for the elections to the European parliament, the party called for green votes 'if for no other reason than to send a message to Mr Blair that we neither need nor want GM foods'.
The Greens hope their proposed ban on the production and import of all GM foods could help them secure 'considerable representation' in Strasbourg.
Robin Harper, newly elected Green member of the Scottish parliament, said the party needed around 8% of the vote in London and the South East to win seats under the new PR system and had polled 'well above' that in local elections this year.
Caroline Lucas, top of the Green list in the South East, claimed voters would make GM foods a 'key theme' in the elections, prompted by 'deep concern that the government doesn't seem to be taking their concerns seriously'.
The party wants a EU ban on all genetically modified crop planting in Europe and a ban on imports of GM foodstuffs. It will also campaign against the single currency, arguing that the euro would increase corporate power at the expense of small, locally-based businesses, and for an end to Nato bombing in Kosovo.
