Green Party manifesto 2015: policies for a 'peaceful revolution'
Natalie Bennett and Caroline Lucas offer plans to make 'positive difference to people's lives'
The Green Party used its manifesto launch to call for a "peaceful political revolution".
Party leader Natalie Bennett and Caroline Lucas, the Greens' only MP, described their policies as an "unashamedly bold plan to create a more equal, more democratic society".
Bennett argued that "austerity has failed" and that the country needed a "peaceful political revolution to get rid of it", while Lucas promised "real leadership" on tackling climate change and investment in the public transport system. "Our plans will make a positive difference to people's lives, create new jobs and help protect our environment," Lucas said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Support for the Greens has increased since 2010, and it now boasts more members than Ukip. The party is still only expected to win just one seat, in Lucas's Brighton Pavilion constituency, but it is likely to have a wider impact on the election by taking votes from former Labour supporters.
The manifesto, titled For the Common Good, is expected to include a 60 per cent tax rate for those earning more than £150,000.
Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme before the manifesto launch, Lucas said the party is also promising a nationwide insulation programme and an end to "cold homes", in which families are unable to afford heating.
She ruled out the idea of backing a Conservative budget under any circumstances, but said the party would potentially deal with Labour on a case-by-case basis.
The party's political broadcast, depicting the other party leaders as a spoof boy band, has been watched more than 1.2 million times on YouTube and Facebook.
Here's what the Green Party is promising in its manifesto:
Economy
Closing the deficit will no longer be the main objective of the UK's economic policy, with an end to austerity. The manifesto requires borrowing of £338bn over the next parliament. Public sector jobs will be "restored" and spending will be increased to almost half of national income.
Tax
Taxation loopholes will be closed through a "tax-dodging bill". The richest one per cent will face a two per cent wealth tax, which will help reduce employers' National Insurance. Corporation tax will be increased from 20 per cent to 30 per cent for bigger firms and a "Robin Hood" tax on banks' financial transactions will be introduced. People on salaries of more than £150,000 a year will be taxed at 60 per cent of their income, and the bedroom tax will be abolished.
Business and employment
One million "good" jobs will be created, all paying at least a living wage. Minimum wage will be increased to £10 by 2020. Zero-hour contracts will be banned and the highest wage in any organisation will be limited to ten times the lowest. A maximum 35-hour working week will also be introduced to combat unemployment and improve life quality.
Families and housing
At least 500,000 social rented homes will be provided by 2020. Rent will be capped, longer tenancies introduced and landlords required to have licences. Mass council house sales and the right-to-buy scheme will be stopped, and letting agents' fees would be abolished.
Health
The overall NHS budget will be immediately increased by £12bn and the coalition's Health and Social Care Act 2012 will be repealed, with an end to privatisation of the NHS. The health service will be publicly funded and free at the point of use. Mental health will be given greater priority and resources, while the elderly will be given free social care. Prescriptions will be free for all.
Education
University fees, SATS, league tables and Ofsted will be scrapped. Education and childcare will be free, but voluntary, for all children up to the age of seven. Free schools will be brought into the local authority system and all teachers will be qualified.
Environment
Tackling climate change will be a major foreign policy priority. The UK's nature and wildlife will be given better protection. Fracking will be banned, while coal power stations and nuclear stations will be phased out. An investment of £85bn will be made in a public programme of renewable energy, flood defences and building insulation. The badger cull, factory farming and animal testing would be banned. Local sustainable agriculture will be given more support and strict animal welfare standards will be introduced.
Immigration and the EU
The EU will be reformed to give powers back to local communities and a referendum will be held on the UK's EU membership. Restrictions on foreign students will be removed and asylum seekers will be given more rights. Overseas aid will be increased to one per cent of GDP within ten years.
Security and defence
The UK's nuclear weapons will be scrapped. Police stop and search powers would be restricted and privatisation of the police would be prevented. Drug addiction would be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue, and offender rehabilitation would be promoted.
Benefits
A consultation will be held on introducing a "basic income", a fixed amount paid to every individual. Rules under which the unemployed must work for benefits will be scrapped. Child benefit will be doubled and pensions will be increased to an amount that "people can live on".
Government
Proportional representation will be introduced for elections. The House of Lords will be elected for five-year and ten-year terms. Local authorities will be given more powers on education, transport and other services.
Extras
Equality and diversity lessons would be made mandatory in all schools. The tens of thousands of men convicted under former anti-gay laws would be pardoned. Retailers would be encouraged to ban "lad mags" in a bid to tackle media sexism. The voting age would be lowered to 16. The railways would be renationalised, High Speed 2 would be scrapped and public transport fares would be immediately cut by ten per cent.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published