7 February 2024

The co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay, has dismissed today’s announcement of a ‘dental recovery plan’ by the government saying it will ‘fail to fill the giant hole in NHS dentistry provision.’ Greens are calling for dentists to be paid the full costs of NHS dental treatment.  

Ramsay is standing as parliamentary candidate in Waveney Valley, the area recognised as the worst ‘dental desert’ in the country, with one in three people trying to get an NHS appointment not being able to [1]. He said: 

“In the Waveney Valley and across England and Wales, the Green Party is fighting back against the decay in NHS dentistry services.  

“The scenes of people in Bristol queuing up in desperation to secure an NHS appointment and having to be held back by police are truly shocking [2]. The British Dental Association also reports cases of 3-year-olds with dental sepsis, an epidemic of DIY dentistry and the return of scurvy [3]. This indicates just how broken our society is.   

“I speak to people all the time who are furious that successive governments have allowed this to happen. The rot set in with the universally despised dental contract – where independent providers are contracted to the NHS – introduced by the Labour government between 2006 and 2010. Then the Coalition government took power and made savage cuts to the amount spent on NHS dentistry. The budget has fallen by over a third – a real terms cut of £1bn [4]. This is unacceptable and unnecessary in what is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.  

“The dental recovery with its paltry £200 million offer will clearly fail to fill the giant hole in NHS dentistry provision. The underlying problem is that dentists are not being paid the full costs of NHS dental treatment. That’s why I am proud to back the Toothless in England campaign – that took root in Suffolk [5] – which aims to get contracts for NHS dentists that cover their costs.  

“Being able to see a dentist when you need one is a basic need for good physical and mental health – but sadly, it’s becoming a luxury often only available to those people who can pay to go private.  It doesn’t have to be that way.   

“The Green Party is calling for a new approach, starting with new contracts for NHS dentists that cover the costs of care. I am pushing hard for this now and will make this an urgent priority as an MP.” 

Notes 

1. https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/2023/07/13/gp-patient-survey-dental-statistics-january-to-march-2023-england/
2. Hundreds queue at new NHS dental practice in Bristol hoping for treatment | The Guardian
3. Dentists tackling Victorian disease in 21st century Britain (bda.org)
4. A billion in cuts (bda.org)
5. Toothless in Suffolk takes campaign nationwide – BBC News

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5 February 2024

Reacting to news that Labour will not seek to legislate on the creation of a new national care service in its first King’s Speech [1], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: 

“Labour are dropping policy commitments like confetti. Next in line it’s social care, with the Party planning to ditch a previous pledge to create a new national care service [2]. The Green Party remains committed to putting social care on a level footing with the NHS and ensuring social care is fully publicly funded [3].  

“The NHS is based on the principle that need, not wealth, should determine the health care we get. The Green Party backs the same principle for Social Care. Over a million people need help to eat and wash, get residential care when they need it and to lead a full life under their own control. They deserve to have their care paid for in the same way as the NHS.” 

Notes 

1. Labour ditches radical reforms as it prepares ‘bombproof’ election manifesto | The Guardian
2. Labour to aim to launch national care service inspired by creation of NHS | The Guardian
3. Green Party pledges free social care for all adults | The Green Party

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30 January 2024

A report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has accused the UK government of giving ‘mixed messages’ at the COP28 climate summit held in Dubai in December [1].

The CCC said: “The international perception of the UK’s climate ambition suffered from mixed messages following announcements on new fossil fuel developments and the prime minister’s speech to soften some net zero policies. The committee urges a continued visible presence at future Cops and even greater domestic climate ambition to reinforce the UK’s international standing.”

Responding, co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, said:

“Through its drive to ‘max out’ on North Sea fossil fuels, the UK government has blown any pretence of global leadership on tackling the climate crisis. Ministers have been forced into admitting that their energy security defence of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill was nonsense because oil and gas corporations sell to the highest bidder on the open market.

“So at odds with the government’s target of reducing emissions is this dangerous Bill that it has led to the resignation of Chris Skidmore who chaired the government’s Net Zero Review.  

“We need to call time on all new licences for fossil fuel exploration, accelerate the move towards renewable energy and implement a large scale home insulation programme. That is how the UK can show climate leadership.”

Notes

1. COP28 outcomes must lead to acceleration of action in the UK – Climate Change Committee (theccc.org.uk)

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26 January 2024

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said the International Court of Justice interim ruling underscored the need for a renewed political initiative to secure an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and a long-term peace. 

Ramsay said: 

“The International Court of Justice is right to insist that Israel must ‘take all measures within its power’ to prevent all acts contravening the genocide convention, must ensure ‘with immediate effect’ that its forces do not commit any act of genocide, and immediately improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. 

“The court is also right to call for the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages 

“It is the highest court of the United Nations, its decisions are binding, and if we are to have a rules-based international order, its findings must be respected and acted upon. 

“Now is the time for new peace initiatives to create the conditions for a lasting peace across the region.  

“Ultimately, it is for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples to agree the long-term solutions that will offer each security and peace, but the UK government can do much more now to encourage that process to begin.   

“The UK government must show it respects the international institutions that offer peaceful, legal and diplomatic avenues to end conflicts. 

“It should begin by unequivocally backing an immediate ceasefire that ends fighting by all sides, frees the hostages, lets in humanitarian aid and creates space for dialogue.” 

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23 January 2024

Responding to this year’s poverty report from the Joeseph Rowntree Foundation, which says that it is now 20 years and six prime ministers since there was a sustained fall in poverty [1], co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, said: 

“This latest report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation makes for grim reading. Over one in five people in the UK were living in poverty in 2021/22. That’s almost 14 and a half million people, with over eight million working-age adults and over four million children.  

“For years, successive UK governments have allowed poverty to become entrenched and for inequality to widen. The super-rich have seen their incomes soar during a time of increased hardship for millions of people.  

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Poverty is a political choice. 

“There are things that can be done quickly to address the sickening levels of poverty in our society. For example, the Green Party would increase Universal Credit by £40 per week and abolish the two-child benefit cap. A wealth tax on the super-rich, along with tax reforms such as changes to Capital Gains Tax and abolishing “non dom status,” could pay for these and other measures to reduce poverty.  

“As Labour finalises its manifesto, there’s little indication that they will make the right political choices to help the millions enduring grinding poverty. Which is why we so desperately need a group of Green MPs in parliament after the next general election to put pressure on Labour to do the right thing.” 

Notes 

[1] Hardship deepens as millions find the poverty line further out of reach | Joseph Rowntree Foundation (jrf.org.uk) 

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