Green Party launch manifesto

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  • xman
    Admin
    • Sep 2006
    • 24007

    Green Party launch manifesto


    The Green Party of England and Wales are launching their manifesto with plans to create a million new jobs and help for pensioners and low earners.Caroline Lucas, the party's leader, is unveiling the programme in Brighton, where she is standing as a candidate.

    Key pledges include a "living wage" of £8.10 an hour, a "citizen's pension" of £170 a week and £44bn of investment in transport, housing and energy schemes.

    There are more than 300 Greens standing at the election in England and Wales.

    Ms Lucas, who is an MEP, has said there is a "real chance" of her party getting its first MP elected to Westminster.

    The party are hoping to capitalise on the widespread anger with the three largest parties over the expenses scandal as well as uncertainty over the future direction of the economy.

    Ms Lucas has said she wants to challenge the assumption that public spending will have to be significantly cut next year to bring the deficit under control and, while accepting there will have to be some cuts, she argues these do not have to damage public services.

    'Ambitious programme'

    The Green Party want to reform the tax system so that those on low incomes pay less and the wealthiest shoulder a larger burden.

    They would restore the 10 pence starting rate of tax and introduce a 50% rate for those earning more than £100,000, as opposed to the £150,000 rate proposed by Labour. They would raise money by scrapping tax relief on pensions contributions and by abolishing pension credits.

    They would raise the hourly minimum wage to the equivalent of 60% of average earnings - currently £8.10 - in an effort to tackle poverty.

    Among other pledges, they would abolish prescription charges and re-introduce free eye tests in England while making long term care for the elderly free in England.

    The party also want to launch a major public works programme, partly funded by increased borrowing, to create one million new jobs in renewable energy, transport, housing and waste management.

    This, they say, would see every home in Britain insulated for free.

    Ahead of its publication, Ms Lucas said "economics, the environment and fairness" were at the heart of the party's programme.

    "Our overall aim is to set out how to make Britain a greener, fairer society and it is an ambitious programme," she told the BBC. "But, first of all, it enables us to create up to a million new jobs...and it also allows us to address inequality."


    All the three main parties have sought to emphasise their environmental credentials in their manifestos, with proposals ranging from an investment bank to fund environmental projects to support for offshore wind, carbon capture and storage schemes and reform of the climate change levy.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.


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