The fund was initially aimed at £28 billion a year investing in green jobs and insulation. Gavin says:

“This U-turn is another broken promise and a missed opportunity to address both the climate emergency and the economic crisis. The decision by the Labour Party to postpone these plans is deeply concerning and it represents a failure to prioritise the well-being of our planet and communities”

Gavin adds: “There is a lack of basic economic logic here in arguing current economic circumstances are too dire for government spending. On the contrary, this is precisely the time when the government should be making significant counter-cyclical investments to stimulate the economy and create a sustainable future”.

“The language of ‘fiscal responsibility’ echoes the disastrous era of austerity, which has had severe consequences for northern communities and risks exacerbating the cost of living crisis. What we desperaely need are bold policy ideas that address climate change, stimulate green industries and create job opportunities that benefit people and the planet”.

[ENDS]

Contact: contact@carlisle.greenparty.org.uk GavinHawkton.GreenParty@gmail.com

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When mixed these chemical cocktails have a disastrous impact on water species including amphibians, fish, insects, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and algae. The adverse effects on these creatures included stunted growth, reduced cell function and lower survival rates.

Prospective Green Party parliamentary candidate Gavin Hawkton said:

“We must take better care of our waterways for the sake of environmental and public health. The government monitors and regulates individual levels of chemicals but it is this damaging mix of substances that is being ignored”.

This news comes after Environment Agency data suggested that six of the ten longest sewage discharges last in in England happened in Cumbria.

Gavin adds: “Currently water companies are dumping, almost without impunity, sewage into our rivers, waterways, and coastal waters. This is a disaster as our rivers and lakes are facing ecological collapse as a result”.“

The failure of privatisation is clear to see. Over the last 30 years £57bn that should have gone into improving infrastructure has instead been trousered by water company executives and shareholders”.“

Water companies have announced that they are going to put up our bills by £10bn to pay for their failures. Yet, at the same time they will continue to pay £14.7bn in dividend payments to their shareholders by the end of this decade”.

“The transfer of wealth from families paying inflated bills to the pockets of shareholders is a scandal given the state of our waterways. We need to end shareholder pay-outs in the short term and bring water companies back into public hands”.“

It is only the Green Party with the courage to demand the nationalisation of water companies that is needed.”

[ENDS]

Contact:

contact@carlisle.greenparty.org.uk GavinHawkton.GreenParty@gmail.com

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The Green Party have selected Gavin Hawkton as its candidate for Carlisle at the next general election.

Speaking after his selection, Gavin said: “I’m delighted to have the backing of members and I’m looking forward to providing voters with a genuine alternative at the next general election”.

“Whether it’s the broken pledges by Keir Starmer or a Conservative Party embroiled in scandal after scandal, people feel let down by the main political parties and want a fresh approach”.

“The North-South divide grows year on year and the fantasy of ‘levelling up’ needs to be challenged. Genuine investment in a Green New Deal to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and create thousands of jobs is the positive vision I want to set out”.

The Green Party is the party on the rise after making record gains at the local elections in May. Gavin believes the approach of tackling the interconnected issues of environmental, economic and social injustices is one that resonates with voters and is crucial to securing a positive future for future generations.

“We need a party that seeks to improve society for the benefit of all, not just a small elite, I’m looking forward to getting out on the streets putting the Green case across” he said.

 

Carlisle Green Party had an open and democratic husting where all members were free to stand before deciding between candidates in an internal ballot. Tom Adams, Chair of the Carlisle Greens said: “The party is going from strength to strength and its very encouraging to see the talent emerging from within the party” adding “Gavin will be a strong voice for Carlisle”.

 

[ENDS]

 

Contact:
contact@carlisle.greenparty.org.uk

GavinHawkton.GreenParty@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/Gavin4Carlisle

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Carlisle Green Party has called for a massive programme to create secure, well-paid jobs by insulating thousands of homes in Cumbria.

In the run up to the local elections in May, the party has said there has never been a more important moment to elect Greens who will work hard to help their community deal with the cost of living crisis while tackling the climate emergency and reducing inequality.

For a long time now, the Green Party have been calling for a retrofit revolution to transform the UK’s housing and make all homes warmer and more energy efficient through insulation and renewable energy installation. Hundreds of thousands of low carbon jobs would be created nationally, and recent reports show that at least 9,000 could be created within Cumbria itself.

Rather than pitting the need for jobs against sustainable solutions to reduce carbon emissions, employment opportunities in renewables and retrofitting should be sought. This contrasts sharply with the Conservative’s push to open an unsustainable coal mine in West Cumbria.

Tom Adams, Green Party candidate for Brampton said:

“Rural areas in particular could see huge benefits from a retrofit revolution. Greens are calling for £25 billion to be invested every year through local councils to retrofit homes. This would address problems of energy security and poverty in Brampton’s outlying areas, reduce carbon emissions, and create jobs all at the same time.”

“Brampton already has a community interest company and non-profit groups working towards creating employment opportunities in the retrofit sector and promoting repair shops. These kinds of initiatives need to be encouraged more and supercharged with funding secured from central government. Under Green Party proposals, local authorities would be given powers to direct newly created training and skills programmes, like apprenticeships, and would be able to decide how related funding is spent. Only funding on this scale will achieve the council’s target of net carbon zero by 2037.”

“Greens are often charged with how this can be paid for. The answer is taxing pollution and wealth. That includes increasing the tax already charged on North Sea oil and gas to 40%, raising 5 billion pounds and bringing us closer to a full blown carbon tax, making polluters pay for their activities.”

Carlisle Green Party Chair Gavin Hawkton added:

“A retrofit revolution will bring down the cost of living, improve our access to local rather than imported energy, and reduce carbon emissions, all while creating new high-quality jobs.

“Carlisle should be benefitting from the retrofit revolution and the green jobs it can bring. If elected, Green councillors will work to deliver that.”

ENDS

For interviews and information please contact Gavin Hawkton: contact@carlisle.greenparty.org.uk

Further information here:https://greenworld.org.uk/article/retrofitting-homes-forgotten-key-achieving-net-zero

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● Greens issue warning that lack of government leadership and support is preventing councils from helping refugees

● Carlisle City Councillor Helen Davison: “Councils and their constituents all over the country are ready to step up for Ukrainian refugees, just like they were for Afghan refugees. But the biggest barrier is this Conservative government”

Carlisle Green Party has called on the government to provide our local councils and communities with the support and coordination necessary to be able to provide Ukrainian refugees with proper assistance.

The Green Party warns that local councils and their constituents, who want to help those fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine, are being prevented from doing so by the Government’s failure to adequately provide support services and clear advice and help. 

The Government is offering to take in 200,000 people fleeing Ukraine [1], but the Greens warn that there could be a repeat of the catastrophic handling of the Afghan refugee crisis last year. [2]

The Greens have repeatedly warned over the last year that refugees and asylum seekers, including children, are being accommodated in often overcrowded and unsuitable hotels due to the lack of appropriate housing. [3] They have also warned that the lack of funding for fostering, and children’s services is leaving children without the support they need to recover from trauma. 

Carlisle Greens state that the chaos that accompanies the Homes for Ukraine project is a direct result of the Hostile Environment policy put into place by this government which has caused so many problems. Now the goodwill of the British public and of its statutory and non-statutory sectors working to help refugees and asylum seekers is being sorely tested by the ineffectiveness, confusion and heartlessness shown by the present governments lack of planning and support.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to provide the help that is needed for local councils to resettle refugees in appropriate accommodation where they can restart their lives with help from local communities.

Green Party City Councillor Helen Davison: “Councils and their constituents all over the country are ready to step up for Ukrainian refugees, just like they were for Afghan refugees. But the biggest barrier is this Conservative government”

“We need to match the generosity of our European neighbours by waiving visa requirements for refugees fleeing war and we need money unlocked to provide decent accommodation and adequately fund support services. Councils with support can provide housing by repurposing empty homes, partnering with private landlords and building affordable new homes.”

Tom Adams, Green Party candidate for Brampton added: “Local communities in Carlisle, Brampton and elsewhere are rallying together to play their part in helping Ukrainian refugees. For example, the Brampton Area Action Group co-ordinated a response to supply vital food and medical supplies delivered directly to their point of need. Central government needs to match these local responses and rapidly catch up in terms of its support and funding for refugee resettlement”.

Gavin Hawkton, Carlisle Green Party Chair said:

“The Conservative government does not understand the urgency of the situation and the scale that is needed to save lives and keep people protected.

“We need a comprehensive system for the resettlement of refugees, without this those seeking asylum will continue to wait in limbo and sometimes be forced to live in unacceptable conditions. 

“The goodwill of the British public is clear, yet those who want to help are being prevented by a confused and ineffective government who have failed to provide the scale of planning and support that is needed.

ENDS

Notes  

            1

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-could-over-200-000-130221772.html

            2

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2021/08/18/green-party-warns-government%E2%80%99s-pledge-to-resettle-afghan-refugees-is-%E2%80%9Cempty-pr%E2%80%9D/

            3

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2021/08/17/green-party-urges-local-authorities-to-take-in-fair-share-of-child-refugees/

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• A ground-up approach to insulate social housing
• “Change for the better – cutting fuel bills, creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions.”

Carlisle & District Green Party have pledged to tackle growing levels of fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis by supporting a retrofit revolution.

Greens point to a ground-up model, currently being implemented by Green-led Lewes District Council [1], that will see local councils in an area work collaboratively together to insulate social housing. They say the program will cut fuel bills, create hundreds of new jobs and slash carbon emissions.

By focusing initially on social housing, a local, stable supply chain and workforce can be created and lead to economies of scale that will help bring down the price of retrofitting for all households, including those in the private sector, Greens argue.

Carlisle Green Party Chair Gavin Hawkton:

“The cost-of-living crisis is leaving many low-income households across Carlisle having to choose between heating and eating. We need a program to lift people out of fuel poverty while creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions.

“Greens are showing leadership, demonstrating how we can do things differently, by implementing a ground-up approach. The creation of the new Cumberland Council gives us an opportunity to really tackle this issue by creating a locally trained workforce that can both deliver a retrofit program and boost the local economy. This would not only create a guaranteed pipeline of work, but it would also mean that private renters and homeowners can benefit from cheaper retrofitting too.

“Greens are bringing about change for the better – cutting fuel bills, creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions.”

Tom Adams, Green Party candidate from Brampton adds:

“Many rural areas around Brampton have particular problems with aging, poorly insulated properties. Retrofitting requires a skilled workforce, ramping up the number of apprenticeships and investment in sustainable sources of energy for heating. Pooling financial resources like the Lewes model provides a practical blueprint for achieving this.

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