Reacting to news that 11 councils have asked the government to postpone elections this year, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP said:

“People must be allowed to vote at the local elections in May. It would be an outrage if the first outcome of a plan the government claims will devolve power from Westminster to local areas is to see democracy cancelled. Our fragile democracy can’t afford that.

“Behind the rushed and undemocratic pleas from County Council leaders to deny their electors a vote, is the fact that many of those closer to the voters – district and borough council leaders – are opposed.

“With a five-fold increase in Green councillor numbers over the last five local elections, it does look like the two big parties are running scared of facing the voters.

“Indeed, how can the government claim an electoral mandate for these major local government changes if those most impacted see their elections postponed?

“The Green Party is urging the government to save our democracy, allow these long-planned elections to take place and get around the table to discuss how to make devolution work for people in local areas across the country.

“The imposition of large unitary authorities doesn’t help people engage with decisions being made locally. We want decisions made closest to where they have the greatest impact with significant devolution of powers and funding from Westminster. Without that, people will grow ever more cynical about politics.”

Responding to new data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service showing that the average temperature in 2024 was 1.6C above preindustrial levels, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer MP said:

“This news comes as uncontrollable wildfires rage in Los Angeles, and just months after unprecedented flooding in Spain killed over 200 people.

“The target of limiting warming to below 1.5 degrees was an attempt to prevent the deadliest effects of the climate crisis. Breaching that limit is catastrophic for humanity – and yet our leaders are sleepwalking into this deadly new future.

“We need to massively speed up the transition away from fossil fuels – that is the bottom line. In a world of 1.5 degree warming it’s unconscionable that the government is still letting some new North Sea oil and gas drilling go ahead – Starmer must revoke those consents and licenses immediately.

“But we also need to start thinking about how we make our communities more resilient in the face of the extreme weather that is now unavoidable. From flooding to extreme heat, our homes and neighbourhoods need to be fit for the future.”

Reacting to Keir Starmer’s plans for the NHS in which he confirmed there will be greater use of the private sector to help reduce hospital waiting lists in England, co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay MP, said:

“The Green Party has long argued for a shift towards community focused health provision, and this approach is welcome. However, Keir Starmer is now talking about a “new agreement” to expand the relationship between the NHS and the private healthcare sector. We need clarity on exactly what this means for the long term as we do not need more backdoor privatisation. 

“It is vital that NHS capacity is built up, and that the promised Community Diagnostic Centres and surgical hubs are publicly run and GPs properly resourced to see their patients. We also need restored budgets for public health and clear long-term funding commitments for hospital trusts, so that they can better plan to deliver better care for us all.

“The Green Party has always proudly defended the NHS against creeping privatisation. We are committed to a fully public health service and to keeping the profit motive well away from our NHS.  

“With an ageing population and ever greater demand, it is more important than ever that we restore NHS founding principles and champion services that are publicly delivered as well as publicly paid for.”

Green Peers Jenny Jones and Natalie Bennett respond to news that new Peers have been appointed to the House of Lords:

“We are the two Green Party peers who have campaigned for the Lords to be replaced with an elected second chamber. We hope these new peers will join us in doing the same. 

“If the second chamber matched the votes at the general election, there would be more than fifty greens under a fair votes system. Instead, we have the establishment parties constantly appointing people and increasing the size of the house for their own purposes.”

Responding to Ofwat’s announcement of planned water bill rises over the next five years, co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay, said: 

“England has one of the only fully privatised water networks in the world, and we are all paying a high price for this.  

“Privatisation has resulted in £80bn being leaked out to shareholders in dividends since 1990 and some water companies paying out more in dividends than they’ve made in profit. This shortfall has been made up through borrowing, leaving companies in serious debt.  

“Meanwhile, water companies were responsible for releasing raw sewage for 3.6m hours last year, double the amount recorded the year before.  

“Yet despite this record of public failure and private reward, water companies have pressed Ofwat to allow eye-watering rises in water bills so they can give even larger returns to private investors. 

“The way to end this model of failure and ensure money is invested in improving the quality of services provided, infrastructure improvements, and protecting our environment is to bring water back into public ownership.”