THE Green Party has abandoned its longstanding opposition to Nato in a major U-turn.

The party’s policy had stated that the Western military alliance is “not a sustainable mechanism for maintaining peace in the world” and that it “would take the UK out of Nato.”

But it voted to change its stance at its spring conference in Birmingham at the weekend to: “Nato has an important role in ensuring the ability of its member states to respond to threats to their security.”

Stop the War convener Lindsey German said: “It is sad to see the Greens take this pro-Nato stance.

“The military alliance is a force for war, not peace, and the huge influx of weapons into Ukraine and neighbouring Nato countries will not herald peace but more likely the escalation of war.

“This is not in the interests of the Ukrainian people, or of the Russians who are suffering because of the war.

“Nato is also demanding more money for arms and the military which will be at the expense of our health, education and other public services — something the Greens have always, and should continue to, oppose.”