PRESS RELEASE : Greens call for the people to have their say as Tories announce Sunak as new PM [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 24 October 2022.

The Green Party has called on new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to put the country first and call a general election.

Responding to the news that Sunak has become the leader of the Conservative Party, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“The country cannot afford more divisive infighting amongst a few elitist Conservatives whose policies are failing people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

“Even Conservative Party MPs and members have been excluded from the vote this time.

“People need to be democratically involved in finding solutions. This must include a General Election, and the opportunity to elect more Greens committed to a more equal society and solving the environmental crisis.

“The Conservatives are responsible for plunging this country into an economic and political crisis. It’s clear to the entire country that they are simply incapable of getting us out of it.”

The Greens have highlighted Sunak’s terrible record on tackling inequality and addressing the climate crisis as two major reasons why he will not be able to lead the country out of the crises it currently faces:

• While chancellor, Sunak blocked a nationwide programme of insulation to replace the failed green homes grant that would save people money and reduced energy consumption;

• His windfall tax on oil and gas companies was full of loopholes, failing to raise the sums needed and it actually rewarded the same companies for investing more in fossil fuels;

• As the UK prepared to host the COP26 UN climate summit, he signed off on devastating cuts to overseas aid that left the countries most impacted by the environmental crisis without the money to tackle it.

Ramsay said:

“The Tories want to impose the horrors of Austerity 2.0 in their Halloween Budget, but have no electoral mandate for doing this. Austerity means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering for people across the country.

“The government simply cannot govern under this Prime Minister – it is unfit for office. A General Election will allow people to have their say and vote for policies to reduce the cost of living and protect our environment.

“The Green Party stands for a fairer, greener country. The way out of the crisis is to do the opposite of what the government is planning.

“We would reduce inequality through progressive taxation, including a Wealth Tax, and raise money through windfall taxes on the companies making super profits during this cost-of-living crisis.

“We would use the money raised to make sure people can afford to keep warm and fund a national home insulation programme.

“We would reduce inequality by asking those with the deepest pockets to pay more tax to help fund quality public services for all.

“And, we would invest in the kind of economy that puts people and the planet before greed and super-profits for giant corporations.

“Now is the time for people to decide the country’s future.”