THE GREEN Party has launched its manifesto - and one Cumbrian candidate says she is “delighted” to be a part of it.
The party announced 10 key pieces of legislation to kickstart the transformation of our country.
Ali Ross, candidate for Penrith and the Border, said: “I am delighted to stand for election on an ambitious, transformational programme for government that tackles the real issue that the country must face up to - the climate and biodiversity emergency, securing our future as part of the European Union and creating an economy that is fair for all.”
The centrepiece of the Green Party manifesto is the Green New Deal, a plan to transform the economic, political and social system to tackle the climate emergency and create a fair, equal society.
They have also put forward an NHS Reinstatement Bill to increase funding for the NHS by at least £6bn each year, until 2030, and £1bn a year in nursing higher education as well as a voting reforms bill to replace the voting system to extend the voting system to teenagers aged 16 and 17.
The Green Party pledges to put forward 10 bills in the next Parliament including:
nGreen New Deal Bill - to get the UK on track to reducing climate emissions to net zero by 2030.
nPeople’s Vote Bill - voting on the future of our relationship with the European Union.
nNHS Reinstatement Bill - increase funding for the NHS by at least £6 billion each year, until 2030, and £1 billion a year in nursing higher education.
nFurther and Higher Education Bill - to fund tuition for higher education students and scrap undergraduate tuition fees.
nSustainable Economy Bill - to set new binding targets to ensure our economy functions within environmental limits.
nFuture Generations Bill - to require public bodies, including the UK government, to balance the needs of the present with the needs of the future.
nUniversal Basic Income Bill - to transform our social welfare system with a phased-in unconditional payment to everyone at a level above their subsistence needs.
nNew Homes Bill - to end the housing crisis by creating the legislative framework to build 100,000 new zero carbon homes for social rent each year.
nRenters’ Rights Bill - to transform the lives of renters across the country, making housing more secure and bringing rent levels down, especially in places where they currently far outstrip incomes.
nVoting Reform Bill - to replace the archaic first past the post voting system with proportional representation, create a fully elected House of Lords, and extend the vote to those aged 16 and 17.
Alan Barr, chair of the Penrith and Eden Green Party, added: “This is a truly radical programme of reform that should be embraced by anyone who cares about the future of our children and grandchildren will inherit.
“In Ali we are putting forward an outstanding candidate with a proven track record of action on climate, biodiversity, social justice and support for remaining in the EU.”
Other candidates standing in for the Penrith and The Border consistency are:
n Dr Neil Hudson, Conservatives;
n Sarah Williams, Labour
n Matthew Severn, Liberal Democrats
n Jonathan Davies, Putting Cumbria First
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here