19 July 2022

Ahead of the government announcement on this year’s pay deal for 2.5 million public sector workers, including teachers, nurses, doctors, police officers, and members of the armed forces [1], Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay commented:

“They worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, helping to keep society functioning and people cared for. Now they need to be supported through this cost of living crisis. A pay offer that falls well short of the rate of inflation will be a slap in the face for our highly valued public sector workers. We need to see a pay rise in line with inflation for all public sector workers, fully paid for by the Treasury. That is the right and fair thing to do.

“The Green Party would fund public sector pay rises by taxing wealthy people which would also help balance consumption across the economy and keep inflation under control.. In the economy more broadly, supporting ordinary people must be the priority, so we also believe there should be cuts to dividends for shareholders before forcing workers to take a real terms pay cut.”

Notes

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62206733 

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)

18 July 2022

Green councillors across England are backing a Local Government Association (LGA) call for the reinstatement of remote hybrid council meetings [1]. They say emergency regulations during the Covid lockdowns that gave councillors the choice of attending in person or remotely via the Internet should become a permanent feature. Green MP Caroline Lucas last week tabled an Early Day Motion in parliament calling on the government to make democracy more accessible “by making permanent the express provision for hybrid council meetings [2].” The move away from hybrid meetings applies only to England; remote council meetings brought in during the pandemic continue to work effectively in Wales. 

North Somerset Green councillor Dr Karin Haverson said:

“Greens believe the reinstatement of hybrid meetings is essential to the democratic process. Enforcing attendance at person only meetings restricts disabled people and people with caring responsibilities to fully and fairly participate. Research by the LGA revealed that following a return to forced in-person meetings 72 per cent of councils saw a drop in councillor attendance at statutory council meetings. We need to make it as easy as possible for people from all sorts of backgrounds and circumstances to become councillors and for those elected to represent their communities. That means the reinstatement of hybrid council meetings – permanently.”

Councillor Blossom Gottlieb, a disabled Green District councillor in East Hampshire, who worked with Caroline Lucas on the EDM, has been prevented from attending meetings due to the return of the in-person legislation. She said:

“It’s alarming that since May 7 2021, councillors who need it haven’t had access to remote meetings. This is ableist legislation by the government’s own definition [3] and also means councillors are travelling for meetings that could otherwise be held online, which is often the greenest option. I’m disappointed that so much of my time as a councillor has been spent battling against discrimination. This is just one symptom of our failing governmental system.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas said:

“Democracy is precious – it belongs to us all. Disabled people, carers, single parents, and all others must have open, easy access to the democratic processes. I’m pleased to have worked with Cllr Blossom Gottlieb on this EDM calling for accessible council meetings – and I urge everyone to ask their MP to sign.”  

Notes

1. LGA calls for urgent legislation for remote council meetings – LGA

2. Accessible council meetings – Early Day Motion

3. https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers 

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)

18 July 2022

• Inaction during heatwave is latest example of Conservative government ignoring climate crisis

As millions of people prepare for exceptionally high temperatures over the next two days, the Green Party has warned that the government’s inaction could lead to people’s deaths during the heatwave [1].

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“This Conservative’s government inaction in the face of the climate emergency is costing lives both here in the UK and abroad.

“For too long successive governments have had their head in the sand when it comes to the climate crisis.  Boris Johnson may have talked up climate action before COP26, but over 12 years of this government the pace of change has been far too slow.

“While the UK government announced carbon emissions reduction targets by 2035, it has since actually incentivised more oil and gas production in the North Sea [2] and the Climate Change Committee has said its current policies will not achieve net zero [3].

“Not only have they done nowhere enough to bring down the carbon emissions that are causing this extreme weather but now, when confronted with potentially deadly heat, they offer next to nothing to support people through it. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson couldn’t even be bothered to turn up to a Cobra meeting on the situation. [4]

“We need politicians that recognise the impact the climate emergency is having on all of us, right here right now, and aren’t afraid of taking the decisions that will help us mitigate against the devastating consequences of this crisis. 

“The Conservatives should be focused on supporting vulnerable people through the heatwave while taking urgent action to reduce the impact of future extreme weather. They are showing an extreme dereliction of duty, and that is why we need a general election.”

Notes

1

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/15/heat-emergency-declared-in-england-as-temperature-expected-to-hit-40c

2

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20168713.chancellor-rishi-sunak-doubles-tax-relief-oil-gas-firms/

3

https://www.theccc.org.uk/2022/06/29/current-programmes-will-not-deliver-net-zero/

4

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/16/johnson-skips-emergency-cobra-meeting-as-experts-warn-thousands-may-die-in-uk-heatwave

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)

15 July 2022

Mags Lewis, a Green Party, environmental and disability activist from Leicester, has been appointed as the national party’s spokesperson for disability.

A Green Party member for over fifteen years , Mags cares passionately about the environment and the need to hear from, see and respect disabled people.

Mags has long supported job shares and other measures such as hybrid meetings to help disabled people stand for office and contribute to political life and has a track record of activism, nationally and locally.

Mags said :

“I’m delighted to have been appointed as spokesperson for disability once again, as it’s never been so urgent to ensure the voices of disabled people are heard, respected and amplified.

“The environmental and social challenges facing us all are felt particularly acutely by disabled people, and I look forward to working with the Green Party Disability Group and national party, to make sure our voices are central to policy.”

ENDS

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)

13 July 2022

• Adrian Ramsay: “It’s no good having cheap fares for buses that don’t exist”

Responding to government plans to cap single bus fares in England at £2 this winter [1], Greens are calling for massive public investment to provide a “genuine bus revolution” which would mean everybody had access to an expanded and high frequency bus network.

They have also called for a cap on fares to be permanent, not just for six months over the winter. Greens say diverting the £27bn away from road building could pay for huge improvements to public transport services.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“Boris Johnson’s planned bus revolution got stuck in neutral, indeed many communities across England have seen bus services go into reverse. But a genuine bus revolution, creating an expanded, high frequency and sustainable bus network to all corners of England, is possible. It’s a question of priorities. We say axe the damaging £27bn road building programme and divert this money into supporting buses. 

“While a temporary £2 cap on single bus fares is hugely welcome and is an important move to help address the cost of living crisis this winter, it must come with fresh funding – councils cannot be expected to foot the bill. We also need such a cap to be permanent, not temporary.

“It is also no good having cheap fares for buses that don’t exist. So the fares cap policy must be matched by massive public investment in the bus network as well as an improvement in pay and conditions for bus staff to tackle the shortage of drivers facing the industry.”

Councillor Matt Edwards, Green Party transport spokesperson, said:

“Buses are vital to creating fairer, greener communities. We have to accept, not everyone drives. In urban areas they can help tackle congestion and air pollution – especially where old diesel buses are replaced by electric vehicles. In rural areas, buses can serve as a lifeline, especially to the elderly, the young and the disabled.

“Greens in government have been taking a lead on reducing costs for those using public transport – in Scotland Greens successfully pushed for free bus travel for all those under 22 and in Herefordshire, Greens on the Council ensured that Covid Recovery funds were used to provide free weekend buses. Meanwhile in Germany, where Greens are in coalition government, there has been the introduction of a 9 euros monthly rail ticket.

“We will continue to push for a genuine affordable bus revolution in England and believe this can be best delivered when buses are a public service not run for private profit, and where local authorities set routes and fares.”

Notes

1

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bus-fares-cost-no-more-27442809

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)