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Responding to the Government’s Green Paper on welfare reform, Green MP Siân Berry said:   “I’ve heard nothing today that reassures me the Government will stop scapegoating and stigmatising those in need, while impoverishing them to the tune of £5 billion. Young and disabled people should have the support and backing of the Government but instead they have been badly let down this month with the active trailing of terrifying plans.   “It’s clear that these plans were plotted without the input of those whose lives will be most impacted. Disabled people

Green MP Siân Berry has written to every Labour MP urging them to vote against the government’s planned cuts to welfare spending, highlighting the “catastrophic impact” the cuts would have on disabled people. [1] Figures from Scope this week suggested that the proposed changes will push an added 700,000 disabled households into poverty, as Starmer’s claim that “if you can work, you should work” prompting comparisons with the previous Conservative Government’s attitude to welfare.  In her letter, Siân Berry reminded Labour MPs that those in receipt of health-related benefits already

Responding to the news that the Justice Secretary will reject recommendations by the Sentencing Council to strengthen the need for pre-sentence reports for judges, Siân Berry Green MP for Brighton Pavilion said:  “Failure to implement these changes would be a serious mistake, causing genuine harm to women, families and young people for whom these new recommendations will create much safer sentencing. “Contrary to reporting, nowhere does the guidance focus primarily on ethnicity. Instead, the guidance, based on strong evidence, helps improve sentencing of women, pregnant people, parents, and young adults,

Responding to the Transport Secretary’s decision to pursue a positive decision for Gatwick Airport to bring its northern terminal into constant use, (1) Siân Berry Green MP for Brighton Pavilion said: “The Labour government is trashing its climate credentials one absurd decision at a time. Only one day after receiving critical advice from its own climate advisors on the need to lower flying demand, ministers continue to support yet more unnecessary expansion for the benefit of wealthy investors. “Pushing through these damaging plans shows such poor economic judgement. Over 100,000

Responding to the news that Rachel Reeves is backing the expansion of Heathrow Airport, Green Party MP, Sian Berry said, “The Chancellor talked about the ‘costs of irresponsibility’ but expanding Heathrow in the face of a climate emergency is the definition of irresponsible.” “Worst still, we’re also expecting formal planning decisions from ministers on Gatwick and Luton airport expansion, which the Chancellor pre-empted today. Giving these permissions in the month before vital new advice is expected from the Climate Change Committee, today’s speech is nothing short of reckless. “The carbon cost

In response to rumours that the Government may soon sign off expansion proposals for Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports, Siân Berry, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion said:  “We must ask who these decisions would be made for and why. Whose advice is the Government listening to, when record-high wealth inequality is causing harm to the economy and society in many different ways, and while frequent flying is the preserve of the super-rich?  “The aviation lobby is loud and well-funded, but the Government should instead be listening to scientists and

Siân joined Greenpeace UK to hand in a petition signed by over 1.6 million people, calling for a total ban onbee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides from Government. These toxic chemicals -one teaspoon can kill one billion bees – were banned across Europe in 2018, but continue to be used on farms here after Conservatives gave ‘emergency’ permission four years ago.

Responding to the Government’s announcement* that it would not be offering financial compensation to women affected by changes to the state pension age, Siân Berry MP for Brighton Pavilion said: “This is a very harsh decision, admitting wrongdoing but offering a bitter dose of nothing to a generation of women, caught out by this, who faced so many hurdles and prejudices in respect of their careers and earnings. “I have so much respect for the brave WASPI women campaigners who, for nearly a decade, have campaigned hard on behalf of