The Government is having a hard time striking a balance between competing needs like welfare and defence – but if we don’t get the balance between profit and planet right then everything else will, quite literally, be swept away.
What we got on 28th October was pretty much just continuity with a bit of tinkering. There were a few small steps in the right direction, but otherwise business as usual. This doubtless pleased the bond markets and industry, but in choosing to protect corporate profits over people and planet, Labour’s Budget betrayed our collective future.
Difficult choices are also faced by those on low wages, the disabled, the unemployed and (increasingly) young people.
The Green Party calls for investment in vital public services that will pay dividends over time, along with upgrading our housing stock – including improved insulation to make them warmer and cheaper to heat in winter, and cooler in summer. Cold winters cause thousands of excess deaths, as did this year’s extreme heatwaves.
The money should come from a fairer taxation system that includes taxing bank and energy company windfall profits, the gambling industry and extreme wealth. Calls for taxing extreme wealth are often met with claims that the wealthy people would ‘simply leave the country’, but this has proved not to be true of the majority. Patriotic Millionaires UK is an organisation of British millionaires who agree that extreme wealth must contribute more to society, and their strapline is “We’re proud to pay and we’re here to stay”.
Another critical balancing act is informing people about the seriousness of the climate and environment crisis, without plunging them into despair. Screenings of the People’s Emergency Briefing continue to increase in number, with more than 3,500 to date in village halls, workplaces, churches, libraries and cinemas. The movement is also spreading worldwide. Taking action is what balances out anxiety and despair: Bath University research shows that 87% of viewers felt more motivated to act.
On 16th November Parliament debates the call for the Government to organise national public emergency briefings. I’ve asked our MP Simon Hoare to attend.
Ken Huggins, Green Party
