*Caroline: "This climate-wrecking budget shows that the Government’s talk of putting the next generation first is nothing short of sheer hypocrisy."

Caroline has said that the Chancellor’s ‘climate-wrecking’ Budget has exposed the hypocrisy of the Government’s talk of putting the next generation first as ‘nothing short of hot air’.

Lucas slammed the Government’s ‘economic failure’ and his ‘deepening attacks on those in need’.

Caroline Lucas MP said:

“The Government’s economic failure will be further compounded by today’s Budget. Not only has the chancellor missed his own targets but he is now deepening his attacks on those in need while cutting corporation tax.

“While his announcement of rate relief for small businesses is welcome, it is undermined by his handout to Britain’s biggest corporations.”

Lucas went on to say:

“Once again the Chancellor is taking the country down a dangerous path by ignoring the threat of climate change. This Budget locks us into fossil fuel dependency and completely contradicts the Prime Minister’s call to action at the Paris climate talks. His plans to cut tax for North Sea oil and gas – rather than investing in a just transition away from fossil fuels – are myopic and dangerous.

"By ploughing millions into road build programmes at a time when many local bus services are threatened and air pollution represents a public health crisis, he’s failed to do what’s desperately needed: hardwire the urgent need to tackle climate change and pollution into infrastructure spending. This Budget again ignores the huge economic, employment and energy security benefits of moving away from fossil fuels and towards clean, home grown renewable energy.

“This climate-wrecking budget shows that the Government’s talk of putting the next generation first is nothing short of sheer hypocrisy. If our Government was serious about creating a decent society for our children and grandchildren then they would be pulling out all the stops to support British firms and business in the renewable energy sector and to keep fossil fuels in the ground.  And where is the mass programme of zero-carbon council houses that is so desperately needed?”

“And by buckling to his backbenchers on fuel duty he’s also missed the opportunity presented by low fuel prices to raise money to cut fares on public transport and invest in local alternatives to driving.

“It beggars belief that this Chancellor, who prides himself on pinching the pennies, still plans to spend billions on Hinkley Point Power station – the most expensive white elephant in British history. It seems his commitment to inflexible, outdated, unaffordable power production knows no bounds.”

ENDS