Green Party focus on lowering energy bills in election launch

The Green Party has outlined plans to ease the soaring cost of living as it launched its local election campaign in England and Wales.

The party's co-leaders accused the government of failing voters on living costs and the environment.

Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay promised insulation projects to reduce energy needs and keep homes warm.

They unveiled their proposals ahead of the 5 May polls at a campaign event in London on Tuesday.

Voters in England, Wales, and Scotland will elect local councils, while those in Northern Ireland will choose its government.

The elections will give party leaders their first opportunity to woo voters since the war in Ukraine, increases to the cost of living and the row over parties held in Downing Street during lockdown.

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The Green Party says it wants to focus on insulating people's homes as a means of lowering energy bills and the cost of living.

The party's co-leaders visited a housing estate in south London to speak to residents campaigning for retrofit and refurbishment of their homes.

Before the visit, the party highlighted an initiative by Lewes District Council, which is working with six other local authorities to retrofit 40,000 council homes.

The party also drew attention to plans to invest £180m to retrofit, insulate and decarbonise housing stock under Stroud District Council, which is led by a co-operative alliance of Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat councillors.

At the campaign launch, Ms Denyer said voters were coming to the party "because they want fairer, greener communities".

"In the middle of this cost of living crisis, we know what needs to be done and yet the government is falling so chronically short," Ms Denyer said.

She said insulation programmes can deliver "incredible" benefits.

"Imagine - a warm, snug home even on the coldest days. Little to no heating bill at all. A neighbourhood that has almost zero emissions. That's what Greens are pushing for here alongside residents."

Caroline Lucas is the Green Party's only MP, but it has made gains in recent local elections

In the short term, the party wants immediate financial help for those struggling with increased bills.

It's calling for people on Universal Credit benefits to get an extra £40 a week and wants the winter fuel payment given to everyone.

Mr Ramsay said no one should feel terrified of their next energy bill.

"It should never have come to this," he said. "But now that it has, we need people in decision-making positions in their communities to be the ones dedicated to making positive change happen and quickly."

In recent years, the party has seen gains in local elections and will be hoping to build further support.

The new leadership team has pledged to build on recent electoral successes and take more seats at every level, including more MPs.

The party currently has just one MP, Caroline Lucas, but in local elections last year, it gained 99 seats and became the joint largest on Bristol City Council.