Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for private jets to be grounded in order to manage demand amongst the expected jet fuel crisis, after government figures suggested Brits might have to change their summer holiday plans. 

In response, Zack Polanski accused the government of failing to act in the interests of ordinary people, saying that ministers should ‘take action’ to prevent British holidaymakers from being hit by jet fuel shortages. 

Polanski’s call comes after a group of Members of the European Parliament urged the European Commission to impose a temporary EU-wide ban on non-essential private jet travel. 

Polanski said: 

“Many British families look forward year-round to their summer holiday abroad – and now face their flights being cancelled as the impact of Trump’s illegal war in Iran ripples across the globe.

“Yet instead of acting to prevent ordinary Brits being hit by the crisis, the government seems to be telling people that they’ll simply have to put up or shut up as their plans are ruined.

“This is a choice. While ordinary people pay the price, the super rich are simply getting in their private jets at will – wasting huge amounts of jet fuel on unnecessary trips. 

“The government should act now: put in place a temporary ban on non-essential private jet travel to save the summer holiday for the families who have worked hard to save for it.” 

ENDS 

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for private jets to be grounded in order to manage demand amongst the expected jet fuel crisis, after government figures suggested Brits might have to change their summer holiday plans. 

In response, Zack Polanski accused the government of failing to act in the interests of ordinary people, saying that ministers should ‘take action’ to prevent British holidaymakers from being hit by jet fuel shortages. 

Polanski’s call comes after a group of Members of the European Parliament urged the European Commission to impose a temporary EU-wide ban on non-essential private jet travel. 

Polanski said: 

“Many British families look forward year-round to their summer holiday abroad – and now face their flights being cancelled as the impact of Trump’s illegal war in Iran ripples across the globe.

“Yet instead of acting to prevent ordinary Brits being hit by the crisis, the government seems to be telling people that they’ll simply have to put up or shut up as their plans are ruined.

“This is a choice. While ordinary people pay the price, the super rich are simply getting in their private jets at will – wasting huge amounts of jet fuel on unnecessary trips. 

“The government should act now: put in place a temporary ban on non-essential private jet travel to save the summer holiday for the families who have worked hard to save for it.” 

ENDS 

Green leader Zack Polanski to launch the new charter at May Day Rally in Manchester today.

The Green Party has today launched a Workers Charter to ‘rebalance’ the relationship between workers and employers, and to put people before profit.

The Greens would introduce a new Employment Rights Act, including key rights Labour watered down after pressure from lobbyists. These include:

• Day-one rights on unfair dismissal
• Sectoral bargaining
• Full bans on fire-and-rehire and zero-hours contracts
• A pay guarantee, with a £15 minimum wage for all ages

All anti-union and anti-strike laws introduced since 1979 would be scrapped, to ensure strong legal rights to strike, picket, protest and partake in solidarity action.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, launching the charter, said:

“The reforms introduced by Margaret Thatcher nearly half a century ago began the long march downwards in the balance of power and wealth in our country – from those who produce and do the work to those who profit from it. Successive governments have continued this, and the current Labour government’s measures on workers’ rights, while an improvement, are weak and have been watered down after pressure from corporate lobbyists. The Greens are the new workers’ party, and we will address the massive imbalance in our workplaces and give control back to workers.”

The full Workers Charter can be found here.

Responding to calls for more restrictions on peaceful protest, Zack Polanski said:

“Jewish communities are waking up this morning feeling incredibly scared after yet another odious antisemitic attack.

“This is a time for politicians to work together to protect Jewish people – but some party leaders are instead using this moment to make political attacks.

“I am the only Jewish leader of a major political party and I suffer antisemitic abuse every single day. For other politicians to use antisemitism as a political football, especially after these horrific attacks, is utterly appalling and should be beneath them.

“We must also be very clear that any response to these abhorrent attacks that curtails our civil liberties would be wrong. For a Government to seek to use the pain of the Jewish community to restrict our right to peaceful protest would be a dangerous error. We must not respond to grave moments like this by turning inwards, or by clamping down on our hard won rights. Instead we must stand firm both in defending communities against such attacks, and by confidently protecting the right of all of us to peaceful protest.”

Responding to the Golders Green terror attacks, a Green Party spokesperson said:

“This was an appalling act of antisemitic violence. Jewish people deserve safety and belonging wherever they live and we stand in solidarity with the British Jewish community. Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones and we pay tribute to the emergency services, including Hatzola ambulances, for their swift response.”