Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has called on George Osborne to make the minimum wage a Living Wage, invest in renewable energy and restore the link between prices and benefits in his Budget tomorrow.
Bennett said:
“With this Budget, George Osborne has another opportunity to learn the lessons that led to the economic crisis, build a fair and sustainable economy and tackle climate change.
“He could make the minimum wage a Living Wage, to provide people with a decent standard of living and end state subsidies for private profits. He could pledge investment in renewable energy and energy conservation to create jobs and fight climate change. He could restore the link between benefits and prices so that those in need of support are not pushed into poverty.
“Instead he is likely to cut back public services and welfare even further, in spite of the damage this has already inflicted to the young people who can’t find work and the families who rely on food banks to survive. He will allow wealthy families to retain £1 million fortunes tax-free, further entrenching inequality. And he will relish in the withdrawal of subsidies for wind power, the cheapest form of renewable energy.
“In the sixth wealthiest nation on earth, we can afford a Budget that delivers a caring Britain. Osborne just has to take this opportunity to make it happen.”