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Spring Budget relies on unproven technologies to tackle
climate emergency rather than practical, Green solutions
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Chancellor fails to give public sector workers a pay rise
that matches inflation, a pay rise that they deserve
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Carla Denyer: “Only the Green Party offers the economic
policies that prioritise health and wellbeing and the
protection of our environment over unfettered economic
growth.”
Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement today [Wednesday
15 March], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:
“This is yet another Conservative budget that fails to address
the climate emergency or the crisis facing our public
services.
“Proven and effective measures to tackle the climate crisis were
glaringly absent. Rather than a nationwide insulation programme,
that would not only tackle greenhouse gas emissions but also keep
people warm and reduce their energy bills, we get big bucks
thrown at technological fixes like carbon capture and storage
which isn’t commercially viable and runs the risk of allowing
polluters a free pass.
“And instead of meaningful investment in abundant and affordable
renewables such as onshore and offshore wind, tidal and solar, we
get expensive nuclear which will take many years to come on
stream.
“The chancellor delivered his statement as thousands of workers
walked out on strike over pay and conditions, quite rightly
saying enough is enough. failed to step up to the plate
and give public sector workers a pay rise that matches inflation;
the pay rise that they deserve.
“This was presented as a budget for growth. But we know from past
experience that an obsessive focus on economic growth enriches
the few, impoverishes many and wrecks our climate while trashing
the natural world. This business-as-usual approach certainly does
result in growth - growth in air pollution, growth in sewage
discharges into our waterways and coastline and growth in
inequality.
“The sort of growth the Tories have in mind is revealed by their
plans to create 12 new Investment Zones across England. Such
zones will provide opportunities for tax avoidance by the
wealthy, pit communities against each other - with those outside
the zones subsidising service for people inside them - and
undercut environmental standards.
“There were welcome incentives for small and medium sized
enterprises to invest in research and development but where were
the incentives to support businesses to green their operations,
especially energy intensive industries?
“Only the Green Party offers the economic policies that
prioritise health and wellbeing and the protection of our
environment over unfettered economic growth. That is why our
demands focus on restoring public services - especially our
health service - and paying public sector workers properly,
offering cheap or free public transport for all and measures to
help businesses and communities reap the rewards of a move to a
green economy.”
Ahead of today’s budget, the Green Party called on the Chancellor
to include [1]:
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35 hours a week of free childcare for all, from the age of
nine months
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A £1 single fare on all bus routes across England with free
bus travel for young people,combined with major investment in
buses and services and to ensure buses work for people,
rather than the profit of large companies.
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Meeting the demands of public sector workers for a pay rise
that matches inflation, to help regenerate our economy and
restore our public services
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Stimulating green industries and reducing the cost of energy,
by offering tax incentives to businesses investing in the
green economy and changing planning laws to encourage
community-owned renewables.
