Solar panel initiative should be just a first step


/ by Green Party

Green Party MP and co-leader Adrian Ramsay welcomed government plans to fund the installation of 400 solar power projects for schools and hospitals, (1) and called for Ministers to be more ambitious. 

“This is an important first step in recognising the enormous energy resource offered by all the unused roof space on schools and hospitals that will also help them to cut energy costs. Now need the government to get out of the slow lane. 

“We need the government to scale up this initiative. For instance, there are 24,000 schools in England alone, many of which could become energy generators with solar panels on their roofs. And the government should be extending the initiative to factories and warehouses. 

“Better still, the government should be insisting that all new buildings include solar panels in their design.” 

NOTES TO EDITORS  

  1. Great British Energy to cut bills for hospitals and schools – GOV.UK

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Green Party announces new CEO in “pivotal year for Green politics”

The Green Party of England and Wales has today announced the appointment of Harriet Lamb as the party’s new CEO. Harriet joins from the global environmental action NGO ‘WRAP’ where she currently serves as their CEO.  

The announcement comes just weeks before “pivotal” local elections where the party hopes to build on its record-breaking number of councillors and maintain momentum after last year’s record-breaking result in the General Election.  

From June, as CEO, Harriet will head up the party’s staff team and its day-to-day operations. 

Welcoming Harriet to the role, Green Party Co-Leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said,  

“I am delighted to welcome Harriet to the Green Party. She brings a wealth of experience leading and scaling up organisations centred on bringing about environmental and social justice. She evidently has the experience and passion to play a central role in growing our party and our impact towards our core mission.   

He continued, “The Green Party is on a roll. In the last few years we have quadrupled our number of councillors, entering administration on over 40 councils, and last year we saw a record General Election vote. With two party politics having broken down and people looking for alternatives, the Green Party’s positive vision for a fair, liveable future is needed more than ever. I look forward to working closely with Harriet in driving the party’s growth and impact to the next level.”  

Commenting, Harriet Lamb said, 

“I am super excited to be joining the Green Party and I am really looking forward to helping deliver the Party’s ambitious plans. I have spent my life working for charities driving social and environmental change – to end low pay, support refugees, nurturing peace in conflict-ridden countries, create the circular economy and most notably building the Fairtrade movement in the UK and globally – all values and issues dear to the Green Party and its agenda for positive change.” 

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Greens repeat call for UK to suspend all arms exports to Israel

Reacting to the resumption of attacks by Israeli forces on Gaza, Ellie Chowns, MP for North Herefordshire and Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson, said: 

“As Israel returns to its bombardment of Gaza, hundreds more lives have been lost. Families, children, entire communities – gone in an instant. This is horrific. Each of these lives mattered. Each of these deaths was preventable.

“The UK cannot remain complicit while bombs rain down on civilians. The government must act now: we must use all diplomatic means necessary to secure an immediate ceasefire and suspend all arms exports to the Israeli military including components of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which evidence suggests have been used in ways that violate international law and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. There can be no justification for continuing to supply arms while international law is being violated and humanitarian catastrophe unfolds.

“The people of Gaza are not only facing bombardment – they are also being starved. The blockade is preventing essential food, water, and medical aid from reaching those in desperate need. The UK government must demand the full and immediate flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and apply real diplomatic pressure to make that happen.

“We also repeat our call for the release of the hostages still held in Gaza. The families of those hostages deserve to see their loved ones return home.

“For too long, the UK has failed to take the necessary steps towards justice and peace. We must formally recognise the State of Palestine – a vital step towards a future based on equality, dignity, and the rule of law.

“The cycle of violence will not end without justice. There must be accountability for war crimes, an end to the occupation, and a real commitment to peace. The UK government must make a stronger stand now, before more lives are lost.”

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Siân Berry’s message to labour: stop scapegoating and stigmatising those in need


/ by Green Party

Reacting to the statement from Liz Kendal’s to parliament today on proposed cuts to welfare benefits [1], Siân Berry MP said:

“I’ve heard nothing today that reassures me the Government will stop scapegoating and stigmatising those in need, while impoverishing them to the tune of £5 billion. Young and disabled people should have the support and backing of the Government but instead they have been badly let down this month with the active trailing of terrifying plans.

“It’s clear that these plans were plotted without the input of those whose lives will be most impacted. Disabled people must be listened to before any changes are made, and I hope that Labour backbenchers will join me in being their fiercest defenders and fight off the worst of these plans.

“The Chancellor must listen as well, to growing calls from Green MPs, the public and even many millionaires for a wealth tax. How can she stoop as low as any Conservative Chancellor and take money away from disabled people rather than get a grip on the obscene wealth being hoarded in this country? This morally indefensible choice will have devastating consequences, and the Government should be ready to answer for it.”

Notes

[1] Deep cuts, Pip and ‘right to try’ work: the key changes in UK benefits overhaul | Welfare | The Guardian

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Green MPs write to Labour colleagues to urge benefit cuts opposition

Every Labour MP has been sent a letter by Green MPs ahead of an announcement next week urging them to rebel against plans to slash around £6billion from the welfare bill

Dear Colleagues,  

Ahead of the upcoming Spring Statement and Green Paper on welfare, I am writing to urge you to oppose strongly and vote against any proposed cuts to welfare benefits, which are rumoured to be as deep as £6 billion.

Along with my Green colleagues, I am gravely concerned about the catastrophic impact any such cuts would have on millions of disabled people.

It is not news to you that those in receipt of health-related benefits already face inordinate hardships, with 50 per cent of people claiming Universal Credit who have limited capability for work unable to heat their homes, pay their bills or have low food security.[1]

Scope told us recently that proceeding with cuts rumoured to be set out in the forthcoming Green Paper on welfare reform, will push an added 700,000 disabled households into poverty.[2]

I am certain that your inbox, like mine, is filled with emails from constituents telling you how terrified and anxious they feel about how to make ends meet should their support payments be ripped away. There is no moral case for making these cuts.

The years of damaging austerity inflicted upon public services and welfare provision by the previous Conservative Government has already brought our communities to breaking point.

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has called on the UK Government to take “corrective measures” to address the immense negative impact of welfare cuts introduced by successive Conservative Governments since 2010.[3] But even George Osborne, at the height of austerity, ruled out freezing inflation-linked rises to PIP payments; a change the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is rumoured to be introducing.

I know you didn’t campaign for this, and that you stood up at the election for a welfare system based on dignity and respect.

Like me, I expect you feel alarmed at the rhetoric coming from the Government that is instead scapegoating disabled people. Pushing people who are in need into deeper poverty will do nothing to address the root issues that lead to welfare claims, namely housing insecurity, poor quality jobs, huge wage inequality and a soaring mental health crisis.

[1] https://www.jrf.org.uk/news/factsheet-health-related-benefit-cuts

[2] https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/open-letter-to-the-chancellor-the-cost-of-cuts-to-disability-benefits

[3]https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=E%2FC.12%2FGBR%2FCO%2F7&Lang=en

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