Greens call for humane approach to cost of living and refugees in Queen’s Speech

8 May 2022

The Green Party has called for a multi-billion pound massive programme of insulation to be announced in the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday to address the cost of living crisis.

The Greens are calling for the Government to provide £25bn to insulate homes and install renewable energy, helping to keep people's homes comfortable and reduce bills, addressing the fact that the UK has some of the leakiest housing stock in Europe.

The Greens want to see new legislation that would raise revenue for funding insulation measures by taxing the enormous profits made by oil and gas companies during the crisis. 

The Green plan would support local councils to follow the lead of pioneering authorities such as Lewes District Council where Greens are in power, who are working with six other local authorities to retrofit 40,000 council homes through creating a £1billion fund for insulation measures. [1] 

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said, “Distracted by scandal after scandal, this Government is utterly failing to get a grip on the twin crises of the rising cost of living and the climate emergency. 

“The Greens have a plan to insulate millions of homes, as the best way to bring down people's bills, improve their quality of life and  reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This country urgently needs politicians who will take a lead on such a plan to insulate homes on a massive scale.

“The recent local election results, where the Greens gained more seats than Labour in England, shows that the public are crying out for the ambitious plan to address the cost of living crisis that Greens have put forward.”

The Greens are also calling for a more humane approach to immigration. The Green Party wants to see a policy of safe routes and visa-free access for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution,  an end forced deportations, and would offer an amnesty to undocumented migrants, following the lead of Ireland. [1] 

Carla Denyer added, “The people of the UK are welcoming and want to help those in need, yet the Government seems intent on victimising and criminalising people who have fled war and persecution. Priti Patel’s new legislation attacking refugees is sickening and must be urgently repealed. 

“We need a fair and humane approach to supporting refugees that does not put lives at risk, including save routes, visa-free access, providing decent and secure accommodation for asylum seekers, and ending cruel deportations.” 

ENDS

Notes

1

https://greenworld.org.uk/article/lewes-model-explained 

2

https://www.politics.co.uk/comment/2021/12/17/why-we-need-an-amnesty-for-undocumented-migrants/ 

For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401

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