Green Manifesto 2010, plus some thoughts on the leaders' debate
We launched our national election manifesto in Brighton yesterday morning, which you can read here, with lots of media interest.
It was an incredibly busy day, with an early start with the Today show, and then filming with the Daily Politics show straight after the launch.
We had a good canvassing session in the evening in Preston Park, and felt incredibly inspired by the amount of interest and by the warm response on the doorsteps.
People are crying out for real change, as the other parties become increasingly alike.
That was my thought last night as well, as I watched the leader debates on television.
There they were, three men in dark suits, and the most obvious difference between them being the colour of their ties!
Wish I'd been able to be in the debates as well. People are being shortchanged if they're led to believe that there aren't real alternatives out there.
I was saddened to notice that not one of the other leaders mentioned the environment once - nor alternative approaches to the economic crisis.
Greens are standing on a manifesto of not only safeguarding the environment, but also fighting for fairness.
The choice between safeguarding the environment and the economy is a false one - a massive investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs as well as reducung emissions,
Our policies will ensure a move towards a sustainable society, whilst leaving 87 per cent of the population significantly better off.
I would be an independent and fresh voice to speak out for residents wishes - not whipped by my party, but able to fight for what people truly want - jobs, housing, better transport, lower taxes for those on lower wages, regulation of bankers bonuses and a serious commitment to tackling climate change.
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Comments:
greenfutures
25 April 2010
03:26
The Greens in the UK have very different policies from Greens in say Germany so it's not fair to blame them for what's happened there.
This would be like saying Socialism everywhere is bad because the way it's been done in some countries isn't good.
Lots of you have highlighted how rubbish the political system is but if you'll achieve more by being in it rather than shouting from the sidelines.
However if you want to plan a big demonstration / campaign to change the system, as most people seem to vote for the 'least bad option' rather than what they believe in, which I think is scandulous, do count me in!
Martin Cross
19 April 2010
23:58
I think the rise in taxes on cigarettes is more appropriate, but with alcohol there will be some serious difficulties in terms of jobs which are part of the industry. A more appropriate response would be to have a minimum price per unit for alcoholic drinks, which would not effect pubs or clubs, but would hit the supermarkets. Pubs are already closing at a rate of knots, and your policy will only make this situation worse - with significant social, as well as economic, results.
The same applies to petrol duty. We may wish to reduce car usage, but pricing people off the roads will have serious consequences for business and haulage - making it less competitive, and so placing jobs at risk. A Europe wide solution is needed here or Britain will lose out.
Richard
19 April 2010
12:21
Jane - I understand that the proposed increase on tax on alcohol and tobacco is to be 'ring-fenced' for use in the NHS for programmes that help people to give up smoking, to reduce alcoholism and to treat those who are suffering from tobacco and alcohol related conditions. This seems to me to be a sensible approach - if recent reports are to be believed, alcohol and tobacco abuse is a serious problem and it would be irresponsible to ignore it.
Furthermore, it is impotant to look at the whole Green tax package, which redistributes wealth from the very rich to the poor and, even taking the increase in tax and tobacco, would ensure that the the less well off would be much better off than they are now.
Jane
17 April 2010
18:32
I like your manifesto as these things go, though there are a couple of things which worry me. For example your proposed huge taxes on alcohol and cigarettes which is a thoroughly reactionary tax hurting the poor most.
I can't see however the election of you, or even a load of Green parties altering the fundamental oppressive structures of society: http://libcom.org/library/should-brighton-vote-green-03032010
This argues that
Samuel Hewitt
16 April 2010
22:43
We are being promised the same things over and over again and constantly voting in either Labour or Conservative over and over again. We are allways promised chane and never get it. All politics is lies. Even the debates aren't real debates. They're planned out and rehearsed. Its not like question time where you can boo and cheer and ask questions as you like. You have to ask spesific questions THAT THEY REHEARSED and not make a noise at all.
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