23 February 2023

Responding to Labour Leader Keir Starmer’s speech setting out his “five missions” [1], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: 

“Keir Starmer has achieved the remarkable feat of combining lofty words with wrong-headed priorities to put our country on the road to further climate crisis and social injustice.

“His prioritisation of growth, seeking to put the UK economy at the top of the G7 table, made no mention of what limits there can be to such growth. It’s as if the climate and ecological emergencies suddenly cease to exist whenever there is talk of growth. 

“Economic growth for its own sake will mean supercharging environmentally destructive industries, when what we need is rapid investment in home insulation and clean and renewable energy.

“His call for ‘An NHS actually fit for the future’ is meaningless without a socially just plan to make social care free at the point of use, as the Greens have proposed.

“The country needs an alternative that is bold and realistic. The public wants big changes, with huge support for wealth taxes, pay rises for workers and a climate proofed economy. That is the route to a fairer, greener country.”

[1] https://labour.org.uk/missions/ 

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21 February 2023

Responding to the six-month trial of a four-day week [1] which involved 61 companies almost 3000 workers, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: 

“A four-day week works. This trial has shown it reduces stress, lowers levels of burnout, and prevents employees quitting. 

“And while employees have had an extra day a week to do what they want or need to do, all without any loss to their pay, the companies involved report no decline in company revenue. What’s not to like about a four-day week?

“Workers in the UK currently work the longest hours in Europe [2]. This is having a detrimental effect on mental health and wellbeing for employees and reduced productivity for employers. It’s clear that our current model simply isn’t working. 

“Greens have long championed the idea of a four-day week. This sixth-month trial proves that if it was to become the norm across the country we would have happier, more productive employees. There are clearly benefits for employers too, with less staff absence and higher retention rates; nearly all those involved in the trial have opted to retain the four-day week.”  

Notes

[1] Nearly all firms stick with four-day week after ‘incredible’ trial of shorter hours – Mirror Online

[2] https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/british-workers-putting-longest-hours-eu-tuc-analysis-finds 

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17 February 2023

With England facing hundreds more cuts to bus services due to the ending of government support [1], the Green Party is calling for the introduction of a £1 single fare on all routes across the country. 

Coined, ‘A One Pound Fare to Take You There,’ the policy seeks to increase usage of buses – passenger levels in most areas have never fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. 

The Greens are also calling for free bus travel for everyone under 21, and protection of existing schemes such as free local bus travel for over 60s in many areas.

They say these incentives must be coupled with huge investment in new buses and bus services and to ensure there are no cuts to existing services. They also want to re-regulate bus services with all regions operating a franchise system, where local authorities determine routes and frequencies, as is currently the case in London and Manchester. 

The Green Party say they would pay for bus service improvements by scrapping the £27bn road building programme – diverting this money to public transport – and allocating a proportion of their proposed carbon tax [2] to fund the £1 fare and free travel for under 21s.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“A One Pound Fare to Take You There scheme and free travel for under 21s must be combined with major investment in buses and bus services to boost bus travel across England. 

“We also need our buses to work for people, not the profit of large private bus companies. This is why Greens want to see greater powers for local councils to set routes and frequencies rather than private companies cherry-picking the profitable routes while leaving other passengers out in the cold and some communities completely cut off. 

“Subsidising public transport can result in savings elsewhere, cutting the costs of congestion, reducing health costs associated with air pollution and helping tackle carbon emissions and the huge costs we will incur from the climate crisis.”

Green Party councillor Ellie Chowns, Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy on Herefordshire council, which introduced free weekend buses using Covid recovery funds [3], said:

“Low cost, or even free buses, is not pie in the sky. Here in Herefordshire we had a hugely successful trial of free weekend buses using Covid recovery funds. 

“Across Europe low cost and free buses are a reality in many places too. Germany is introducing  a heavily discounted monthly transportation pass; Luxembourg offers nationwide free public transport and the French city of Dunkirk provides free buses and trains which has led to less traffic and discouraged car use [4]. 

“Low cost or free public transport is all about political choices. We can pay for high quality public transport by scrapping the damaging road building programme and diverting this money to public transport, and allocating a proportion of our proposed carbon tax policy into funding the One Pound Fare to Take You There scheme.”

Notes

[1] Warning hundreds of England bus services face cuts – BBC News

[2] Greens call on government to bring in carbon tax at COP26 | The Green Party

[3] FREE Bus Travel in Herefordshire on Weekends – Hereford City Council

[4] Free public transport gains traction in Europe – DW – 06/05/2022

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10 February 2023

The Green Party has announced Zoë Garbett will be its candidate for the Mayor of London next year as she set out her vision for a Green London in 2024.

Zoë spoke of her plans to make London a Greener, fairer city with measures including free bus travel for young people and cleaner ways to use Silvertown Tunnel.

The Greens are London’s third party, and the first to select both a candidate for the Mayor of London and candidates for the London-wide Assembly list after a selection process culminating in early February.

Zoë, a councillor for the Dalston ward in Hackney, previously ran for Mayor of Hackney in 2022 where she came second.

Zoë said:

“I’m overjoyed to have been chosen to be the Green Party’s candidate for London Mayor and want to say a huge thank you to Greens across London who have selected me – I’ve been overwhelmed with the support and I can’t wait to start this campaign.

“I’m also delighted to be standing with so many fantastic Greens for the Assembly- I’d like to thank everyone who put themselves forward, with so many great candidates the competition was tough – this shows what an exciting future we have ahead of us as a Party.

“I got into politics because I cannot sit by and watch issues and people being ignored. Greens are compassionate, proactive and incredibly hard working. And with the multiple crises we are facing – the cost of living and housing crisis, the crisis in our workforce and of course the climate crisis – the need for more elected Greens has never been more urgent.

“Everyday, Greens are putting our values into practice – and people like what they see. Just imagine what a Green-powered London could look like!

“We have the energy, ideas & candidates to run our most ambitious campaign yet – not just to set the agenda but to turn city hall Green in 2024.”

Zoë added that she would continue the current work of the Green Party in London to tackle issues across the city: “Londoners need a campaigning mayor – who will stand up for them, fight back against austerity and fight for more rights. This includes more devolved powers to London but more importantly – more power for residents over decisions made about their lives, homes and communities. We understand the issues facing Londoners. We are ready to take action. It’s time for political change and we are ready.”

Sian Berry, the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in 2016 and 2021, supported Zoë in this year’s internal campaign.

Speaking before the event, Sian said: “I am delighted Zoë was selected as the Green Party candidate for this vitally important role. She is a real talent, a breath of fresh air, and the best choice London could make for 2024.”

Notes:

1. Zoë won the internal selection with 51.2 percent of first preference votes, standing against two other internal candidates.

2. Members also selected the following as Green Party candidates on the London Assembly List: 
Sian Berry
Caroline Russell
Zack Polanski
Zoë Garbett
Benali Hamdache
Scott Ainslie
Ria Patel
Nate Higgins
Claire Sheppard
Shahrar Ali
Pete Elliot

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9 February 2023

Responding to Downing Street’s revelation that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak flew from Dorset to London and London to Cornwall in the space of 24 hours, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: 

“The Prime Minister seems incapable of understanding just how damaging his personal addiction to flying such short distances so regularly is to his government’s stated aim of tackling the climate crisis. Private jets are up to 14 times more polluting than commercial flights and 50 times more polluting than taking a train. He should be showing some leadership in reducing his carbon footprint, instead he is insulting everyone who is trying to do their bit for the environment.” 

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