Recent polls have shown that interest in politics is on the increase, while trust and faith in the main two parties appears to be in decline. Three years of coalition austerity have caused hardship and discontent for millions. The introduction of the controversial so called bedroom tax and attacks on benefits have led to resentment from low income families while support for opposition leader Ed Miliband has never really taken off. His party is marginally ahead in most polls but his popularity remains low despite the unpopularity of the government. The Lib Dem core vote of students has deserted due to the u turn on tuition fees and the public still feels mistrust of the political classes following the expenses scandal. Minority parties such as UKIP and protest groups such as EDL have enjoyed some success as a result.

  Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas appeared on BBC’s Question time last night. As the only elected MP the party has, she is to a large extent the face of the party. It was notable on the show that unlike her UKIP counterparts, that she has a valid opinion on most topics as well as the environment. While UKIP leader Nigel Farage takes every opportunity to voice his opinions on Europe and encourages our exit from the EU as a resolution to all our problems, Ms Lucas understands the issues and talks passionately on all subjects.

Current Green party leader Natalie Bennett, a former journalist, has told supporters her party are the only alternative to the “indistinguishable big Westminster parties”.

Running Brighton council as a minority administration since 2011 the party wants to ban advertisements aimed at children and is looking at different ways to boost the economy and end food poverty. Although the green agenda seems to have taken a back seat during the recession years of Con Dem leadership, the Green party appears to have gained credibility. It will use its conference this week to oppose the privatisation of Royal Mail and the NHS. Ms Bennett told her party “we will not rest until we have expelled every last corporate blood sucker from our NHS”.

No doubt the green issues that give the party is name are still very much on their agenda and will inevitably be at the forefront of their policies as we are emerging from recession but it is giving a left wing voice to people who feel marginalised and disengaged from the traditional parties who are looking for a fairer social system. Their website boasts the statement “A Green government will have the courage to pursue responsible solutions to our social, economic and environmental crises through its commitment to fairness, citizen participation, shared responsibility, peace and environmental protection”

Farage’s UKIP will continue to win popularity and increase the number of councillors it has, as it is largely made up of disgruntled Tories but the Greens can take floating votes away from all the main parties if it continues to debate the wider topics that effect everyday lives in Britain.

If they continue to push the other issues the future it seems may be Green.