Latest news with #EllieChowns
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Fairer elections and the threat of Reform UK
George Monbiot captures the betrayal and despair felt by millions of Labour voters who thought they were voting for change at the last general election (How we can smash Britain's two-party system for good at the next election, 27 May).Less than a year later they have found themselves with a government pursuing much the same cruel austerity policies as the Conservative one it replaced. And he's right that Keir Starmer's cynical descent into inflammatory Powellite rhetoric is a gift to Nigel Farage. Most voters want nothing to do with the politics of fear and division, but the UK's antiquated and unrepresentative electoral system fails to reflect the wishes of the progressive left and centre-left majority. A hung parliament is now a very real possibility after the next election. This would indeed be a huge opportunity to scrap the first-past-the-post system that has blighted British politics for so long. As two Green MPs who overturned massive majorities to win our seats, we know it's possible for progressives to win against all the odds – and to change the electoral system, we will have to. The Green party has long championed electoral reform. As candidates for the party's leadership, our aim is to be heading a much larger group of Green MPs in parliament, giving us the leverage and negotiating power to actually achieve such transformational Chowns MPGreen party, North HerefordshireAdrian Ramsay MPGreen party, Waveney Valley George Monbiot is right to challenge the shortcomings of our electoral system. However, all electoral systems are flawed and in a democracy no individual decides what sort of government gets elected afterwards. Across Europe, where proportional representation prevails, the traditional parties of power are being replaced – not by a rainbow coalition of progressives, but by the seemingly inexorable rise of the hard right. In Scotland, the SNP-Green coalition broke down. In the UK, when the Liberal Democrats held the balance of power, they sided with the Conservatives in inflicting ideological austerity. When we had a referendum between engagement with Europe or isolation, the majority voted for the latter. The failure of our mainstream parties is that they have lost the ability to engage with ordinary people. Politics is the difficult task of leading the agenda while responding to the hopes and fears of wider society and all the ambiguities and compromises that are needed to do so. The government's shift in language from restraint to support for those most in need might be the beginning of something better – we can but BrownIlkley, West Yorkshire George Monbiot is spot-on in his analysis of the dysfunctions of our electoral system. One glaring danger he doesn't mention, however, can be seen in the steep rise of the Reform UK vote. We used to hear as one of the justifications of the current system that it prevented extreme parties from gaining a significant representation. Never mind that this revealed an arrogantly undemocratic mindset, the evidence now is that the distortions of the system may precipitate precisely the opposite outcome. Given the fragmentation of votes, it is entirely possible that, with fewer than 30% of the ballot, Reform could achieve an absolute majority in parliament at the next general election. That undemocratic disaster, quite apart from the other democratic imperatives George identifies, should be ringing alarm bells for urgent SmithGlasgow Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- General
- Bloomberg
The UK Green Party Has a Chance to Grow Up Now
As Kermit the Frog sang, it's not easy being green. Indeed, the Green Party of England and Wales faces a dilemma ahead of what will be the most consequential phase of its five decades as a political force. Its decision on who will next lead the party will shape whether the it remains a protest movement rooted in local government or becomes a genuine player seeking to wield power at a national level. The sliding doors moment centers on a forthcoming leadership election that runs through the summer. Continuity candidates in the form of current co-leader Adrian Ramsay and fellow MP Ellie Chowns are up against Zach Polanski, the more radical deputy leader who favors a bolder, avowedly left-wing approach.
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Attempt to protect England's rare chalk streams in planning bill rejected by Labour MPs
A cross-party attempt to protect England's rare and threatened chalk streams in the government's planning bill was rejected by Labour on Wednesday. The attempt to give that the globally rare ecosystems the strongest protections as irreplaceable habitats failed after all the Labour MPs on the parliamentary committee examining the draft law rejected an amendment containing the extra provision. There are only 200 chalk streams in the world, the MPs heard, and England is home to 85% of them. Many are already in an extremely poor condition, suffering from pollution and over abstraction – the removal of water – to serve developments. Only 37% of the streams meet ecological standards of 'good'. Ellie Chowns, a Green MP and member of the committee, said: 'These are globally significant ecosystems and they are largely restricted to our shores. So we have a huge responsibility to protect them.' Chowns said there were no national protections for chalk streams and put forward the amendment to the planning and infrastructure bill, which was supported by a group of cross-party MPs. The amendment would create protections for the habitats as the government attempts to rip up what it sees as environmental red tape to push for housing and infrastructure growth. The planning bill has been labelled a licence to kill nature by economists and ecologists because it allows developers to pay into a nature restoration fund rather than follow current environmental obligations to protect rare habitats and species. Under the bill, the payment into the fund would allow developers to begin work immediately while the money is used to improve nature, potentially in another region of the country. Critics point out that this strategic mitigation does not work for such a rare habitat as a chalk stream, which is impossible to recreate elsewhere. The amendment sought to impose protections for all chalk streams – most of which stretch across planning authority boundaries – and to require officials to identify the measures to be taken to protect any identified chalk streams from pollution, abstraction, encroachment and other forms of environmental damage. It would also have imposed responsibilities on strategic planning authorities in relation to the protection and enhancement of chalk stream habitats. Luke Murphy, the Labour MP for Basingstoke, said the bill was not the right place to create such protections. Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, said the government was committed to restoring and improving chalk streams. 'These are unique water bodies, not just vital ecosystems but symbols or our national heritage,' he said, adding that the government had undertaken a comprehensive set of actions outside the bill to protect chalk streams. 'We don't believe it is necessary to include the provision in this legislation,' he said. Becky Pullinger, the head of land use and planning at The Wildlife Trusts, said: 'As we face the driest spring since 1956, with chalk stream flows at historic lows, it's vital that the planning and infrastructure bill ensures irreplaceable habitats like these are safeguarded from harm. 'England has 85% of the world's chalk streams and so today's decision from the government is deeply disappointing.'
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
DWP confirms plans to change Attendance Allowance for people making a new claim
Nearly 1.7 million State Pensioners are now receiving either £73.90 or £110.40 each week through Attendance Allowance. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that Attendance Allowance is 'currently undergoing a significant modernisation through the piloting of an online digital claim process'. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell indicated that the new measures will help speed up application processing time for new claimants. His comments came after Green Party MP Ellie Chowns asked what DWP is doing to 'reduce the time taken to reach decisions on Attendance Allowance applications'. In a written response, the DWP Minister explained how customer feedback is being used to 'design a transformed application that is shorter and easier, which focuses on collecting only the information we need to make a decision'. He added: 'This pilot will also support decision makers to handle claims more quickly with a significant reduction in requests for further information from customers.' For anyone considering making a new application this Spring, guidance on states the new online service will only accept a 'limited number of applications each week'. It's important to be aware you cannot apply online using a mobile phone or tablet, it must be a desktop or laptop computer. People can also apply through the post by either printing and submitting the Attendance Allowance claim form on here, or by contacting the helpline on 0800 731 0122 to request one. For those applying by post, the DWP recently updated the guidance to remind claimants not to 'write anything except the Freepost address on the envelope' - they also said it does not need a postcode or a stamp. Commenting on the online application process, a DWP spokesperson recently said: 'We are temporarily testing a new online service to make claiming Attendance Allowance easier and to improve accessibility. While the online service is not yet widely available, no-one will miss out on the benefit as claimants can still apply in the usual way by post." The latest figures from the DWP show at the end of August 2024 nearly 1.7 million older people were receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance, including 150,000 living in Scotland. Weekly payments of Attendance Allowance are now worth either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate). The benefit is not means-tested, tax-free and issued every four weeks, which amounts to either £295.60 or £441.60 - some £5,740.80 over the 2025/26 financial year. How much someone receives depends on the level of support needed and the benefit is designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses which can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. It's important to be aware there is no mobility component attached to Attendance Allowance. Main health condition and number of claimants across Great Britain It's important to note this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance, it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported. However, if you need extra support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should check out the official eligibility guidance on the website here. Arthritis 483,376 Dementia 173,179 Heart Disease 124,528 Respiratory Conditions 104,098 Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints 86,319 Cerebrovascular Disease 74,716 Back Pain 74,804 Visual Disorders and Diseases 50,993 Parkinson's 44,440 Neurological Conditions 35,597 Below is everything you need to know about Attendance Allowance including the main health conditions being claimed, eligibility and how to make a claim. What is Attendance Allowance? Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough that makes it hard for you to look after yourself - it does not cover mobility needs. You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to make a claim. Who can claim? You should apply for Attendance Allowance if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night -even if you don't currently get that help. This might include: Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet Help to stay safe You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance isn't just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have: a mental health condition learning difficulties a sensory condition - if you are deaf or visually impaired How much could I get on Attendance Allowance? The current payment rates are ending and will be replaced by the new ones on April 7. These have already been mentioned earlier in this article, but as a reminder, the weekly rates will rise to: Lower rate: £73.90 (from £72.65) Higher rate: £110.40 (from £108.55) You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. This might include: paying for taxis helping towards bills paying for a cleaner or gardener Can I claim Attendance Allowance even if I have savings and other income? Yes. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. it is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. Will Attendance Allowance affect my State Pension? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money. How does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include: Extra Pension Credit Housing Benefit Reduction Council Tax Reduction How do I make a claim? You will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance. It might seem daunting at first but help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice, so don't let the form put you off applying. If you'd prefer to do it yourself you can follow the Citizens Advice guide on how to fill in your claim form here. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the website here. What happens if I am about to reach State Pension age? If you are thinking about applying for Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) straight away - you may be able to get more money. Who cannot claim Attendance Allowance? You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you live in Scotland, you must claim the devolved benefit - Pension Age Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland instead. Full details here. You won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to pay for your care. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. You can renew your PIP or DLA when the existing award ends as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead. Find out more about Attendance Allowance on the website here.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ellie Chowns in party leadership bid
This story is only available to Hereford Times subscribers. Click here to find out why and how to subscribe for exclusive stories. North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns has launched a bid to become national co-leader of the Greens. She and current co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who represents Waveney Valley in East Anglia, made the joint announcement earlier today (May 12) after the party's other co-leader Carla Denyer said she would not re-stand for the position 'As co-leaders, @AdrianRamsay and I will grow Green power, hold government to account, and lead with ambition, unity and deep-rooted values,' she tweeted this morning. RELATED NEWS: Jesse Norman MP draws government apology over grooming gangs Who will pay for major changes to county bin collections? Hereford to get 'youngest mayor in six centuries' The pair already have already launched a campaign website, and a campaign video. In it, she says: 'The old parties are crumbling fast. After the next election, Green MPs could hold the balance of power. 'Adrian and I know we can achieve so much more.' What are your thoughts? You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here. Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence. Both only won their Westminster seats at last July's general election, being among four Green Party of England and Wales candidates to do so, up from the party's previous tally of a single MP. The party made further gains in county elections in England earlier this month, made a net gain of 43 local councillors. OTHER NEWS: Six top spots for discovering Herefordshire's hidden history Anger at 'negativity' over new bin plans New wildlife oases to beat Hereford's 'vast' flooding problem But last week the party's co-leader Carla Denyer MP announced she would not re-stand, saying she wanted to focus her energies on her Bristol Central constituency. Earlier its deputy leader Zack Polanski, a London Assembly member, launched a solo leadership challenge, saying the current party is 'too polite'. A leadership ballot of party members will take place over the summer.
