Commenting on today's "budget for pointless austerity," the UK's first Green MP Caroline Lucas said:

"In spite of the Chancellor's protestations, this budget was neither unavoidable nor fair. Instead it was a massively failed opportunity to shift the economy onto a fairer, greener pathway.

"Devastating public spending cuts of the sort announced today are not ‘unavoidable.' They are not an economic inevitability - they are an ideological choice.

"Nor was this budget fair. A VAT rise, benefits cuts for all, a public sector freeze, and swingeing cuts in most government budgets of 25%, will all of them hit some of the poorest hardest."

Cuts are "unnecessary and destructive"

This week Caroline Lucas published a new report (1, 2) arguing that the cuts are both unnecessary and destructive - and saying that by cracking down on tax evasion and avoidance the government could raise tens of billions of pounds a year.

"It's been demonstrated that any efforts that are needed to address the deficit, once the economy is back to better health, can be paid for through progressive tax reform, so that the poorest are not forced to pay the highest price for the excesses of the bankers."

The Green Party leader and Brighton Pavilion MP continued: "We need a Green New Deal - a major investment package to rapidly modernise the UK economy for a low-carbon future, while seeing off the recession through large-scale job-creation. That's the kind of policy the new government should have put centre-stage."

Vote Blue, get Blue 

Caroline Lucas concluded: "Any notion that by voting Blue you get Green was nailed today by the stark absence of any serious measures to promote urgently needed environmental measures."

Notes

1. See http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2010-06-19-callous-cuts-report.html.

2. The full report - called Cuts: the callous con trick - can be read at http://www.financeforthefuture.com/TaxBriefing.pdf.

3. A briefing on the main points of the budget can be seen at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/reports/Budget_response_June_2010.pdf.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP will this week tell the coalition government there is “no good reason for any cuts in public expenditure during the life of this parliament.”

On Monday 21 June Britain’s first Green MP is to issue a new report – Cuts: the callous con trick (1) – in which she will make the case that cuts are unnecessary “because the economy could instead be rebalanced using additional tax revenues.”

The report, written jointly with tax expert Richard Murphy and Colin Hines of Finance for the Future, condemns the government “for failing to put to the electorate the option of fair tax instead of cuts,” and accuses ministers of increasing the likelihood of a double-dip recession.

Cuts “are not an economic inevitability but an ideological choice”

Caroline Lucas said today:

“Cuts are not an economic inevitability. They are an ideological choice. Politicians of all parties are now sharpening their axes to slash public spending, forcing those on lower incomes, who depend on public services the most, to pay the highest price for the recent excesses of the bankers.

“There is a choice. We should ask those best able to pay to foot the bill through fairer taxation. That’s the challenge I’m issuing: for that political choice to be made. It must be clearly asserted that we are not all in this together: that some had more responsibility for this crisis than others, and some benefited more from the boom that preceded it. Those who enjoyed the largest benefits must pay up now. For that to happen, fair taxes, not cuts, must become the new big idea to replace today’s callous and uncaring cuts fanaticism.”

Tax avoidance and evasion “truly staggering” – could be as high as £100bn a year

The Brighton Pavilion MP continued:

“The UK is currently one of the most unequal societies in Europe. But the financial crisis offers us an opportunity to rebalance the tax system. We could do it, for example, by applying the 50% tax rate to incomes above £100,000, abolishing the upper limit for national insurance contributions, raising capital gains tax to the recipient’s highest income tax rate, and helping lower earners by reintroducing the 10% tax band.

“Moreover, the huge extent of tax avoidance, tax evasion and unpaid tax in the UK economy is truly staggering.  HM Revenue & Customs themselves admit that tax evasion and avoidance together come to at least £40 billion a year, whilst in November 2009 they also admitted there was £28 billion of unpaid tax owing to them. Shocking as these numbers are, some experts have suggested that tax evasion – that’s deliberately breaking the law to not pay tax – might be as high as £70 billion a year, and tax avoidance – in other words, exploiting loopholes in tax law – might be £25 billion a year. That would take the total target for necessary action to collect tax due and owing to more than £100 billion a year”

Cut tax abuse, not tax-collectors’ jobs

Caroline Lucas continued:

“Whilst these appalling losses to the nation’s coffers are occurring, HM Revenue & Customs are pursuing a programme of job cuts which will ultimately reduce their own staff by 20,000 – close to one quarter of the total. This makes absolutely no sense.  This programme should be reversed, staff re-employed, and local tax offices re-opened in order to tackle tax abuse. It has been calculated that at least £15 billion of extra tax could be collected each year as a result.  That could prevent a massive range of cuts."

Richard Murphy, tax expert, chartered accountant and co-author of the report said:

“Our report sets out a range of additional options for changing the tax rules for the UK so that more than £40 billion of additional taxes could be raised each year by the end of the life of this parliament. That, together with the tax collecting efficiency savings already noted, would together deliver more than £60 billion of tax revenues for the UK – so preventing the need for any cuts at all.”

Richard Murphy added:

“A government really can spend to save the economy when in a recession. During this one, borrowing has been smaller and unemployment lower than forecast because of the measures taken by the last government to stimulate the economy. This report argues that a Green New Deal involving public and private investment in a massive labour intensive UK wide energy saving programme and a rapid shift to renewables should be the basis for continuing that programme of support for our economy. This would ensure that we come out of the recession better equipped for the future we’re going to face."

Caroline Lucas concluded:

“Fairer tax not cuts must become the real battleground of this new Parliament. It is the debate the Coalition and Labour alike must embrace. As the full ghastliness and unfairness of the cuts become ever clearer, the public clamour for fairer taxes rather than cuts can only grow."

Note

1.    The report can be read at: http://www.financeforthefuture.com/TaxBriefing.pdf.

The UK's Green MEPs have welcomed the adoption of a joint resolution by the European Parliament today condemning last month's military operation by Israel against a flotilla of humanitarian aid bound for Gaza.

The resolution also calls for an end to the Israeli blockade of the territory, which humanitarian agencies describe as a violation of international law and a collective punishment of the Gazan civilian population.

Today's vote in the Euro-Parliament represents a key stage in the negotiations to decide how the EU should respond to the incident - as well as address the ongoing blockade of Gaza.

The move comes 2 1/2 weeks after Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP condemned the Israeli attack.

Israel now indicates it will respond to international pressure by easing the blockade to allow more products into Gaza.

Following the European Parliament vote this afternoon, the South East's new MEP, Keith Taylor, said:

"I welcome the decision of MEPs from across the political spectrum to support this strong resolution condemning Israel for its unprovoked and disproportionate attacks on the Free Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla.

"The European Parliament has made it clear that this military action marked a breach of international law, and must now be investigated via a ‘prompt, international and impartial' inquiry. Israel must be held accountable for the tragic loss of life sustained in this incident and for its failure to take its responsibilities to the international community seriously.

"Furthermore, today's resolution shows in no uncertain terms that the Parliament opposes the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis and the collective punishment of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the territory. Around 80% of the Gazan population is dependent on food aid, with the Palestinian Territories being the largest third-country recipient of EU funds. I wholeheartedly welcome the pledge made by Binyamin Netanyahu's office today to allow more supplies into Gaza, but this situation remains inhumane and completely unsustainable: the blockade must be entirely ended.

"The resolution also makes clear that peace will only be possible when rocket attacks on Israel are halted - and warns that those who perpetrate them must face their full responsibility. It also calls for the Israeli sergeant Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas on Israeli soil, is released immediately. Only under these conditions, combined with an end to the blockade, can there be true progress towards a peaceful two state solution."

Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, said:

"I join my fellow Green MEP, Keith Taylor, in welcoming the European Parliament's support for a resolution condemning Israel's brutal attack of a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza and calling for an inquiry.

"Crucially, the resolution also urges Israel to immediately end the blockade; a cruel blockade that has resulted in a serious deterioration of sanitary and environment conditions, and empowered extremists. Until Israel finally lifts this unjust measure, thousands of people will continue to be robbed of their human rights.

"In addition, it asks for steps to be taken to ensure the sustainable opening of all the crossing points to and from Gaza. This will allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and commercial goods necessary for civilian reconstruction and help facilitate the two-state solution, which remains the essential basis for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

"I also welcome the resolution's urgent request that the Council takes steps to convene without delay the EU-Israel Association Council. It is essential that we re-evaluate the EU-Israel Association agreement .The attack on the flotilla is the latest of human rights abuses and there has been no progress on an end to the siege or a stop to the building of settlements on occupied land. The Agreement is not unconditional: that needs to be remembered."

Jean Lambert [1], the Green MEP for London, has today marked Refugee Week by urging people to celebrate the "invaluable contribution" refugees bring to life in the UK.

The aim of Refugee Week is to challenge misconceptions about refugees through awareness-raising events, while showcasing the many ways in which the UK has benefited from their diverse skills. One of the biggest myths is that the UK operates an "open door" policy on asylum and the country is being "flooded" by immigrants. To the contrary, the UK only received 25,670 asylum applications in 2008 [2], a figure that has fallen by almost half over the last five years, and we are ranked just 17th in a league table of industrialised countries for the number of claims per head of population [3].

Jean, who is a leading voice on asylum and immigration, says: "With so many negative myths surrounding the issue of asylum and immigration it is easy to lose the real story. Refugee Week offers a unique opportunity to dispel these misconceptions and focus on the truth behind the misinformed hype.

"Refugees are not here to scrounge off our welfare system, they are people forced out of their homes because their life and often the lives of their families have been put in danger because of war, conflict or political persecution. Increasingly, we are also seeing the most vulnerable communities losing their livelihoods and homes because of the impact of climate change, with rising sea levels, local water supplies threatened and land and crops lost to dramatic changes in weather.

"Asylum seekers are looking for a place of safety, not, as some people would have you believe, a place that would be economically beneficial. Indeed, many refugees live in hope that one day they can return to their homeland but whilst a variety of reasons often means that this is impossible their contribution to life in the UK is invaluable. From the NHS, to the construction industry, from the world of business to the service sector, refugees are an integral part of the very fabric of our society and Refugee Week is a celebration of this.

"But, of course, behind the celebration we mustn't forget that refugees have not chosen to live here, they have had that choice made for them. To address this situation we need political action to reduce conflict, protect human rights and protect our planet."

Notes to editors:

[1] Jean Lambert is the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on the revision of the Qualifications Directive and was recently responsible for securing the European Parliament’s support for the creation of a European Asylum Support Office.

[2] Home Office quarterly statistical summary, asylum statistics 2008 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=261

[3] UNHCR Asylum levels and trends in industrialised countries 2007 and 2008

http://www.unhcr.org/47daae862.html

For further information on Refugee Week visit: http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk

Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion and Green Party leader has been named ‘Ethical Politician of the Year' in the 5th annual Observer Ethical Awards.

Lucas beat David Cameron, and former climate secretary Ed Milliband, in picking up the award for the third time. Her previous two wins were in 2009 and 2007.

Caroline said: "I am delighted to have been chosen by readers of the Observer a third time - it means a great deal to be recognised by such a prestigious award. I am proud to represent a party in parliament which is committed to putting people and our planet first. I'd like to thank Observer readers who voted for me.

"At a time of economic upheaval and environmental challenge, the Greens' positive vision for the future has never been more needed."

The use of stop and search powers under Sections 43 and 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is said by the Metropolitan Police to remain an important tactic in counter terrorism strategy.

However, figures released by the Home Office suggest thousands of people across the UK may have been stopped and searched illegally.

Jenny Jones, London Green Party Assembly Member and Member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said in response:

"These counter terrorism powers were misused from the very start against peaceful protesters, photographers, journalists and many other innocent individuals and groups. Even worse, it has proved pointless for its original purpose - not one stop has ever resulted in catching a terrorist."

In a new video, Adrian Ramsay, the Green Party's deputy leader, speaks about the future of Britain under the Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition government.

The Green Party, he said, is pleased to hear of the plans to scrap the invasive ID card scheme, and replacing the House of Lords with an elected upper chamber. However, massive cuts to public services loom on the horizon, including reduced support for railway services, services rendered by local councils, and a reduction in university places.

MPs from the Green Party, Plaid Cymru and the Scottish Nationalist Party have tabled an amendment to the Queen's Speech which would put the future of the UK's nuclear arsenal in the balance.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP, together with MPs from the two nationalist parties, have called on Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs to support the amendment, under which the £100 billion Trident renewal would be included in the forthcoming strategic defence and security review. Current government plans are to exclude the Trident renewal from the review.

The parties hope to gain further support from the ranks of Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservatives before pushing the amendment to a vote this evening (Monday 7 June). In the coalition agreement for government the Liberal Democrats claimed that they "will continue to make the case for alternatives" to Trident.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP said today:

"As we begin a new parliament with a new government, the time has come to rise above party politics and fundamentally challenge the decision to renew Trident.

"We cannot continue to lecture countries such as Iran on the implications of their nuclear programme whilst proceeding blindly with our own - a move which would be both hypocritical and dangerous.

"Moreover, nuclear weapons remain a costly distraction from the real security threats we face, like climate change. The billions being spent on Trident replacement could be much better spent on investing in developing the infrastructure we need for a zero carbon economy, as well as in protecting public services.

"To use the money on a project that will make Britain and the world a far more dangerous place is politically irresponsible, morally bankrupt, and economically obscene."

Note:

1. The amendment, which will appear on Monday morning's order paper, reads:

As an Amendment to the Address, at end add-

"but respectfully request that the Government include as part of its Strategic Defence and Security Review a full examination of the Trident nuclear missile system, and any possible replacement."

2. The Conservative/Liberal Democrat Programme for Government document states, at page 15:

"We will maintain Britain's nuclear deterrent, and have agreed that the renewal of Trident should be scrutinised to ensure value for money. Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case for alternatives."

Jean Lambert, the Green MEP for London, today welcomed news that the European Commission has issued a second and final written warning to the UK for failing to comply with EU air quality standard on particulate matter and will be pursing legal action.

In line with the European Directive on Air Quality (2008) [1], the Commission has issued this final warning because certain zones of the UK, namely the Greater London Urban Area and Gibraltar, have continued to exceed the limit value for dangerous airborne particles known as PM10.

The UK was first issued with a warning in January 2009 and has since submitted an exemption request for London, which was rejected, and have applied for two time extensions to comply with air quality laws. However, given that zones still exceed the PM10 values the Commission stuck with their decision to send the final warning. If the UK fails to take necessary measures to comply with legislation, the Commission could refer the case to the European Court of Justice.

Jean Lambert, the Green Party MEP for London, said:

"I welcome the Commission's decision to send a final warning to the UK and call on the coalition Government to take real and affirmative action to address London's pitiful air quality. For too long this problem has been swept under the carpet, but to continue to do that would be to continue to fail citizens across the country and especially in London, where air quality at several sites is falling far below agreed standards.

"The tiny airborne particles (PM10) covered in the legislation, which are primarily emitted by industry, vehicles and domestic heating, can cause and irritate conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and lead to premature death. In London alone it is estimated that over 4,300 people die prematurely each year as a result of poor air quality, with thousands more admitted to hospital.

"The time of merely consulting on delaying tactics is over, the time to act is now. The Government should be taking every possible step to eliminate this danger to human health. This means urgent action by the Mayor of London who needs to rapidly revisit and revise his air quality strategy and stop putting Londoners health at risk."

Note to Editors

[1] EU air quality legislation sets binding limit values and/or indicative target values for the maximum permitted concentrations of certain pollutants in the air. Action to reduce pollution through an air quality plan is required where there is a risk of these standards being exceeded. Limit values for PM10 impose both an annual average concentration value of 40 micrograms (μg)/m3, and a daily concentration value of 50 μg/m3 which must not be exceeded more than 35 times per calendar year. These entered into force on 1 January 2005.

The 2008 Air Quality Directive allows Member States, under strict conditions, time extensions for meeting the air quality standards for PM10 (until 11 June 2011) and NO2 and benzene (until 2015 at the latest). During the extension period, limit values continue to apply plus a margin of tolerance.

The South East of England acquires a new political voice in Brussels today, as one of the region's most popular Greens is formally received as a Member of the European Parliament.

Under EU rules, Keith Taylor - the Green Party's next candidate on its European List for the South-East region - takes Caroline Lucas's place in the European Parliament following her historic election to Westminster (1).

A former businessman from Sussex, Keith was a leading Green Party councillor for 11 years - and a Principal Speaker for the party between 2004 and 2006. Well known for his work on workers' rights, environmental justice and regional economic strategy, Keith also worked for Caroline Lucas for five years as a Regional Liaison Officer.

In his new role serving the South East, Keith will sit on the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), the Committee on International Trade (INTA) and the Committee on Petitions (PETI). He will also become a full member of the Parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan, and a substitute member of the Iran and Palestine delegations.

Keith Taylor MEP said:

"I've spent the last 11 happy and fulfilling years as a city councillor in Brighton & Hove, striving for improvements in the everyday quality of life for local people. Now I'm taking all I've learnt to Europe in order to serve the whole of the South East - and I'll work tirelessly to achieve the best results.

"It is my aim to deliver inclusive politics based on hope, around a positive vision of building a just and sustainable world. I want to bring the work of the European Parliament closer to my constituents, and listen carefully to their concerns about the future of our region.

"I'm looking forward to building on the fantastic work done by my predecessor, Caroline Lucas - and would like to wish her the very best of luck as she begins her historic term as the first Green MP at Westminster."

Caroline Lucas MP, who served in the European Parliament for over ten years, said:

"Keith is an outstanding politician, a highly respected party member, and a good friend. He has served the people of Brighton & Hove with passion and commitment for many years and will bring a wealth of experience to his new role in the European Parliament.

"I have no doubt that Keith will prove to be an excellent MEP for the South East region, and I wish him every success for the future."

--

(1) The European Parliament took note of Caroline Lucas' election as MP on 18 May 2010. Caroline was a list candidate for the Green Party, and in view of this, her seat is filled in accordance with regulations 82-85 of the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 by Keith Taylor.

Green Party Leader, Caroline Lucas MP, has called on the Government to condemn the actions of the Israeli troops in firing on a ship carrying volunteers and medical supplies to Gaza, and to back an urgent inquiry into the incident.

In a strongly worded message to Foreign Secretary William Hague, she has demanded that he urgently contact the Israeli authorities to demand an end to the attacks, and that he ensure that Israel is held fully to acount for an illegal and unprovoked attack.

Speaking this morning, she said:

"I completely condemn this deadly attack on the humanitarian aid convoy. I am deeply shocked by the brutality of the assault, which has left a still unkown number of people dead and wounded. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

"This attack is a serious infringement of the principles of international law. The Green Party calls on the UK Government, and the EU, to apply pressure to lift the ongoing blockade of Gaza, which makes essential humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza virtually impossible to deliver. We also call for the quick establishment of an international inquiry to shed light on the circumstances of this attack."

Austerity measures are not the way to build a more stable economy or a fairer society, said Caroline Lucas last night.

The Green Party leader and Britain's first Green MP told a packed public meeting at Conway Hall that "the government's cuts programme will result in greater unfairness, fail to tackle inequality and do little to build the kind of strong and thriving public sector needed to provide a steady and genuinely sustainable economy."

At the Can't Pay, Won't Pay rally, Caroline said that "Being part of [the] fight for fairness means looking at how we have arrived at where we are today - with rising unemployment and rising home repossessions, dwindling wage levels and dwindling aspirations, an unequal society riddled with unfairness.

"All of this hasn't happened by accident.

"It is a direct and inevitable result of years of financial deregulation overseen first by Margaret Thatcher, then by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. And now Cameron and Clegg have taken charge - and do we expect anything different? Not if they have their way."

The MP for Brighton Pavilion continued, "I think we need to be very clear that it's precisely business as usual that has created this crisis - and that we need a very different model as we go forward. A model that is fair and sustainable, and which is based on a steady-state economy, rather than chasing ever more economic growth for its own sake.

"Because of course we don't only face an economic crisis - we face a triple crunch, which includes the accelerating climate crisis, as well as the impending crisis of peak oil. And unless we address them together, we'll miss a vital opportunity to shift the economy in a truly sustainable direction, and we'll risk simply storing up an even bigger collapse in the future."

Instead of a programme of cuts, Caroline called for "programme of green spending that kick-starts the shift to green energy" which, she said, "will produce countless new jobs, and keep money circulating in the economy where it is needed most, when it is needed most."

The Green Party's 2010 general election manifesto contained a proposed £44bn investment package intended to slash CO2 emissions while creating over one million new jobs and training places in the UK. The investment would be funded by a package of measures to include scrapping such things as Trident and ID cards, switching £30bn from the roadbuilding budget to public transport investment, and a number of radical financial changes - including a redistributive tax reform that the Greens say would leave 87% of Britons better off.

The full speech can be viewed at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/mediacentre/releases/2010-05-27-Conway-Hall-CL-speech.html.

The threat from climate change featured strongly in the first speech to the House of Commons by Britain's first Green MP this afternoon. But the new MP for Brighton Pavilion also drew attention to the UK's need for greater gender equality, for an elected House of Lords, for an improvement to Britain's record on civil liberties, and for the introduction of a genuinely proportional electoral system. "Politics needs to renew itself, and allow new ideas and visions to emerge," she told the House.

Finally turning her attention to climate change, Caroline Lucas said:
"I have worked on the causes and consequences of climate change for most of my working life, first with Oxfam - for the effects of climate change are already affecting millions of people in poorer countries around the world - and then for ten years in the European Parliament.

"But if we are to overcome this threat, then it is we in this chamber who must take the lead.

"We must act so that the United Kingdom can meet its own responsibilities to cut the emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that are changing our climate, and encourage and support other countries to do the same.

"This House has signed up to the 10:10 Campaign - 10% emissions reductions in 2010. That's very good news. But the truth is that we need 10% emission cuts every year, year on year, until we reach a zero carbon economy.

"And time is running short. If we are to avoid irreversible climate change, then it is this Parliament that must meet this historic task.

"That gives us an extraordinary responsibility - and an extraordinary opportunity.

"Because the good news is that the action that we need to tackle the climate crisis is action which can improve the quality of life for all of us - better, more affordable public transport, better insulated homes, the end of fuel poverty, stronger local communities and economies, and many more jobs."

She concluded:

"I look forward to working with Members from all sides of the House on advancing these issues."

Note
The full speech can be read at: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/mediacentre/releases/27-05-2010-Caroline-Lucas-maiden-parliamentary-speech.html

The Green Party today publicly condemned proposals to offer all schools an option of Academy status. Rachel Fryer, the Greens' education spokesperson, said:

"There is clear evidence that Academies do not improve performance and in some cases make it worse.

"The Green Party has always spoken in favour of greater freedom for the school to decide how it is run. However this does not and must not mean putting the running of the school into the hands of a private sponsor who may know nothing or very little about education, and taking the power away from parents and teachers who have little representation on the governing body at an Academy.

"Academies can see principals paid in excess of £120,000 whilst there is a high turnover of valued and committed staff lower down the pay scale as they are invited to reapply for their jobs on different pay scales.

"Time and again Greens and others have asked why the freedoms and funding attached to Academies cannot be given without the strings of creeping privatisation and millionaire sponsors attached. Yet no answer is given."

Ms Fryer, who is also one of the Green Party's city councillors in Brighton and Hove, concluded:

"With the proposals of up to 25% cuts across local authorities, inevitably affecting front-line staff including teachers, we could be facing the situation of having new buildings without the teachers to go in them. Let's give the money directly to schools through greater investment and through bringing back BSF (Building Schools for the Future) money, trusting schools and teachers to know the best way to spend money to improve education."

Responding to constituents' concern about SATs and league tables in schools, Caroline Lucas MP has this week written to the Minister of State for Schools, Mr Nick Gibb, MP.

In the letter, she expressed that:

"I have long backed the abolition of external SATs exams and also agree with my constituents that that league tables in their current form are unhelpful. League tables give an over-inflated impression of schools with a higher ability intake and this in turn can contribute towards problems with admissions.

"I share the view of the constituents who have contacted me that a combination of self assessment, sampling and teacher assessment is the best way to ensure children progress educationally. There is currently too much emphasis on national tests and fulfilling marking schemes. This puts unnecessary pressure on children and means teaching and learning are too often dominated by meeting targets and ticking boxes (both for teachers and pupils)."

Channel 4 News today publishes an alternative Queen’s Speech prepared by Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP – showing what the Greens believe should have been the new government’s priorities.

The alternative speech sets out the priority “to modernise the British economy for a low-carbon future, to create an economy more balanced between manufacturing and services, more resilient in the face of financial crises, where wealth is more equitably distributed and the more vulnerable in society are offered greater protection” – beginning with a £44 billion investment package which would create over one million new jobs and training places, mostly in the low-carbon sectors the Greens believe the UK must develop rapidly in order to meet demanding CO2 targets.

The speech promises to tackle the budget deficit, but with greater emphasis on taxing higher incomes. It refers to halting any new private finance initiative (PFI) schemes, and to keeping the Royal Mail in public ownership.

The alternative speech also talks about wide-ranging financial reforms which would include separating retail from investment banking, setting up a national network of not-for-profit community banks, severe restrictions on bankers’ bonuses and the introduction of a "Robin Hood tax" on financial transactions.

Other measures would include an early withdrawal from Afghanistan and the scrapping of the Trident missile system and its proposed replacement. 

Note

1. The full alternative Queen's Speech can be read here: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/green+mp8217s+alternative+queen8217s+speech/3658692.  

"It's a pack of half-hearted measures" says UK's first Green MP

Caroline Lucas MP, the first Green MP in the UK parliament, commented this afternoon:

"It's a pack of half-hearted measures. For example they talk about far-reaching political reforms, but all they're offering is a referendum on AV, which would go nowhere near far enough.

"There are warm words on climate change and energy efficiency, but no real detail. We need to see genuine commitment to serious targets and to the investment needed to meet those targets.

"Even worse, the fact that this comes the day after we've heard of budget cuts to public transport suggests the joined-up thinking isn't there.

"The Green Party welcomes the scrapping of ID cards, but we would also like to have seen action on the use of control orders."

Today Channel 4 publishes the "Green Queen's Speech" - an alternative Queen's Speech prepared by Caroline Lucas MP to show what a Green government would prioritise. See:

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/green+mp8217s+alternative+queen8217s+speech/3658692.