Green Party mailing
Two important bills were debated in Parliament before the recess: the
Finance Bill which implements the Budget proposals and the Environment
Bill.

FINANCE BILL

I was pleased to have cross-party support for my amendment to the Finance
Bill, which went to the heart of what's wrong with our current economic
system. Its primary focus on GDP growth as the key measure of success is
driving the climate crisis and ecological destruction and side-lining more
important measures like people's health and wellbeing and the protection of
the environment. We urgently need to change course - we cannot continue
with a system which ignores the fact that we live on, and are part of, a
planet of finite resources. You can read my speech in the debate here [1],
and if you haven't already done so, please join me in signing this
important petition [2] set up by a Brighton resident calling for the
Government to shift to a wellbeing economy.

ENVIRONMENT BILL

When we've waited 25 years for an Environment Bill, I would have hoped for
something more ambitious than the weak and toothless legislation the
Government has put forward. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted
countries in the world, and we have now lost the environmental protections
we had as members of the EU. Yet ministers have squandered the chance to
strengthen and expand protections for nature and wildlife - despite what
they've said. In the short time I was allocated to speak, I focused on the
conservation of habitats and species. You can read my speech here [3].

COVID: COVER-UPS AND INCOMPETENCE

Successfully combatting the coronavirus pandemic requires transparency and
trust. The Government is undermining both. We now know that it commissioned
a "lessons learned" review, but is refusing to publish it. One of my
constituents, whose father died from Covid acquired in hospital, says
bereaved families feel insulted. She's right, not only because the families
deserve to have answers soon, but because ministers are consistently
failing to learn from their mistakes - and that has cost lives. I raised
this [4] with the Health Secretary in Parliament, and received a completely
inadequate response.

Earlier last month, I questioned him [5] about the dropping of the
requirement for face masks in classrooms. This step was taken even though
Public Health England had put together key data showing there had been
several outbreaks in schools - but this data was not made public.

Meanwhile, there are worrying indicators that the Covid variant which has
caused such terrible loss of life in India, is now spreading across
Britain. We are at real risk of a third wave and it is essential that the
Government delays the final easing of lockdown restrictions until more
adults are fully vaccinated. This was the subject of my column for Metro
[6].

On a more positive note, I was very grateful to receive my second
vaccination at the Brighton Centre. The staff there have been doing an
amazing job, treating everyone with kindness and efficiency. Thank you to
them all.

TRADE POST-BREXIT

I am a member of the UK Trade & Business Commission, a cross-party group of
MPs and business leaders which was set up two months ago to scrutinise
trading relations with the EU post Brexit, and new trade deals. At one of
our first sessions, we heard from a number of small and medium-sized
businesses on the barriers they are facing - all a consequence of the
Brexit trade deal that Boris Johnson struck with the EU. Both exporters and
importers are affected, in constituencies across the country, their
businesses deeply damaged by the terrible Brexit deal and the red tape that
they now face.

PALESTINE 

Whilst there is now a ceasefire in place, the tensions and injustices which
led to the most recent escalation of violence have not gone away. I have
written to the Foreign Office Minister about the steps the Government
should be taking in response (you can read the letter here [7]), and I also
challenged him in Parliament about what the UK is doing to ensure the end
of all illegal settlement building in the occupied territories and to bring
about the cancellation of all forcible evictions and demolitions in the
Sheikh Jarrah area of East Jerusalem. You can read our exchange here [8].

FLEXIBLE SEASON TICKETS

The news that rail companies will be required to offer flexible season
tickets is very welcome, and something I have been pushing the Government
on for years. We are still waiting for information on cost. Rail fares have
gone up above the level of inflation and the cost of travelling by rail or
bus has risen far faster than the cost of motoring over the past decade. If
we are to encourage people to move to greener forms of transport, this has
to change.

MOULSECOOMB PRIMARY SCHOOL

The local community in Brighton - parents, teachers and local councillors -
have made clear their opposition to Moulsecoomb being turned into an
academy school. Yet their wishes are being ignored by Ministers who are
pushing ahead with academisation. I've written to Pioneer Academy Trust,
who are looking to take over the school, and have also called on the
Government to stop the process to allow for further review. The school
needs a period of stability in the interests of the children and the local
community.

NEW BIKES FOR THE FOYER

I was delighted to be able to hand over a couple of bikes to The Foyer, who
do such fantastic work supporting young people, homeless families and
individuals and people with physical and learning disabilities through
specialist services and supported living. The Foyer is starting a new Bike
Club to help the physical and mental wellbeing of their clients, and to
support young people to live independently, and I approached Iain and
Cranks The Bike Shop who very generously donated the bikes. Huge thanks to
them. I know Cranks do some amazing charity work here in Brighton and this
donation will make such a difference.

BRIGHTON INDEPENDENT

I have just started a monthly column in the Brighton Independent so look
out for the paper at the station and other places around the city. The
first column was about the injustice being done to so many leaseholders by
the Government's failure to protect them from the costs of remedying
dangerous cladding and other fire defects.

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Contacting Me

If you are a local resident and need help with case work or to find out more about my activities locally please do contact me at the office of: Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Media Centre 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL.
Tel: 01273 201 130. Email: [email protected]

I hold regular surgeries across the constituency. If you would like to book an appointment at a forthcoming surgery please call Liz Collis on 01273 201130.
She coordinates my constituency office and is able to help with most local enquiries.

If you would like to know about my parliamentary work please get in touch at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
Tel: 020 7219 7025. Email: [email protected]

You can also keep up to date with my news on:

Twitter: @carolinelucas

Facebook: /carolinelucas.page

My Website: www.carolinelucas.com

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