A system based on inequality and exploitation is threatening the future of our planet. The Greens are the only political party in England and Wales committed to fixing this.
Our Political Programme sets out what Greens are in politics to do: to end the system that keeps hurting the environment and all of us who rely on it – and to build a better alternative. It has been built from policies proposed and voted on by our members, looking to secure the long term future of the places and people they love.
It’s a vision of a better world, and together we can deliver it. As we approach the elections for the High Peak Borough Council next May, we'll be telling you about our plans to bring this vision to the High Peak and the impact that getting a Green voice on the council can have where we live.
You can download the full political program document here. It's quite long, so here's a summary.
Elected Greens will work to
Save the environment
Green our land
Protect animal life
Challenge privilege
End discrimination
Champion international friendships
Liberate our working lives
Unleash our creative power
Embed collective kindness in our society
Deliver quality of life for all
Vision of society
We see:
a country at ease with itself and its neighbours, which builds bridges not walls
a country underpinned by well-funded, locally led public services providing care and support for all in need
A Government that understands that closer global cooperation, not ever-increasing spending on world-destroying weapons, is the best way of protecting its people.
Environment
We will:
strengthen international agreements on climate change
reduce our energy consumption: retrofit all homes and introduce high standards for new buildings
accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy
ban fracking
introduce a Forests Protection Bill to safeguard existing woodland and plant a new generation of forests
move towards a zero-waste society.
Planning
We will:
make it easier for communities to block the wrong type of development
end the current bias towards development
improve existing Green Belt, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Park planning protections.
Animals
We will:
Stop the badger cull and extend the Hunting Act
end the abuse and exploitation of companion animals
enforce tougher regulations on animal transportation
ban cages and close confinement of farm animals
immediately stop the use of primates, cats and dogs in research.
Education
We will:
widen access to university and adult education, for people of ages
restore joy to learning by freeing schools from the current focus on tests and results.
Health
We will restore the NHS to its original principles by
making the NHS “free at point of use”, including dentistry and mental health
supporting disabled people through support networks, increased benefits, better designed homes
taking action to improve general health, for example by
renewing the Clean Air Act
reducing car use
clamping down on advertising of unhealthy food and drinks.
Society
We will
give more power to local councils and communities
invest in community renewal
give more rights to private sector renters
build more social housing
work to end discrimination and encourage tolerance.
Economy
We will build an economy which delivers for everyone. We will:
develop alternatives to GDP which account for capital and environmental depreciation
phase in the four-day working week
introduce a Universal Basic Income
create more high-quality jobs by:
investing in and supporting expanding new technologies
helping small businesses to create new jobs
end workplace exploitation
tackle wage inequality by linking pay to the work done, not gender or personal background
establish a maximum pay ratio in organisations of 10:1 between the highest and lowest paid
give small businesses a competitive break
make high speed broadband a right
increase funding and tax cuts for the arts and independent media
bring railways and buses back into public ownership
end harmful fossil fuel industry tax breaks and subsidies
invest in cutting edge renewable technology through a new National Investment Bank.
The Political Programme does not say how the programme will be paid for. However, too much of the wealth which we all create ends up in private hands and is moved outside the UK. In 2017, 1800 new billionaires were created in the UK while average wages are effectively static and benefits are cut. £ 4.8Bn has been given in export subsidies for coal, oil and gas since 2010. About £ 1Bn a year goes to the arms trade in direct and indirect subsidies, in addition to defence spending.
Green proposals will reverse all this and put more into the public purse.
For years governments have been cutting funding for local authorities. Council budgets overall have shrunk by 26% and are set to continue falling up to 2020. Yet for every £1 spent on public services, 64p is put back into the local economy. So Green Party policies to create jobs, support small enterprises and improve working conditions will help the local economy and local businesses.
Join us
We are proud to do politics differently but we need determined, caring people like you to help us make it happen. Join us and stand up for what matters.
