John,

The New Year brought more evidence of accelerating global warming and climate change. But there is no sign that the Government is taking the climate and nature crises seriously, as it backtracked on green pledges and waged war on ‘bats and newts’. Scroll down to find out why the Green Party is the only major party standing up for people and planet 🔽

The Chancellor’s plans to kick-start economic growth by ripping up regulations that protect nature and make it easier to build, have been criticised. Co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP said: “The idea that we have to choose between economic growth and safeguarding our future is absolute nonsense – in fact it’s just the opposite”.

Expanding airports in the face of a climate emergency is the most irresponsible announcement of any Government since Liz Truss’s budget. Brighton Pavilion MP Sian Berry said the decision to give the green light to a third runway at Heathrow airport would make it impossible to meet the UK’s net zero targets.

The Israeli Government must be held accountable for violations of international law. Speaking in the House of Commons, co-leader Carla Denyer MP said the only way to progress meaningful reconstruction efforts and longer-term peace in the region, was to hold the Israeli Government to account for breaches, which had caused extreme suffering.

“A monumental victory in the fight for a liveable future”. That's how former MP Caroline Lucas described a historic court ruling that Rosebank is unlawful.  An Edinburgh court sided with scientists and campaigners when it ruled that the previous Government’s decision to approve Rosebank was unlawful, because it did not fully consider its climate impact. 

The cross party Zero Hour campaign for the Climate and Nature Bill generated huge support - but not from the Labour leadership. 

Labour’s record on climate and nature action since coming to power has been patchy, at best. But it was hugely disappointing when the Government blocked the progress of the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill, legislation first introduced to Parliament by Caroline Lucas, which now has widespread support from cross party MPs and peers, councils, environmental groups and trades unions. CAN proposed joined-up binding climate and nature action, backed up by the latest science, to enable the UK to meet its international targets. But after heavy pressure by Government whips, the House of Commons voted to adjourn the second reading of the Bill, and it will not be debated again this parliamentary session. Speaking afterwards, co-leader Carla Denyer said the Bill was a “landmark opportunity” and she would hold the Government to account on the promises it had made to progress the substance of the Bill.

Nationalise Water Now! Ellie Chowns MP backing a campaign to clean up our waterways. This week, Ofwat announced water bills in England and Wales will increase by a whopping £123 a year. The public is being made to foot the bill for years of underinvestment in infrastructure by privatised water companies, whilst shareholders and bosses grew rich, and saddled water with billions of bad debt. 

Green district councillors from around the country met in Westminster this week to discuss controversial plans to create super councils, amidst reports that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner intends to cancel some local elections in May. Co-Leader Adrian Ramsay said elections should go ahead so that all parties can discuss how to make devolution work and keep the “local in local government”.  Peer Jenny Jones stated: "The government is trying to sideline and ignore the voices of local people. They simply don't trust local people to always agree with government priorities.”

RIP Democracy: A rally opposing plans to merge district and county councils into super councils.

Best wishes to Darren Parkinson, who resigned his position as a Shipley councillor this month because of poor health. Darren has charted the devastating impact of having Long Covid in a video filmed by the Guardian. He is one of two million people living with the illness and has clear views on Government plans to get more people into work. “They could get back us back to work, not by cutting our benefits or trying to force us back, but by investing in the research that will  drive treatments to get us well again. ..The pandemic is not over for many of us." 

In hope,

The Green Party 💚

Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ