The new Labour government is primed to outline their first budget in 14 years tomorrow, a real opportunity for them to deliver the change they promised to the public during their general election campaign.
It has been over 100 days since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. And so far, a disappointing start to the country’s first term since the end of 14 years under the Conservatives.
At a time when radical and positive change is required more than ever, this budget affords that opportunity to the Labour Party. We need a budget that stands for a greener and fairer future for all:
Increase funding for public services:
Our public services have been enormously underfunded under the Conservatives. The country desperately needs a public, properly funded health and social care system, including an NHS free from the risk of privatisation. This also includes reversing the failed privatisation of energy, water, and transport.
End tuition fees:
The discourse surrounding the increase in tuition fees to £10,500 a year delivers yet another blow to students.
After constant years of Conservative cutbacks, students had hoped that things might be different under the new Labour government. This hope has since changed to anger and frustration. To expect students to pay over £10,000 a year for often very limited contact hours with teaching staff shows a distinct lack of consideration for working people and students.
The Green Party is calling on the government to introduce a wealth tax on the ultra-rich. This would ensure that students are not bearing the brunt of the university funding crisis, in addition to raising the wages of higher education workers who have seen their salaries fall compared with inflation for more than a decade.
It should be the government, not students or staff, that funds education. Tuition fees and student debt should be scrapped, replacing student loans with maintenance grants tied to the rate of inflation.
Affordable transport:
Public transport needs to be affordable for all, especially for young people, who are among its most reliant. The Young Greens strongly oppose the scrapping of the £2 fare cap in England.
This will raise little funds for the government and will instead harm those who simply cannot access, or afford, other means of travel. It is also vitally important that our government makes it easier for people to opt for greener modes of transport as the climate crisis continues to escalate.
The Green Party supports an increase to annual public subsidies for rail and bus travel to £10bn by the end of the next Parliament, in addition to free bus travel for under-18s.
Young Green Co-Chairs Luanne Thornton and Callum Clafferty commented:
“The budget is Labour’s first major chance to deliver on their promise of change. They have a choice, either to radically transform our system for the benefit of people and the planet or more of the same, destructive, neo-liberal austerity.
The choice should be an easy one: tax the wealthy and heavy polluters, invest in our public services, and start undoing the damage of 14 years of Conservative government.
No matter what, the Young Greens will always side with climate, social, racial, and economic justice. If you want real hope and real change, join us today.”