Green Party highlights the ‘huge impact’ of public-service cuts (From York Press)
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Green Party highlights the ‘huge impact’ of public-service cuts
8:15am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News
By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk
From left, senior support worker Kelly Cunningham chats with Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and City of York councillors Andy D’Agorne and Dave Taylor at the Arclight hostel for the homeless, in Union Terrace, York
THE new leader of the Green Party has visited York to discuss public-service cuts.
Natalie Bennett took part in a cycle tour of the city alongside Green councillors Andy D’Agorne and Dave Taylor, visited the Arclight homeless hostel, South Bank’s new 20mph zone and held a meeting with party members and supporters.
At a public talk at the University of York, Ms Bennett spoke about the Green Party’s opposition to Government-led privatisation, as well as education and welfare cuts, arguing that they are storing up trouble and betraying young people and future generations.
Speaking at Arclight, Ms Bennett said about her visit: “It has been absolutely lovely – we have been cycling around the streets of York, enjoying the cycle paths.”
She said: “I have been hearing about how the problem of homelessness has been growing. It’s very clear the benefit changes that have already happened could have huge impacts on the people who use this service.
“We have been talking about Green Party successes in terms of solar panels on council buildings and 20mph zones.”
The party said the government was “forcing City of York Council to cut support to some of the most vulnerable residents by 30 per cent, which will leave many families and residents unable to properly feed themselves”.
Coun Andy D’Agorne said: “Natalie’s visit gives us the opportunity to highlight the terrible impact that the Government’s severe cuts are starting to have on our public services and the fabric of our society.”
Ms Bennett was made Green Party leader in September, replacing Caroline Lucas.
Comments(11)
Micklegate
says...
8:39am Thu 25 Oct 12
nearlyman wrote:It does look like it!!
Is that Chief Inspector Taylor on the right of the picture ?
Just think, before her visit no-one would have known who the leader of the Green Party was. Now they will........unti of course 10 seconds after finishing the artice, when they will again have forgotten.
meme
says...
9:12am Thu 25 Oct 12
Wow what a fantastic agenda they have!Must vote for them
Perhaps if they offered an alternative to the cuts they may be taken seriously If you are going to complain about something you need to produce an answer and unless i am going insane I dont think anyone can spend money it does not have because some profligate loony lefties blew it all!
DorothyD
says...
9:51am Thu 25 Oct 12
k
greenmonkey
says...
10:48am Thu 25 Oct 12
nowthen
says...
12:00pm Thu 25 Oct 12
DorothyD wrote:That's so easy to say ,in fact I've heard it scores of times before from political hopefuls . But How will you do it ? and where's the money coming from ( apart from your promise to take more from the hardworking, higher rate tax payers and risk takers, or rich people as you call them). And by the way what's a green job ?
Actually the Green Party has a whole host of alternative policies to the cuts, which Natalie Bennett outlined to an enthusiastic audience of over 130 people at the University of York later in the evening. For a start we could create a million green jobs by investing properly in the things that we need to create a secure future - tackle climate change and increasing energy prices, reduce fuel poverty, create a decent public transport system and strong local economies. At the same time people deserve decent public services and social care, which keeps people in work and keeps the tax revenues coming in. We could also restructure our tax and financial systems so that the very rich are paying their fair share. If you would like to know more see www.greenparty.org.u
k
Gary Gilmores Eyes
says...
12:04pm Thu 25 Oct 12
That was very observant of them!
I have seen with my own eyes the effects of the cuts and I am not a political party or aligned to one.
As a voter I want to know what they are going to do about the cuts, impacts or if they somehow by a miracle got some power what they would do with faced with the same issues that we have at present?
As they are never going to get into power it is superfluous!
So the leader of the green party went to visit the Arclight centre.
The only thing people who inhabit that centre want to know is where is the cheapest white lightning in York.
They have also been cycling around the York cycle paths, taking in the surroundings.
How about some real life working policies to tackle the UK’s massive debt?
How about some real life working policies to tackle the UK’s social issues?
How about some real life working policies to tackle the UK’s energy deficit?
How about some real life working policies to tackle the UK’s transport problems?
How about some real life working policies to tackle the UK’s unemployment issues?
How about some real life working policies to tackle the UK’s crime issues?
Or they can wander around a centre for wasters and smile a lot at people, that does not tackle anything effectively!
It could be worse they could pray for it all to be ok!
Fat Harry
says...
2:04pm Thu 25 Oct 12
greenmonkey
says...
3:30pm Thu 25 Oct 12
They are making deeper cuts in Brighton than would otherwise be the case because Labour councillors voted with the Tories to push through a budget with deeper cuts than if council tax had been increased in the way Labour did in York.
greenmonkey
says...
3:37pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Perhaps you should look at the Green Party policies that Labour have shied away from: scrap privatisation of the NHS, costly PFI finance for public buildings and the irrelevant Trident nuclear programme, create jobs insulating houses, building new renewable energy plants such as tidal and wave power, repairing our creaking rail network, removing private profit by re-nationalising the trains etc There's no shortage of money - the bankers got us in the financial crisis but they expect the government and people to get us out of it!
shanoakes
says...
8:56pm Sat 27 Oct 12
nearlyman says...
8:33am Thu 25 Oct 12