27 October 2022

The Green Party has called for a tougher windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies to help ease the cost of living crisis for households across the country, after Shell announced its profits had more than doubled between July and September [1].

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“It is obscene to see oil and gas giants doubling their profits while millions of households up and down the country slip into fuel poverty as a result of these companies’ sheer greed.

“It is beyond comprehension that the government seems happy to allow these huge corporations to not only wreck the climate but to profit off the back of the cost of living crisis which they themselves have contributed to.

“The windfall tax Rishi Sunak introduced when he was Chancellor was a step in the right direction, but it includes loopholes which allows oil companies to avoid tax by investing even more in fossil fuels. 

“Not only does this allow companies to avoid paying billions, it actually encourages the very activities that are causing so much damage and misery right now.

“We urge the government to remove the loopholes immediately and backdate the windfall tax to January, raising more money to help people through this cost of living crisis and starting the transition away from fossil fuels to a cleaner, greener and fairer future.”

ENDS

Notes

1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63409687

For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401

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25 October 2022

The Green Party has called for a policy reset to match the Cabinet changes announced by new PM Rishi Sunak.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“Jacob Rees Mogg was a disaster in the short time he was Business Secretary, backing fracking and opening up the North Sea to more oil and gas exploration. Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena was at best anonymous.

“New Business Secretary Grant Shapps and new Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey have the chance to reset the agenda, and they must take it.

“The removal of COP26 President Alok Sharma from his Cabinet position does not bode well when the government should be planning for playing a full part in COP27.

“What matters most is that the government turns away from its obsession with promoting new fossil fuels, and stops tearing up regulations protecting nature.

“It must promote renewable energy and support people to insulate their homes with a funded national programme that will cut greenhouse emissions and energy bills.” 

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24 October 2022

The Green Party has called on new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to put the country first and call a general election.

Responding to the news that Sunak has become the leader of the Conservative Party, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“The country cannot afford more divisive infighting amongst a few elitist Conservatives whose policies are failing people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. 

“Even Conservative Party MPs and members have been excluded from the vote this time.

“People need to be democratically involved in finding solutions. This must include a General Election, and the opportunity to elect more Greens committed to a more equal society and solving the environmental crisis.

“The Conservatives are responsible for plunging this country into an economic and political crisis. It’s clear to the entire country that they are simply incapable of getting us out of it.”

The Greens have highlighted Sunak’s terrible record on tackling inequality and addressing the climate crisis as two major reasons why he will not be able to lead the country out of the crises it currently faces:

• While chancellor, Sunak blocked a nationwide programme of insulation to replace the failed green homes grant that would save people money and reduced energy consumption;

• His windfall tax on oil and gas companies was full of loopholes, failing to raise the sums needed and it actually rewarded the same companies for investing more in fossil fuels;

• As the UK prepared to host the COP26 UN climate summit, he signed off on devastating cuts to overseas aid that left the countries most impacted by the environmental crisis without the money to tackle it.

Ramsay said:

“The Tories want to impose the horrors of Austerity 2.0 in their Halloween Budget, but have no electoral mandate for doing this. Austerity means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering for people across the country.

“The government simply cannot govern under this Prime Minister – it is unfit for office. A General Election will allow people to have their say and vote for policies to reduce the cost of living and protect our environment.

“The Green Party stands for a fairer, greener country. The way out of the crisis is to do the opposite of what the government is planning. 

“We would reduce inequality through progressive taxation, including a Wealth Tax, and raise money through windfall taxes on the companies making super profits during this cost-of-living crisis.

“We would use the money raised to make sure people can afford to keep warm and fund a national home insulation programme.

“We would reduce inequality by asking those with the deepest pockets to pay more tax to help fund quality public services for all.

“And, we would invest in the kind of economy that puts people and the planet before greed and super-profits for giant corporations.

“Now is the time for people to decide the country’s future.”

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20 October 2022

Responding to the end of Liz Truss’ short time as Prime Minister, Green Party co–leader Carla Denyer said:

“The Tory chaos has spiralled beyond any pretence that the country has a viable government.

“It is reckless for the Tories to claim that they can replace Liz Truss with any leader capable of commanding authority, nationally or internationally.

“The Tories want to impose Austerity 2.0 with no electoral mandate. That means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering for people across the country.

“The government simply cannot govern – it is unfit for office.

“We need a General Election now so people can vote for the policies they want to see that will turn this mess around. 

“The Green Party will always stand for a fairer, greener country. We believe the way out of this crisis is to do the opposite of what the government has done – to reduce inequality rather than making it worse, through progressive taxation, including a Wealth Tax, and windfall taxes on the companies making super profits during this cost-of-living crisis.

“We would use the money to invest in a nationwide insulation programme to make sure people can afford to keep their homes warm, reduce inequality by ensuring that those with the deepest pockets help fund proper public services for all, and fund the beginnings of a just transition to a sustainable economy that protects the people and planet.

“It is time for the people to be given their chance to decide on the country’s future.”

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401

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20 October 2022

The Green Party has thrown its support behind a new campaign to ask NHS leaders to pledge to end NHS privatisation. The We Own It campaign is launched against a backdrop of new Oxford University research that links outsourcing in the NHS between 2013 and 2020 to 557 preventable deaths.

Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, will speak at the launch event today. He is expected to say:

“We need to keep the NHS publicly funded, publicly provided and free at the point of use. That’s all health services including dental services – people’s health should never be up for auction.

“The Green Party have, and will always, oppose introducing market forces and competition into our NHS. It was Green Party MP Caroline Lucas who in 2015 put forward the cross-party NHS Reinstatement Bill in Parliament, to reinstate the NHS based on its founding principles and reverse the creeping marketisation of the health service.

“Let’s remember the NHS belongs to us all – and we will always be there to make the argument alongside you that we own it.”

In 2021 Green Party conference passed a motion calling for a 15% pay rise for NHS workers and at this year’s conference voted for the introduction of a £15 an hour minimum wage for all workers and pledged support for all trade union campaigns that aim to achieve wage increases to match the cost of living.

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