The Green Party is calling on new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ‘put the country first’ and call a general election. Sunak was announced as the leader of the Conservative Party this afternoon (24 October), four days after the announcement that outgoing PM Liz Truss will resign.
Sunak became the unanimous candidate following both of his competitors, Penny Mourdant and Boris Johnson, dropping out of the race in the past 24 hours. He told his MPs upon the announcement of his election that there will not be a General Election and that his party needs ‘unity’ and 'stability'.
Co-leader Adrian Ramsay responded to the news that the UK ‘cannot afford more divisive infighting amongst a few elitist Conservatives whose policies are failing people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis’.
The Party points to Sunak’s record on tackling inequality and failure to address the climate crisis. This includes blocking a nationwide programme of insulation and a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
The new PM also green lit cuts to overseas aid which the Green Party says ‘left the countries most impacted by the environmental crisis without the money to tackle it’.
Ramsay added: “Even Conservative Party MPs and members have been excluded from the vote this time.
“People need to be democratically involved in finding solutions. This must include a General Election, and the opportunity to elect more Greens committed to a more equal society and solving the environmental crisis.
“The Conservatives are responsible for plunging this country into an economic and political crisis. It’s clear to the entire country that they are simply incapable of getting us out of it.
“The Tories want to impose the horrors of Austerity 2.0 in their Halloween Budget, but have no electoral mandate for doing this. Austerity means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering for people across the country.
“The government simply cannot govern under this Prime Minister - it is unfit for office. A General Election will allow people to have their say and vote for policies to reduce the cost of living and protect our environment.
“The Green Party stands for a fairer, greener country. The way out of the crisis is to do the opposite of what the government is planning.
“We would reduce inequality through progressive taxation, including a Wealth Tax, and raise money through windfall taxes on the companies making super profits during this cost-of-living crisis.
“We would use the money raised to make sure people can afford to keep warm and fund a national home insulation programme.
“We would reduce inequality by asking those with the deepest pockets to pay more tax to help fund quality public services for all.
“And, we would invest in the kind of economy that puts people and the planet before greed and super-profits for giant corporations.
“Now is the time for people to decide the country’s future.