Amelia Womack announces plan to protect the Independent Living Fund and double child benefit

28 April 2015

Speaking at the launch of the Green Party's campaign bus today, deputy leader Amelia Womack announced the Greens' plans to protect the Independent Living Fund and double child benefit.

She said:

 

"Thank you for coming here today.

In nine days time the voters of Bristol West have a chance to send a message. You have a chance to make it clear that business-as-usual politics offered by the mainstream Westminster parties is no longer good enough – and to vote for something better. You have a chance to choose the politics of hope over the politics of fear. You have a chance to elect Britain’s second Green MP – to join Caroline Lucas in Parliament, and to shape the future of British politics.

We live in the sixth richest country on Earth. Only this weekend The Sunday Times published their rich list, which showed that in this country the richest 1,000 people have more wealth (£547 billion) than the poorest 40% of households (£452 billion). Since the global financial crisis, those richest 1,000 in this country have doubled their wealth.

Meanwhile, 1 million people needed food banks to feed their families last year.

There are now 117 billionaires in the very same Britain where one in five workers earn less than a Living Wage.

It is scandalous that despite the vast amounts of wealth we have in the country, there are millions of people who are struggling to get by.

Austerity hurts the most vulnerable people in society – punishing the poor and the vulnerable for the mistakes and fraud of the bankers.

Take the Independent Living Fund, for example. Nearly 18,000 disabled people with high-support needs rely on the fund to live their lives with choice and control, rather than going into residential care or being trapped at home. On 30th June the funding and responsibility of ILF care and support needs will transfer to local authorities. There is no obligation to use the money specifically for ILF. This cut in central Government funding puts at risk some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Keeping the Independent Living Fund would cost around £300 million – and I’m proud to say the Green Party is committing to doing just that. We won’t stand by while this lifeline is cut away.

But the Green Party isn’t just opposed to cuts – we believe in doing more, much more, to redistribute income within our society. That’s why we’re being honest about the fact that we’d increase tax for the richest in society – and it’s why we’re able to pledge that we’d double child benefit to £40 a week. For the 29% of children here in Bristol West who live in poverty, this increase will be life changing.

It’s bold policies like these that set the Green Party apart from others. We don’t offer half-measures, or minor changes.

In the midst of such struggle in this country, the Green Party are offering something unique: hope. We make this one very clear promise to voters: we will always stand for an economy, a society, that works for the many, not just the few.

That means our MPs will never blame the most vulnerable for the mistakes of those at the top.

It means that our MPs won’t go into any sort of deal with the Tories.

And it means we’ll give a Labour Government a backbone – but we won’t hesitate to vote against them to ensure we’re true to our principles.

We need more Green MPs in Britain. More people to follow Caroline into parliament to stand up for an economy that works for everyone, and for a safe climate.

We know we can win here in Bristol. We have a fantastic candidate, and our support here is growing by the day.

On May 7th voters here have a chance to make history – and send Bristol’s first Green MP to parliament.

Thank you."

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