19 July 2023

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer has responded to Tata’s decision to build a new electric car battery plant in Bridgwater, Somerset [1]:

“The end of the production of diesel and petrol cars is in sight, and workers in those industries need to know where their futures lie. Today’s announcement will hopefully provide some assurance.

“Of course, electric cars are not a silver bullet for the climate crisis. They bring their own environmental costs and do not, in themselves, encourage better public transport options.

“However, they will play an important part of a wider strategy to move people and goods in a more sustainable way, alongside better facilities for walking, cycling and public transport.

“This factory is a long-delayed, small step toward recognising the need for a rapid transition to a new economy. It would be better still if this new facility was designed to supply batteries for mass transit vehicles as well as cars.

“The government has spent too much time dealing with economic crises of its own making following Brexit, and flip-flopping on green initiatives. It has created huge uncertainty for businesses and employees about whether it is serious about moving toward a net-zero economy.

“One-off deals are no substitute for a government strategy that supports workers and businesses to create the new, sustainable green industries of the future.

“We need a government strategy to give people and businesses confidence that moves to a net-zero economy are urgent and irreversible.”

ENDS

Notes

1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66237935

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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18 July 2023

A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) refutes claims by Rishi Sunak and his government that larger wage settlements for public sector workers would fuel inflation [1]. They say that inflation-matching pay rises, financed from taxation, would have zero impact on inflation. 

Reacting, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsey said:

“This research draws a line under the argument that paying public service workers decently fuels inflation. It shows that if inflation-matching pay rises were financed from taxation, the impact on inflation would be zero. 

“Greens have long championed a wealth tax to help fund our public services, contribute towards the transition to a greener economy, and create a more equal society [2]. It is clear that such a tax – to fund proper pay rises for public service workers – will be all gain and no pain.”

Notes

1. Public sector pay rises of 10% would add little to inflation, says UK thinktank | Public sector pay | The Guardian

2. Tax wealthiest 1% to fund home insulation, say Greens – BBC News

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14 July 2023

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer has urged the government to introduce rent controls after an official survey from the Office for National Statistics found that 43% of tenants found it difficult to afford their rent between February and May [1].

Denyer said:

“Everyone deserves a place to call home and so it is simply unacceptable that the government is not doing anywhere near enough to help the thousands of people who are struggling to pay rents that are shooting up with no relationship to incomes.

“The government could help if it only had the political will. Unfortunately, it seems the Prime Minister is too out of touch to realise the very real consequences currently facing many across the country.

“An immediate rent freeze, alongside an eviction ban, would go a long way to prevent people being made homeless during this cost of living crisis.

“In the longer term, councils should be given the power to bring in rent controls in areas where the housing market is overheated. 

“And I want to see much stricter controls on the type of new homes being built to include more affordable and social housing for buying and renting.”

Notes

1

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/expenditure/articles/impactofincreasedcostoflivingonadultsacrossgreatbritain/februarytomay2023

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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6 July 2023

Reacting to comments made by the boss of Shell in a BBC interview [1], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“Without even the vaguest hint of irony, the boss of Shell, which recently vowed to scale back on its climate change pledges [2], says it would be “dangerous and irresponsible” to cut oil and gas production, blaming the slow pace of the transition towards renewables. 

“This is fossil fuel spin at its worst. The truly dangerous and irresponsible thing to do is to continue with business as usual at a time when temperature records are tumbling on a daily basis [3] and the International Energy Agency has said there must be no new investments in oil, gas and coal [4]. 

“It is companies like Shell that stand in the way of a rapid move towards renewables, aided and abetted by a Conservative government that continues to grant licences for more oil and gas exploration.”

Notes

1. Oil giant Shell warns cutting production ‘dangerous’ – BBC News

2. Shell joins BP and Total in U-turning on climate pledges ‘to reward shareholders’ | Euronews

3. Tuesday was world’s hottest day on record – breaking Monday’s record | The Guardian

4. No new oil, gas or coal development if world is to reach net zero by 2050, says world energy body | Climate The Guardian

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5 July 2023

Responding to a consultation on the closure of ticketing offices at all rail stations, Green Party Transport spokesperson Matt Edwards said:

“Any decision to close station ticket offices would be another short-sighted decision by a government that does not care about people who use public transport to get around.”

Edwards, who is also Leader of the Green Party Group on Bradford Council, added:

“Anyone who uses the train will know that the machines at our stations are not reliable and they don’t always make it clear which ticket is the cheapest ticket to buy. This will also make it more difficult for people who need to pay for tickets with cash.

“Being able to speak to someone is vital for many passengers and plans to close ticketing offices will make travelling by train more different for thousands of passengers – especially passengers with disabilities, those with limited mobility and parents travelling with children.

“Instead of another needless fight with unions and passengers, the government should be focusing on getting services running on time, dealing with overcrowding and making travelling by rail more convenient and affordable. Closing ticket offices will achieve none of that.”

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