2015 Manifesto- Analysis

Greens present policies for It’s quite a substantial manifesto, especially Government coming from a party that, five years ago, was "Our manifesto is a bold plan to create a more onthe outer fringes of the political mind-set. equal, more democratic society while doing our Some polices echo Labour such as repealing the part to heal the plant" , Green Health and Social Care Act and commitment to Party Leader build more housing. The Greens also agree with the SNP in relation to Trident & the end of The Green Party of England & Wales released its austerity plus they support wanting 2015 General Election manifesto this morning in to see further devolution to Wales. It will be Dalston, East London. interesting to see how well these Green policies relate to the electorate, especially to young Promoting Green values of social care, protecting voters and those disillusioned with Labour. the environment, and state social responsibility, the Green Party are setting their vision of what a You can read the Green manifesto HERE centre left Government would look like. Key Quotes Although their big policy ideas such as abolishing ‘No one, in this world sixth richest economy Trident, introduction on a wealth tax and phasing out fossil fuelled energy generation were already should fear not being able to put food on the table known, their health, housing and other initiatives or having a roof over their head’ were not published until this morning. ‘This is a politics founded in humanity, in a caring

Britain’ On the economic front, the Greens wish to increase alcohol and tobacco tax by £1.4bn in the ‘This is a vision that see the end of the disastrous next parliament, introduce a wealth tax and policy of austerity’ introduce controls on banking lending and act to control pay day lenders. Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party at the manifesto launch

2015 Green Party Manifesto- Analysis

Commentary Healthcare

Such is the Green Party commitment to the  End NHS privatisation and repeal the environment, they’ve recycled Labour’s 1983 Health and Social Care Act 2012 manifesto Tim Stanley, Leader writer at the Daily  Ensure mental health is a prime focus Telegraph Economy Proud that @TheGreenParty manifesto restores £500m/year of #artsfunding #greens  Will increase the minimum wage and #VoteGreens2015 Natalie Bennett, Leader of the propose a target for everyone who is Green Party working in the UK of £10 per hour by 2010.  The Greens will phase in a 35 hour week Considering voting for whichever party releases  The party will end zero hours contracts their manifesto in the most easily searchable PDF. Sorry @TheGreenParty Alex Wickham, Guido Europe Fawkes  The party will support an in-out referendum on British membership of the EU but remain committed to EU membership

Defence

 Will oppose all future military interventions that lack a sufficient moral, legal and democratic mandate  Will pursue a policy of “defensive defence” that threatens no one yet makes it clear Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party and that threats and attacks will be resisted Caroline Lucas, Green Parliamentary Candidate for Pavilion at the manifesto launch this morning Transport

Major Announcements  Will extend free local public transport to Housing young people and students, spending £4bn a year  Introduce a living rent tenancy and capping  Bringing the railways into public rent based on CPI. ownership and levels of railway line  Make sure housing development is electrification as found in Europe distributed across the whole country, not  Would cancel the major road investment just the South East programme. This would save £15bn, with  Provide 500,000 social rented homes money used to fix potholes and further investment in walking and cycling

2015 Green Party Manifesto- Analysis

Immigration If you would like any further information or analysis on the Green Party Manifesto, contact  Reduce the pressures that lead to our Public Affairs team on involuntary migration through reducing war and discouraging repressive regimes 020 3440 5656 or  Will reject an open-borders approach for [email protected] now but will also oppose to the

imposition of a numerical cap on net migration  Provide free or affordance English or

Welsh lessons to all new immigrants who want them

Energy and Environment

 set a target to recycle 70 per cent of domestic waste by 2020

 Introduce a 90 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases in the UK in the next 15-20 years and a zero-carbon economy by 2050  Will ban all UK fracking operations, and withdraw relevant licenses. They will also ban other new fossil fuel developments as well as open cast coal

Constitution

 Introduce the state funding of political parties  Increase powers at all levels in Wales, with more elected Assembly members and push for the Assembly to become a Parliament  Support a written constitution  Establish an Assembly for Cornwall.  Reduce the voting age to 16 years old.