Greens call for disability to be placed at the heart of new Labour government

Responding to the news that there will be no dedicated disability minister in government, Mags Lewis, Green Party Spokesperson for Disability said,

“Whilst it is to be welcomed that the Government finally announced the new Disability Minister late last week, it is a huge concern to see the role has been added to, or amalgamated with, the Minister for Social Security.

“This means that there will be no dedicated disability minister in government.

“Sir Stephen Timms will be the Secretary of State (Minister for Social Security and Disability), but with disability a notoriously neglected area and with us being shamefully under-represented in the House of Commons and indeed every area of government, what message does this send to the 16 million disabled people in the UK?

“Whilst disability is the responsibility of every minister and disability crosses all areas of government, such has health, DWP and social services, we need a minister with the time, focus and authority to champion the transformational change desperately needed and to see us not as a problem, but as an asset.

“Waiting over a week for a minister to be appointed, and for it to be added onto another department, sends a clear message to disabled communities that we are not a priority.

“It is only by having a dedicated and high profile minister with a cross government brief, will we see any positive change in structures and the dismal position of many disabled people in the UK.”

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Equalising capital gains tax could pay for lifting the two-child benefit cap many times

The Green Party is today arguing that hundreds of thousands of children can be lifted out of poverty if Labour committed to equalising capital gains tax to pay to scrap the two-child benefit cap. The four newly elected Green MPs, will be proposing a reasoned amendment to the King’s Speech that includes the scrapping of the two-child benefit.  

The IFS estimates that the cap will impact 2.63 million children by the end of this parliament and that scrapping the cap would cost in the region of £3.4billion – before taking into account the wider economic impact of poverty on health and welfare systems. In their recent manifesto, the Green Party estimated that making Capital Gains Tax fairer could raise £16bn, a move that would impact less than 2% of income taxpayers [2]. This £16bn figure is supported by research conducted by Arun Advani, a tax expert at the University of Warwick, who estimated that equalising CGT and income tax rates would raise £16.7bn a year [3].

Green MPs will tomorrow propose an amendment to propose the government scraps the two-child benefit cap. Green Party Co-Leader, Carla Denyer MP, speaking on behalf of the Green group of MPs said,  

“I think Labour are serious when they say they want to change the country. But the change they are looking to achieve will always be hamstrung for as long as they limit their own potential to raise additional revenue to spend on frontline services. The impact of this approach is already clear. Every day we have children going hungry, unable to concentrate in school or struggling to ascertain even the very basics – this is the real world impact of child poverty.  And so today we’re offering Labour a positive fairer taxation that will allow them to redistribute money from some of the wealthiest to some of the very poorest. This is a political choice that they must now make.”   

The IFS looked at the disparity of how the two-child benefit cap affects different families, and noted particularly the figures relating to British-Pakistani and British-Bangladeshi children saying “We estimate that 43% of children in households with one adult of Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin (400,000 children) would be affected by the policy when fully rolled out, compared with 17% of children in other households (2.4 million children).” 

Commenting, Green Party Work, Employment and Social Security Spokesperson, Prof Catherine Rowett said, “Scrapping the two-child benefit cap is a moral and practical imperative. It is a matter of social, economic and racial justice. Today we have outlined one way that Labour, if they had the political will, could choose to help millions of children. And child poverty blights lives and costs millions, as generations of children are condemned to lower achievement and a lifetime of poor health. When they say there is no money, remember this is a political choice – they’re ignoring the political, social and economic costs of keeping children in poverty.”  

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Southgate’s legacy is “one that restored a sense of real hope in our national psyche”

Responding to the resignation of England Manager, Gareth Southgate, Green Party Co-Leader, Adrian Ramsay, took to X (formerly Twitter) to say:

“Gareth Southgate has modelled a new form of national leadership that puts kindness and compassion at the heart of all we do. 

His legacy will be one not only of extraordinary sporting achievements having secured two finals, but also one that restored a sense of real hope in our national psyche. 

I wish him all the very best in what he goes onto next.”


by Green Party

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“mired in scandal and controversy since day one” – Green Party responds to Welsh First Minister’s resignation

Responding to the news that the Welsh First Minister, Vaughan Gething, has resigned, Wales Green Party Leader, Anthony Slaughter said, “After over three months of chaos at the heart of Welsh Government the news that Vaughan Gething has finally resigned following the resignation of four ministers this morning is to be welcomed, but questions must be asked as to why this situation was tolerated for so long, damaging and undermining devolution and our democracy. 

“At a time when Wales faces multiple crises, not least the ongoing situation at Port Talbot, there has been an absence of any real and meaningful direction from a government too busy squabbling amongst itself.

“The First Minister has been mired in scandal and controversy since day one of his appointment and his continuous arrogant dismissal of any questions reflects the complacency at the heart of a Welsh Labour Government that does not welcome scrutiny.  

“This highlights the need for new voices in the Senedd, which is why we are determined to get elected Green representation at the Senedd in 2026, Green MS’s who will hold the government to account, demanding transparency and proper scrutiny. 

“It’s time for the chaos in Cardiff Bay to stop. Wales deserves better.” 


by Green Party

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Green Party calls for reinstatement of Dubs refugee scheme

Following the tragic death of four more people in the channel, Green Party Migration and Refugee Spokesperson, Benali Hamdache, said:

“The loss of life is a tragedy and acts as stark reminder why we need safe and legal routes for those seeking asylum.

“Today The Green Party is reiterating our call to reinstate the Dubs refugee scheme that allowed unaccompanied child refugees with family connections to the UK to settle here.

“This is absolutely the first step that Labour could take. In 2017 Yvette Cooper described the closure of the Dubs scheme as “shameful” and we agree it was. And so today we call on her to take immediate action to reinstate this scheme at the earliest possible opportunity.”


/ by Andrew Bell

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