19 April 2022

Responding to the Government’s announcement that some train fares will be cut for a five-week period from April to May, Green Party deputy leader Amelia Womack said,

“This slapdash pledge won’t counter the decade of soaring rail costs. Covering only off-peak travel and failing to cover half-term mean that those most squeezed by rail price hikes won’t see the benefits of this scheme. If the government really wanted to help those facing rising prices they would force rail companies to permanently cut commuter fares.”

“In France [1], Germany [2] and New Zealand [3], governments are taking bold action to cap rail fares at a price that is affordable for everyone. The UK should be following that lead and going further by permanently bringing down rail prices on routes that people use consistently.To truly reduce the cost of living and ensure that the greenest option is the cheapest option, we have to reduce fares for all train users, including commuters.

“We also need investment in reliable and affordable buses, which have been woefully neglected by this Government. Scotland, where the Greens have introduced free bus travel for under-22s, shows that free bus travel is possible and effective [4]. Bus services are facing meltdown unless there is a rapid and urgent increase to funding to build back passenger numbers after the pandemic.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1 

Rail travel in the Greater Paris area has been capped at €5 (excluding airport travel). https://www.thelocal.fr/20220307/rail-travel-in-greater-paris-area-capped-at-e5-per-ticket/ 

2 

Germany is offering all citizens the use of regional transport for only €9 per month for three months. https://www.thelocal.de/20220324/german-taxpayers-to-receive-e300-lump-sum-for-energy-costs/ 

3 

New Zealand is reducing public transport fares by 50% for a similar period. https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/news/road-user-charging-tolling/new-zealand-halves-public-transport-fares-amid-global-energy-price-increases.html 

4

https://greens.scot/news/the-scottish-green-budget-deal-2021-22

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14 April 2022

Responding to the government’s plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“This is absolutely no way to treat people who are seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. This inhumane policy is yet another sign that the UK government is turning into an authoritarian regime that appears unconcerned with whether or not it remains within  the rule of law domestically and internationally.

“It is horrifying that Boris Johnson would commend such a cruel proposal, which could very well break international law as well as being costly and ineffective, simply as a way to appease the Tory backbenchers and divert attention from his own criminality. 

“The decision to send those seeking sanctuary to Rwanda, a country with an appalling human rights record [1], seems to be nothing more than an unspeakably cruel attempt at distracting people from the Prime Minister’s law-breaking and lies surrounding partygate.

”Sacrificing innocent bystanders to defend the leader is a technique typical of authoritarian regimes. Ministers, spokespeople and civil servants have all been sacrificed and now the most vulnerable people seeking asylum are being added to the list. That in itself demonstrates that the Tories are not fit to govern.”

ENDS

Notes 

1

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/09/27/how-does-paul-kagame-rwandas-president-get-away-with-it

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12 April 2022

Responding to Downing Street’s confirmation that both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be fined for attending parties during lockdown[1], Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“There is nowhere left for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to hide. They both broke the very laws they made to try and keep this country safe in a pandemic and must now resign.

“This is a damning indictment of the reckless culture of a Conservative Party and Prime Minister that consider themselves untouchable.

“During lockdown, people throughout the country were making unimaginable sacrifices, yet Boris Johnson and his chums thought they could act with apparent impunity, regardless of what they were asking others to do.

“Not only is this a cruel and callous way to run a government, it also shows that throughout the Conservative Party there runs a streak of sheer contempt for the vast majority of us. 

“The only way either Boris Johnson or Rishi Sunak can maintain a shred of decency is to apologise for the harm caused and step aside.”

ENDS

Notes

1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61083402

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5 April 2022

Responding to news that the Government has ordered a new report into the impact of fracking, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: 

“Fracking will only deepen our country’s dependence on fossil fuels, will not bring down fuel bills for people who are struggling, and will cause yet more damage to local communities and to the climate.

“The most effective and sustainable way of bringing down the cost of living is to invest in insulating houses and massively ramping up renewable energy. Fracking is an expensive and dangerous distraction from that urgent goal.”

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5 April 2022

• Green Party co-leaders will promise to deliver locally-led insulation projects to reduce energy needs and keep people’s homes warm amid cost of living crisis
• Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay will visit Central Hill housing estate in Lambeth to speak to residents campaigning for retrofit and refurb of their homes
• Denyer: “Insulation programmes don’t sound very glamorous but what they can deliver is nothing short of incredible. Imagine – a warm, snug home even on the coldest days. Little to no heating bill at all. A neighbourhood that has almost zero emissions. That’s what Greens are pushing for here alongside residents.”
• Ramsay: “Because that’s what Greens are all about – fairness and community – sensible, practical solutions –  and protecting the places we live and the people we care about.” 

The Green Party will promise to help tackle the cost of living crisis at the launch of its local election campaign today [Tuesday 5 April].

Co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay will set out how Green Party councillors have been leading projects across the country to insulate peoples’ homes, helping to keep them warm and reduce bills. 

The leaders will visit Central Hill housing estate, in London, which is currently facing demolition under regeneration plans by Lambeth Council [1]. There, they will speak to residents campaigning against the estate’s demolition, who instead want to see a retrofit and refurb project carried out so they can stay in their homes and ensure they are warm and comfortable.

Denyer and Ramsay will promise Green Party councillors elected on May 5 will work to emulate those in Green-led Lewes District Council, who are leading the way by working with six other local authorities to retrofit 40,000 council homes, using the collective financial firepower of their housing maintenance accounts – a combined total of £1 billion. [2]

Elsewhere, Green-led Stroud District Council has also set out plans to invest £180 million to retrofit, insulate and decarbonise its five thousand-strong housing stock to ensure warm, sustainable housing for residents. [3]

At the launch, Denyer will set out how Greens elected across the country are working hard to build fairer, greener communities.

Denyer is expected to say: 

“In the middle of this cost of living crisis, we know what needs to be done and yet the government is falling so chronically short. 

“On top of that, Labour and Conservative-run councils up and down the country are not listening to what residents want. The Labour council here in Lambeth want to knock down this estate. To displace families and friends from their community. 

“As a result they have simply neglected these buildings for a decade. And they are forcing people to live in constant fear of losing their homes, with all the physical and mental trauma that brings. 

“Greens have another plan. Not to discard these homes but to upgrade them.

“Insulation programmes don’t sound very glamorous but what they can deliver is nothing short of incredible. 

“Imagine – a warm, snug home even on the coldest days. Little to no heating bill at all. A neighbourhood that has almost zero emissions. 

“That’s what Greens are pushing for here alongside residents.”

Ramsay is expected to say:

“Because that’s what Greens are all about – fairness and community – sensible, practical solutions –  and protecting the places we live and the people we care about.

“Local Green Councillor Pete Elliott has been working with the people who live in this neighbourhood.

“Living and breathing the Green value of community first – that more power should be in the hands of the people who are impacted by the decisions made. And why is Pete doing that?

“Because he thinks it’s fair that everyone should have a warm home. He thinks it’s fair that no-one should feel terrified of their next energy bill. And he thinks it’s fair and right that we take the steps needed to protect our natural world.”

ENDS

Notes

1 https://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2020/12/greens-back-resident-campaign-to-stop-demolition-on-lambeths-central-hill-estate/

2 https://greenworld.org.uk/article/lewes-model-explained

3 https://greenworld.org.uk/article/warm-words-warm-homes-stroud

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