Climate change before Brexit – Green Party
THE Wales Green Party has expressed disquiet about the way climate change has been sidelined as an issue during the General Election campaign.
Speaking at the launch of the party’s General Election campaign, its leader, Grenville Ham, said: “The challenges we face are bigger than Brexit.
“It is vital we face up to the challenges as well as the opportunities provided by climate change to ensure we can live sustainably on our one beautiful planet.
“Other parties talk about these things as an afterthought, we use them as a startingpoint for our vision of a fairer world with economic and social justice for everyone.
“Our focus is on the policies that offer hope for young people in Wales.
“Wales Green Party proposes to use renewable energy to inform the basis of a sustainable economic model that can kick-start a green revolution of the Welsh economy.
“This new economy will provide decent jobs for our young people and keep them in Wales.
“Investing in renewable energy will not only create many skilled jobs, but can also provide revenue for community groups and farmers.”
Amelia Womack, deputy leader of the Green Party, appealed to voters across Wales to vote Green, saying: “If I can ask Welsh voters anything it is this: don’t just vote for the MP you want, vote for the country you want.
“Two years ago Ukip elected just one MP. But the large share of the vote they gained threw an already rightwing government even further to the right.
“I know that the Green Party has the most positive, progressive, and exciting vision of Britain’s future and I know we will get there all the quicker if we can secure a higher percentage of the vote.
“So, please use this election to send a wind of change through Parliament, one that will swing the weather vane away from callous and heartless policies to a future that is confident and caring.”
Ms Womack acknowledged, however, the party had decided not to field candidates in every constituency, like, for example, Cardiff West, where the seat of Labour’s Kevin Brennan is coming under strong challenge from the Conservatives.
Ms Womack denied, however, the party was “endorsing” Mr Brennan.
Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party’s deputy spokeswoman and candidate for Newport West, backed the concept of a Universal Basic Income, under which everyone would receive a flat benefit.
She said: “A Universal Basic Income is a unique Green Party pledge. It is the great enabler for society, giving people the opportunity to start businesses, look after their children, train, upskill, wait for a suitable job locally and have peace of mind.
“In a world of increasing automation we must make sure no single citizen gets left behind, or gets trapped in a slave economy of zero-hours contracts.
“The Wales Green Party policy is to take steps towards the introduction of a universal basic income, including a governmentsponsored pilot scheme, as a means to increase security and avoid the poverty trap.
“We propose spending £0.5bn on a pilot, funded by extra income tax and NI generated from paying a living wage.”