We’re breaking down the key highlights of each manifesto to help you make the best decision you can at the ballot box this July.
With TikTok, Instagram, 24 hour news, YouTube and more, there’s more information than ever at our disposal. However for many of us, that hasn’t made understanding politics any easier, especially during an election.
Naked Politics’ Manifesto Breakdown Series is here to help you decide which party- if any- you might consider voting for, by cutting through the petty politics and looking at what matters: the policies.
The Green Party recently boasted of a “record breaking” number of elected Green Councillors following the May 2024 local elections, in which the party gained 74 new seats, totalling 809 Councillors in 174 Councils. This marked the highest increase in Councillors for the Green Party in its history, and the party is now the third largest party in the UK. The Green’s success is likely to be reflected in the general elections, especially within younger demographics, with studies showing support for the party reaching 13% among the under-30s. They look set to retain a seat in Brighton and potentially win three more seats in England.
The Green Party has historically positioned itself as a radical alternative to the Labour or Conservative parties, especially when it comes to climate change policies but also embracing higher taxes on the wealthiest and championing immigration.
But what else is the Green Party offering you this election? Read below to find out more.
Climate change
As expected, the Greens’ manifesto champions greener and environmentally conscious policies at every level. A focal point of their policy is to prioritise the transition to renewable energy sources and end the use of fossil fuels, while also phasing out nuclear energy. The party will cancel recent fossil fuel licences, tax fossil fuels domestically and internationally, fossil fuel company subsidies, and prevent new extractions. Instead, it emphasises the development of wind and solar energy, aiming to provide approximately 70% of the UK's energy from wind by 2030.
Additionally, the Green Party seeks to empower communities by enabling them to take ownership of their own energy sources. The party also proposes investing a whopping £40 billion each year towards the shift to a green economy.
Healthcare
The Greens are planning to spend an additional £8bn on the NHS in their first year of governance, and increasing this figure to £28bn by 2030.
Part of their healthcare spending will go towards shortening GP and treatment waitlists, implementing same-day GP appointments, ensuring dentistry is accessible, and ensuring that children and people on lower incomes can access dental care. They will also fund public health initiatives for smoking cessation, drug and alcohol treatment and sexual health services.
Additionally, the party will push for an increase in wages for NHS staff and improved rights and treatment for individuals with mental health conditions, including support for children with mental health conditions and learning disabilities. This is further supported by their promise to provide tailored care that meets the needs of people with marginalised identities, like children and young people and LGBTIQA+ communities.
Housing
Social and environmentally friendly homes are the focus of the Greens when it comes to housing.
They pledge affordable housing, a reduction in energy bills, and to increase social housing by 150,000 new homes each year. Although not much is said about helping young people and first time buyers onto the property ladder, the party proposes rent controls and an end to no-fault evictions. They will also end the "right to buy" scheme to prevent the sale of social homes.
Naturally, they advocate for retrofitting solar panels and heat pumps on existing homes and new buildings, while also ensuring local councils and governments take ownership for housing residents in “Right Homes, [at the] Right Place, [at the] Right Price”
Employment, wages and tax
Young people will be pleased to know that not only do the Greens promise a 4 day work week when viable, but they also propose an increase in minimum wage to £15 an hour, regardless of age. While there are no specific employment and tax incentives directed at young people, the party will champion the rights of workers such as the right to strike and recognition of trade unions, which may prove beneficial to all age demographics.
But that’s not all; the Greens also propose a maximum wage ratio, ensuring that bosses can earn no more than 10 times the wage of the lowest paid employees. They will push for equal rights for all workers from the first day of employment (meaning probationary periods don’t have to be so scary!).
In terms of taxes, the party proposes higher taxes for very wealthy people and oil companies, with a wealth tax of 1% annually on assets above £10 million and 2% on assets above £1bn. They also promise a carbon tax to drive fossil fuels out of our economy and raise money to invest in the green transition.
Education
To the delight of secondary school students, the Green Party proposes the abolition of testing in primary and secondary schools, as well as the abolition of OFSTED. Outside of this, the Greens propose increased funding for schools coupled with an increase in wages for teachers.
Young people wishing to continue their education after the age of 16 will once again benefit from the restoration of the Education Maintenance Allowance- a stipend cut in 2010 by the coalition government.
Similarly, university students will also benefit from the party's intent to scrap tuition fees and reinstating grants for students pursuing higher education.
Migration
A Green government promises to end the hostile immigration environment, including the abolition of detention centres. They will also support the creation of safer routes for asylum seekers to enter the UK.
Going further, the Green Party advocates for replacing the existing Home Office with a new Department of Migration, emphasising the need for separation between the criminal justice system and migration issues. The party also supports granting asylum seekers and refugees recourse to public funds and work.
Social Justice
The Greens’ manifesto addresses various social justice issues in relation to disability, benefits, identity, Israel and Palestine, voting rights, and public services.
The party advocates for an immediate increase of disability benefits by 5%, as well as reforms to the eligibility tests to qualify for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). They will also implement mandatory free school transport for 16 to 18 year olds with special educational needs or disabilities.
In terms of benefits, the Green Party will increase Universal Credit by £40, ensuring that all children in a family receive child benefits, eventually also introducing a universal basic income for everyone.
On identity, the party will advocate for trans and non-binary people to be allowed to self-identify and legally recognise their gender identity. They also call upon the police to acknowledge the institutional racism, misogyny, homophobia, and disablism within their profession, and end the use of facial recognition technologies and stop and search.
As for Israel and Palestine, the party calls for an immediate bilateral ceasefire and an end to Israeli arms sales; consistent in their alignment with young voters on the issue, and with MP Caroline Lucas visiting students at the University of Sussex Palestine encampment and expressing support earlier in May.
Finally, a Green Party government will extend the right to vote to 16+ year olds and abolish privatisation of the railway, water and retail energy companies.
The full Green Party Manifesto can be found here: https://greenparty.org.uk/about/our-manifesto/
For easy reading: https://greenparty.org.uk/about/our-manifesto/2024-manifesto-downloads/
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