Some would say the new Labour Government has got off to a cracking start. Already, though, there are questions about finances. It is great that the King’s Speech reset the tone to concentrate on public service rather than private gain, but Green MP Adrian Ramsay pointed out that Labour will not achieve its goals if it stays hampered by the monetary rules the previous Conservative Government set. As George Monbiot said, “Never let your opponents define the terms of a debate.”
The nearly 2 million people who voted Green, and lots of people who voted Labour wanted to see clean rivers and seas, an end to the cruel two-child benefit cap, no climate-wrecking oil and gas extraction from Rosebank (planned oil and gas field off Shetland), and local authorities to be given the powers to introduce controls on private rent levels. It won’t be delivered if we stick to Conservative spending rules. Even the recommended pay increase for health workers and teachers won’t be delivered unless the Government borrows more, taxes more, or cuts something else. “There is no fourth option” says Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson.
That’s why the Green manifesto promised to raise taxes on the rich and superrich, and to increase borrowing to fund the shortfall in the investment we need. Labour is fixated on economic growth to provide the funding, but we know that the earth cannot sustain such growth. As we approach Earth Overshoot Day (1st August this year) it’s worth remembering we are breaching the carrying capacity of our planet.
According to Oxfam the richest 1% of the population have more wealth than the poorest 70%. They could have afforded to pay some of that wealth in taxes to support the public investment we so urgently need. We call on Labour to change their minds about tax increases for the rich and superrich, so that we can all benefit from a society that functions.
Cllr Jill Perry