Green Party co-leader apologises for praising Biden following pressure by activists

The co-leader of the Green Party has apologised for praising US President Joe Biden after he announced he would not be seeking re-election. Carla Denyer faced furious backlash from activists after she thanked him “for his many years of public service” in a social media post on X/Twitter. I wish President Biden well and thank him for his many years of public service. This cannot have been an easy decision for him. But to take a decision that is personally difficult, but that is in the public interest, is a true sign of leadership. https://t.co/Gn0Vc26qeD — Carla Denyer (@carla_denyer) July 21, 2024 Guardian columnist Owen Jones, who left Labour and endorsed the Green Party at the general election, said he hoped she “reconsiders this tone deaf statement”. Adam Pugh, a Green candidate for Deptford and Lewisham North at the election, said “I sincerely hope you rethink this because it’s embarrassing and shameful.” It’s been days and I’m yet to see you publicly offer any support for our own councillor Mothin Ali and yet you come to tweet this when you’re leading our party that has taken a clear stance on genocide? I sincerely hope you rethink this because it’s embarrassing and shameful. — Adam Pugh (@AdamPugh) July 21, 2024 In a subsequent post, she accused the US President of complicity “in the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza”. For decades successive US Governments have supported the Israeli government’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, and Biden is complicit in the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza. Last night I was positive about President Biden's decision to stand aside as a candidate.… — Carla Denyer (@carla_denyer) July 22, 2024 She continued, “Last night I was positive about President Biden's decision to stand aside as a candidate. Some people read into this that I was offering my unmitigated support for his presidency, including the policy of selling arms to Israel. Given my long-running work campaigning for peace, this is the last thing I wanted and certainly not my position.” She said she was “sorry for not making it clearer, and that my comments left some in doubt and concerned”. Denyer was one of four green MPs elected at the general election. Last week, the new MP for Bristol Central used her maiden speech in Parliament to call on the government to halt arms sales to Israel. During the election campaign, former Jewish Labour MP Louise Ellman accused Denyer – who went on to defeat Labour’s Thangam Debbonire – of “stirring division” after the JC revealed that she had used a Palestinian flag and images of destruction in Gaza on campaign material in Bristol Central.

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