26 April 2018

The Green Party of England and Wales today responded to the news that the Home Office have had targets set for the deportation of undocumented migrants, despite Amber Rudd telling the house that they hadn’t. [1]

Co-leader Jonathan Bartley felt that the news was further proof that Theresa May’s “hostile environment” was fundamentally unjust.

“This has confirmed our worst fears about the Home Office. You can’t set targets for people you want to kick out without deciding that some people won’t get a fair hearing, because there’s a quota to meet by the end of the year.

“Add the context of the Windrush scandal to this whole affair and what you have is proof that the Home Office is rotten to the core and not acting in the interests of the most vulnerable. The fact that they’ve tried to cover this up shows that even they know this isn’t right.”

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/26/home-office-set-targets-for-deportation-of-illegal-immigrants-amber-rudd

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23 April 2018

The Green Party of England and Wales today expressed their anger at the Office of National Statistic report that the number of zero-hours contracts in UK rose by 100,000 in 2017. [1]

Co-Leader Jonathan Bartley said that today’s news underlined how the Conservative Party could not be trusted to uphold workers’ rights. He said:

“We are living in the age of insecurity under the Conservatives. How can anyone be expected to plan, to save or to live if they don’t know how long they are going to work or how much they will earn week to week?

“The Government has known that this was a problem for at least half a decade, and yet have continued to show complacency over insecure work. The Government needs to get a grip, and not just stem the tide of exploitative zero hours contracts but get rid of them altogether.” 

ENDS

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/23/number-of-zero-hours-contracts-in-uk-rose-by-100000-in-2017-ons

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12 April 2018

The Green Party has responded to reports of Britain planning to join the USA in bombing targets in Syria. 

Jonathan Bartley and Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“The horror of the chemical weapons attack in Douma, in Eastern Ghouta, at the weekend was truly sickening. The UK’s response must have the backing of parliament, debated and voted on by MPs free from party whips so they can decide on the evidence and with their conscience.

“The Green Party will always listen to all the evidence, and we are not persuaded that an attack would deter conflict. To the contrary, we believe there is a serious risk of further escalation which will only bring greater conflict and suffering to the people of the region. To bomb Assad without a serious, thought-out strategy risks making a horrific situation even worse, and this will be the key test of any British Government proposal.

“But tough action doesn’t have to mean military intervention and Britain should urgently explore every alternative to further bombing. This should start with a crack-down on Russia, including unilateral and international sanctions. Britain must also step up as a diplomatic leader and strain every sinew to get all relevant parties around the table for discussions to broker peace.

“In the longer term, and in recognition of the appalling failures of recent years in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere, we must enhance and expand UN peacekeeping and peace-building capabilities. Britain must too urgently take more refugees from the region to join those already settled here.”

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9 April 2018

The Green Party has accused fossil fuel company Ineos of make a “blatant attempt to detoxify their image” after it launched a healthy living campaign [1].

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, has called on Ineos to prove it really cares about children’s health by investing in renewable energy instead of fracking.

Bartley said:

“Even Ineos cannot fail to see the obvious irony of a healthy living campaign run by a fossil fuel company. Fracking is dirty and dangerous – any drilling for gas will put our climate targets out of reach and risks contaminating local air, water and soil. If Ineos really cared about our children’s health and futures they would stop fracking and invest in clean, renewable energy. As it stands this blatant attempt to detoxify their image is fooling no one.”

ENDS.

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5 April 2018

* Greens promise to repair social homes, give residents a say in their future and stand up against unwanted demolition of estates

* Jonathan Bartley, co-leader, calls on Government to “treat social housing with the value it deserves” and end Right to Buy

* Bartley: “Greens value social housing and will fight to protect it”

The Green Party will promise to protect social housing today at the launch of its local election campaign.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, will make the pledge at the launch in Central Hill housing estate in London [1], one of six facing demolition under regeneration plans by Lambeth Council [2].

Bartley will promise Green councillors elected on May 3 will always work to repair social homes instead of demolishing them in favour of developers building private housing. He will also pledge Green councillors will give people a say in their futures – with meaningful input into plans for their community and a ballot for residents on the demolition of their homes.

Greens are contesting more than 2200 seats on May 3 and hope to elect Greens on more local authorities than ever before as the party works towards having a Green on every council [3].

At the launch Bartley will also call on the Government to “treat social housing with the value it deserves” and end Right to Buy, which has seen the number of social homes sold increase by more than 400% since Conservative ministers revamped the rules in 2012 [4].

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, is expected to say:

“Cosy, complacent councils like this one in Lambeth have forgotten the communities they are meant to serve. Greens know that houses and flats aren’t commodities, they are the homes where we build our lives, start families and make memories.

“Any community which puts a Green on their council chooses someone who values social housing and will fight to protect it. Greens will always work to give people a say in their futures – and stand with them to oppose the demolition of homes against their wishes

“With the political will, we could work to repair social homes rather than demolish them and scatter communities across the country. It’s time, too, the Government treated social housing with the value it deserves and ended the Right to Buy scheme which has pushed stock to crisis point.

“Greens will always be a bold, brave voice standing up for local communities and challenging the status quo. One Green has the power to transform a community.”

Notes:

Green Party local election campaign launch

Thursday 5 April 2018

Speech from Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, with campaigners in Central Hill housing estate in London, which is facing demolition.

2.

In Lambeth Green councillor Scott Ainslie has stood with residents on six estates facing demolition by the Labour led council. The planned regeneration of Central Hill housing estate will destroy a community and leave the borough with fewer social homes as a result. The Green Party believes residents should always get a say over what happens to their homes and will never stand by while social homes are destroyed.

https://lambeth.greenparty.org.uk/news/2018/03/06/green-party-councillor-denied-call-in-of-central-hill-decision-by-lambeth-council/

3.

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2018/04/05/green-party-launches-ambition-for-a-green-on-every-council/

4.

In April 2012 Conservative minister “revamped” RTB rules. Since then the number of homes sold off has increased by 409 per cent: from 2,638 in 2011-12 to 13,416 in 2016-17. They raised the maximum discount on a property to £75,000 – it has since increased further, to more than £100,000, in some parts of the country.
 

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