1 February 2022

Responding to the release of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s final figures for 2020’s greenhouse gas emissions in the UK today [1], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“While 2020 saw a drop in greenhouse gas emissions due to the pandemic and reduced travel, these figures do not provide any reassurance. Greenhouse gas emissions have rebounded since 2020 as the Government has continued to resist meaningful investment in cleaner transport, renewable energy and better-insulated homes. 

“Public transport remains inaccessible or unaffordable in most places outside London. Yet the Government is still throwing an absurd £27 billion into building new roads, even though their own climate advisors warn very clearly that this could increase greenhouse gas emissions. That money would be much better spent on public transport, walking and cycling. 

“Now, the cost of living is soaring as a result of the Government’s reluctance to invest in renewable energy instead of relying on oil and gas, and their dismal failure to make houses more energy efficient means that people are paying huge bills for heating that leaks out of their draughty homes. Ramping up renewable energy and insulating homes is the best way to ensure that no one has to pay exorbitant bills, as well as saving carbon.” 

Notes

1

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-to-2020  

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31 January 2022

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has demanded Boris Johnson resign after a report into parties held in Downing Street during lockdown found there were “failures of leadership” [1].

Ramsay said:

“This report confirms what we all already knew – that there have been serious failings at the top of this government and the buck has to stop with Boris Johnson.

“Despite his insistence in Parliament that he had no awareness of any parties in Downing Street, we know that while the vast majority of people were following the rules to try and keep their loved ones safe, the Prime Minister and his mates were partying in direct defiance of the safety measures.

“Not only has the Prime Minister undermined public trust in the coronavirus safety measures, his desperate attempts to cling onto power are a distraction from urgent issues that are spiralling out of control – the cost of living, potential war in Ukraine, the climate crisis. 

“There can be no more excuses, no more distractions, no more pretences. Boris Johnson must go.

“But let’s be clear that Boris Johnson is only a symptom of the much deeper problem of corruption at the top of the Conservative Party. Our political system is so broken that it breeds politicians who think they can get away with anything. It is long past time for an overhaul to end the culture of entitlement and lack of accountability in Parliament.” 

ENDS

Notes

1

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1051374/Investigation_into_alleged_gatherings_on_government_premises_during_Covid_restrictions_-_Update.pdf

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31 January 2022

The Green Party co-leaders have set out plans to help tackle the cost of living as part of a major announcement to mark their first 100 days in office [1].

With households across the country facing a staggering 50% hike in their energy bills in April, the Green Party has said it is more vital than ever to set out ways now to help households through this cost of living crisis.

Following the call at the Green Party autumn conference for a £320 winter fuel payment to all, co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay have said the party will support every Green Party councillor in the country to push for a retrofit revolution in their authority, as well as pressure the government into taking immediate action to help those who need it most. 

The leaders will use the example set by Green councillors in Lewes, 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.

Now, the Green Party co-leaders have said they will work with Zoe Nicholson, the Green leader of Lewes District Council, to enable Green councillors to roll this initiative out across the country.

At the same time, they are urging the government to reverse the recent £20 cut to Universal Credit, to ensure those in receipt of welfare payments would receive an extra £1,000 to help pay for their energy bills this year.

Denyer said:

“Once again, this government is doing nothing while millions of people in England and Wales are left facing the prospect of having to choose between eating and heating, and things look like they are only going to get worse.

“Greens are not sitting around waiting for the Government to make a move. We are taking the lead from the ground up. Green Party councillors will ask their local authorities to trial a scheme which should ensure that families across the country have warmer homes and cheaper bills.

“Work like this shows why it is so important to elect Green representatives at every level of government. A Green in the room makes a difference.”

The Green Party currently has around 600 elected councillors from every level of local government in England and Wales. In 14 authorities the Greens are in administration, including Brighton and Hove, Lancaster, Lewes and Sheffield.

Greens will also push local authorities to use this opportunity to work with colleges and educational institutes to provide green skills training and develop the workforce of the future. 

Ramsay said:

“This has to be the kickstart of a retrofit revolution across the country, and it is Greens who are already leading the way.

“If councils pool resources and look to work collaboratively, it will not only create a huge demand for jobs, it will also help the millions of people who are forced to live with the incredible stress of not knowing how they are going to pay their bills.

“On top of that, this is a serious boost to tackling climate change. Energy is the biggest carbon emitter in the UK. As Greens we are determined to do everything we can to create warm homes, cheaper bills and a safer environment.”

Zoe Nicholson, Green leader of Lewes District Council, said:

“Councils like Lewes have responsibility to lead the way where the government lags behind and find ways to support our tenants to live in warmer and cheaper homes. 

“Working with other councils means that we can move faster on retrofitting, solve the skills crisis in the workforce by developing a guaranteed pipeline of work for the renewable industry, and form local retrofit taskforces that will help those in private rented accommodation and homeowners.” 

Notes

1

Monday 31 January marks 100 full days since co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay gave their maiden speech to the Green Party Autumn Conference 2021: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2021/10/22/co-leaders-autumn-conference-speech-2021/

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27 January 2022

Responding to today’s news that energy company EDF will receive an additional £100 million cash injection from the Government to help it build the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, Green Party co-leader and MP candidate in Suffolk Adrian Ramsay said:

“Nuclear power is a burden and a risk, not a solution. The next decade is crucial for cutting carbon emissions but nuclear will only slow the energy transition, not speed it up. Even with constant injections of yet more taxpayers’ cash, the energy from Sizewell C won’t come onstream for years, whereas more cost-effective solar and wind can be deployed right now.

“At a time when people are already struggling with energy prices, it is absurd to throw yet more millions of pounds into a nuclear plant that could just drive energy prices up further [1] when we could be expanding cheaper, cleaner alternatives like solar or wind. 

“If built, Sizewell C would not only be a blight on Suffolk, but it would be a drag on the UK’s race to meet climate targets.”

Notes

1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60140854 and https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/27/ministers-invest-100m-in-edfs-20bn-sizewell-c-nuclear-power-station 

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Responding to today’s announcement that a coal-mining company has secured a license to mine 40 million more tonnes of coal at Aberpergwm [1], Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said:

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