Reacting to Andy Burnham’s first speech as Prime Minister, Green Party Leader Zack Polanski said:
“The Green Party wishes the new Prime Minister well. There is an affordability crisis, an inequality crisis, and a climate crisis. We will judge Andy Burnham on whether he provides the leadership necessary to deliver solutions. His speech today failed to mention any willingness to challenge the vested interests of the establishment which Labour has become part and parcel of and has driven these crises. Without this being fundamental, nothing progressive can truly be achieved.
“We need action on sky high rents, with rent controls, we need to end the rip off and take water into actual public ownership, not tinkering with the existing failed model as is being suggested. We need wealth taxes as a first step towards tackling gross inequality and getting serious investment into our economy and public services. The Prime Minister has talked about ending the 40 year failed experiment of Thatcherism, but he looks likely to appoint a Chancellor who appears to have been chosen on the demands of bankers on the basis of little change.
“There is a climate crisis and yet the mood music coming from within the Labour Party has been to reverse policy on North Sea drilling, to appease powerful fossil fuel interests, and Donald Trump. A reversal of existing policy would be disastrous for the climate and make no difference to people’s bills. Only serious investment in renewable energy will provide the energy security and reduced bills that we need.
“We also need real democratic renewal with electoral reform to ensure all people’s votes count.
“Keir Starmer’s foreign policy was disastrous. His support for Israel’s genocide through political and military support will be his ultimate legacy. The new Prime Minister must do more than making apologies for his predecessor’s poor communication and recognise the genocide, and end military support for Israel. On Iran, he must stand up to Donald Trump and end Trump’s use of British air bases for the illegal war in Iran.
“The Prime Minister’s speech today will leave many sceptical that Andy Burnham really plans to challenge the wealth and power of the establishment and it all starts to look and sound like more of the same. Now is the time for bold politics.”
Housing, buses, high streets: Geraldine’s manifesto for Greater Manchester
The Greater Manchester Mayoral race is hotting up, with just under two weeks to go until the region heads to the polls on 30th July.
Green candidate Geraldine Coggins has laid out her plans to take Greater Manchester back from big money, with a manifesto focused on affordable housing, better buses, and breathing new life into the region’s high streets.
And with Reform busy with bins in Clacton, the Green campaign has been buoyed by recent polling showing a large swing in favour of Geraldine and her bid to replace failing Labour.
Meet Geraldine Coggins: “the woman to replace Labour and stop Reform”
In a new video, Geraldine – originally from Dublin – outlined her family’s long ties to the working class history of Greater Manchester, her own political story, and her big plans for the city region.
Geraldine described how her family’s history “runs deep” through Greater Manchester: “Theirs were the calloused hands and dust-filled lungs of Bolton Quarrymen and Manchester rail workers”.
Now leader of the Green group on Trafford Council, Geraldine’s political story has been one of combatting inequality, spending the past eight years “fighting Tory and Labour austerity” as a local councillor.
And she knows that a Green Mayor of Greater Manchester could do so much more for the region than the “Labour careerists” who have failed local people.
Meet Geraldine Coggins : your Green Mayoral candidate with a plan to take Greater Manchester back from big money on July 30th. pic.twitter.com/qCmWwjAr8T
Geraldine’s manifesto to “take Greater Manchester back from big money”
At the launch of her manifesto last week, Geraldine laid out her plan for Greater Manchester and the clear goal that will guide her.
“If I am elected, I will take Greater Manchester back from big money.”
Rather than “Labour’s failed model” of putting developers and their profits first, Geraldine’s approach – on housing, transport, and high streets – will be “people over profit.”
“I pledge 20,000 genuinely affordable homes, free bus travel for our young people and will breathe new life into our struggling high streets.”
Geraldine Coggins with Zack Polanski, Mothin Ali, and Green campaigners at the launch of the Green Party’s manifesto for Greater Manchester
“We need real change, not more Labour tinkering around at the edges and putting up dodgy skyscrapers to enrich developers not the ordinary people of Greater Manchester.”
Greater Manchester native Zack Polanski attended the launch, and summed up Geraldine’s vision for the region:
“Geraldine has a vision for a Greater Manchester that works for everyone. Genuinely affordable housing. Tackling the rampant inequality that blights this city. Giving everyone who lives here a say in how things are run.”
“I’ll Bee bolder than Labour”: free bus travel for u22s and Bee Orbit buses
The launch of the full manifesto followed announcements of Geraldine’s pledges for transport and high street renewal.
Geraldine pledged to “Bee bolder than Labour on public transport”, by making bus travel free for everyone under the age of 22 across Greater Manchester, as well as working to make transport cheaper and improve connections.
This includes launching the ‘Bee Orbit’ – a new network of high-frequency, express orbital bus routes linking towns across Greater Manchester – and working towards contactless ticketing that can be used across all local trains, buses and trams within Greater Manchester.
Geraldine said:
“Young people are struggling to get by, facing sky-high rents, steep energy and food bills while racking up student debt. I’ll make buses free for everyone under the age of 22, so that the costs of travel are never a barrier to getting to education, work, training or a night out.”
“I’ll Bee Bolder than Labour on public transport in Greater Manchester. From day one as mayor I’ll begin work on the Bee Orbit and plan to make sure tickets can be used across all Greater Manchester’s public transport options. ”
“The beating heart of our communities”: Geraldine’s plan for high streets
Geraldine also has a plan to revitalise Greater Manchester’s high streets.
“40 years of neoliberalism has blighted the places we call home. As mayor, I will make our high streets once again the beating heart of our communities.”
Her plan is focused on bringing empty spaces back into use for the community, supporting local economies, and fixing the failure of Labour’s developer and profit first model which has concentrated development in Manchester city centre with unaffordable luxury flats.
And at the Manchester Evening News hustings, she didn’t hesitate to put Reform in their place…
“The party paid for by crypto billionaires wants to close down the shops on our high streets. I want to reopen them.”
Geraldine Coggins outlines her plan to revive Greater Manchester’s high streets, back local businesses and invest in communities. pic.twitter.com/CiPIFLmDIU
Geraldine’s plan includes setting up an Empty Shops Team to enable the boroughs to make best use of the powers they have, including Compulsory Purchase Orders, to take over empty properties.
The Greens will also set up a Community Development Fund to help councils and community groups buy vacant properties.
“I will create a new task force to give the boroughs the expertise and co-ordination they need to use their powers to take over empty shops and to end the scandal of land banking.”
“The mayor’s investment fund will be used to help communities buy empty spaces to make all of our high streets the economic, social and cultural hearts of our towns.”
“No more empty shops. People over profit. I will end the failed Labour model which puts developers profits above people and communities.”
Momentum is building: Greens on the up, Labour down, Reform… in Clacton
With just under two weeks to go to polling day, the race for Greater Manchester Mayor is hotting up.
And Geraldine’s campaign is gathering incredible momentum.
While Reform are reportedly diverting their campaign in Greater Manchester to save the skin of Nigel Farage in Clacton, recent polling has shown a surge in support for Green candidate Geraldine – and a big drop off for Labour.
Geraldine said: “Our canvassing teams are hearing the same message again and again: people are choosing between the Greens and Labour. More and more residents are deciding that they want real change, and the Green Party is now the party to deliver it.”
Geraldine is the candidate to replace a Labour party that is failing the people of Greater Manchester and defeat the hateful politics of Reform.
Greens can win on 30 July – but we’ll need your help.
Responding to reports that Andy Burnham has been briefed that the US-Iran war is entering a dangerous new phase, with President Trump believed to be serious about threats to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure, and following overnight reports that US strikes have already hit civilian infrastructure in Iran, Green Party MP Ellie Chowns said:
“Greens have warned since the outset of the illegal US-Israeli war on Iran that every step of military escalation makes a spiralling regional conflict more likely, puts more civilians at risk and pushes a diplomatic solution further out of reach.
“Overnight, there were reports that US strikes hit civilian infrastructure in Iran, just days after President Trump publicly threatened to target bridges and power plants. That is a deeply alarming and dangerous trajectory.
“The incoming Prime Minister must unequivocally oppose this reckless war and use every available diplomatic lever to secure a peaceful resolution.”
As speculation mounts as to who Andy Burnham will choose as chancellor, Zack Polanski said:
“The Green Party will tax millionaires and billionaires through a wealth tax. It is reported today that Labour by contrast are choosing to let millionaires and billionaires pick who their chancellor is. That is why we are here to replace Labour.”
New polling shows Greens surging as campaign momentum builds across Greater Manchester
The Green Party says the race to become the next Mayor of Greater Manchester has been transformed after the first Greater Manchester wide polling since the election campaign began showed a dramatic surge in support for Green candidate Geraldine Coggins.
The polling reflects what Green campaigners say they have been hearing on the doorstep for weeks: voters are looking for real change and are increasingly turning away from Labour and backing the Greens instead.
Green campaign teams report that their own canvassing data now shows the contest increasingly becoming a straight choice between the Greens and Labour in many communities. Since the campaign began, Green volunteers have knocked on thousands of doors across Greater Manchester, with strong support reported in communities where Labour has traditionally dominated.
The news follows Reform telling activists to “pack up” their efforts in Greater Manchester and focus on defending Farage’s seat in Clacton where he is facing a stiff challenge from Count Binface in a self-inflicted by-election.
Geraldine Coggins said:
“This campaign is gathering incredible momentum because people across Greater Manchester know they deserve better than more of the same.”
“Wherever I go, people tell me they’re tired of being taken for granted. They want affordable homes, reliable public transport, thriving high streets and neighbourhoods where everyone has the opportunity to flourish. They want a mayor who will put communities before corporate profit. This election is about taking Greater Manchester back from big money.”
“Our canvassing teams are hearing the same message again and again: people are choosing between the Greens and Labour. More and more residents are deciding that they want real change, and the Green Party is now the party to deliver it.”
The Greens point to their strong gains in May’s local elections, including historic breakthroughs across Greater Manchester, as evidence that voters are increasingly looking to the party as the progressive alternative to Labour.
The party says the campaign will continue to focus on tackling the housing crisis, improving public transport, investing in local communities, reducing inequality and building an economy that works for people rather than corporate developers.
With polling day approaching, the Greens say the contest is no longer about maintaining the status quo, but about whether Greater Manchester chooses a fresh direction.
“This campaign is about believing that Greater Manchester can be fairer, greener and more ambitious,” Geraldine added.
“If you’re ready for a city-region that puts people before profit and communities before vested interests, then now is the time to vote Green. This poll shows it’s Greens Vs the establishment now.”
