John,

It’s a busy time in politics at the moment! Here are some highlights of my work over the past couple of weeks:

The Government has chosen to pursue even more devastating austerity cuts in the name of political ideology, not economic necessity – and refuses to admit that Brexit has made the situation so much harder. When people are in such desperate need, many more turn to our public services for support. But years of Tory austerity have decimated the budgets of local authorities like Brighton & Hove, which has had its Government funding slashed by £100m over the past 10 years. Meanwhile rents are rising at record rates, and more than one in three private renters in Brighton & Hove need housing benefit. Rather than invest in Local Housing Allowance, the gap between rents and housing benefit has been left shamefully wide. We mustn’t learn the wrong lessons from the Truss debacle; borrowing to fund tax cuts for the mega-rich is wholly different from borrowing to invest in our communities. We must ditch ideologically-driven Tory austerity now. Read my response to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in the Argus.

At the conclusion of one of the most consequential global summits in a generation, all the Prime Minister could muster was a 33-word tweet. This frankly pathetic statement shows Rishi Sunak utterly lacks the climate leadership our country desperately needs – and it shouldn’t have taken me to drag a Minister to the House of Commons to answer an Urgent Question on it. The final agreement’s absence of action to peak emissions before 2025, and the failure to include a clear commitment to phase out all fossil fuels, shows pitiful progress – while our own Government ploughs ahead with a swathe of new oil & gas licences. While the loss and damage fund agreed at COP27 is certainly a welcome victory for climate justice, the only way we can maintain a liveable planet for all is to keep fossil fuels in the ground for good. A woefully brief Twitter statement simply won’t wash. Watch my urgent question in the House of Commons, and read my article on the COP27 outcome in the Independent.

The massive loophole in the Government’s windfall tax means that fossil fuel companies get taxpayers’ money to invest in even more climate-wrecking oil & gas projects. And this is on top of billions in subsidies that we already hand out to fossil fuel giants - at a time when they’re raking in utterly obscene profits. This Government argues that “difficult decisions” need to be made to fill a “fiscal black hole”. Closing these loopholes and ending fossil fuel subsidies once and for all is a total no-brainer. Read my article in BusinessGreen.

I was proud to stand in solidarity with CWU Royal Mail workers in Brighton & Hove last week. It was so powerful to hear from them about their passion for their work & their community. This strike isn't just about fair pay and conditions – it is a fight for the future of the service itself.

It was a bone-headed and senseless decision from this Government to approve Sizewell C nuclear power station this week. The Government says it is vital to meet the 2035 target for decarbonising electricity, but its very own impact statement has found it won't come on stream and start generating electricity for at least another 13-17 years. Ministers need to do the maths! We have a huge range of energy sources to decarbonise sustainably: onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, tidal, interconnectors, flexible demand management, energy storage, and mass home retrofits and insulation to reduce long-term demand. Why have 12 years of Tory Government failed to provide a genuinely sustainable energy system? Watch my question to the Energy Secretary in the House of Commons.

The importance of COP15, starting next week in Montréal, can’t be overstated. When nature is in crisis both at home and abroad, we can’t miss this crucial opportunity to protect and restore nature for generations to come. Not only must the Government urgently set credible, comprehensive & deliverable nature targets – but the Prime Minister must also lead by example and commit to attending COP15 in person. I signed this open letter from the Environment APPG, in the Guardian - and do watch this beautiful animation from International Animal Rescue.

It’s 70 years since the devastating Great Smog of London in 1952, which brought London to a grinding halt. Yet 70 years later, air pollution is still an invisible killer of thousands, and an insidious health threat to millions – including children like Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi-Debrah, the first child to have air pollution listed on her death certificate. The Government must back my Green Party colleague Baroness Jenny Jones’s Clean Air Bill – and ensure that clean air is a human right for all, not a privilege. Read my article in Metro.

I joined up with Brighton Chamber of Commerce and their Net Zero Champions for a brilliant session talking about what more can be done to support businesses becoming more sustainable. As well as hearing about some really inspiring work here in Brighton, we discussed the importance of a circular economy and the current obstacles facing businesses on the path to Net Zero. I was struck by how many of our fantastic innovators in the city are so far ahead of the Government on this crucial issue and that they really do have the creative and practical solutions to the challenges we face - but we desperately need a Government which supports and enables that work. 

Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, and I was delighted to visit the fabulous Afrori Books in Brighton – home to the biggest selection of books by Black Authors in the UK. The wonderful shop is in North Laine, and those not in Brighton can buy from their online store here. Thanks again to Carolynn & Oliviyah for hosting 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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