Greens: Hoping for Westminster breakthrough

With promises to promote social justice and sustainability, the Green Party has launched its manifesto.

Keith Taylor, Green Party principal speaker and Brighton Pavilion parliamentary candidate, led Tuesday's launch in London.

Taylor said: "The Green manifesto sets out long-term, realistic and radical policies for a more just and sustainable society, which places people and the planet at its heart.

"For the past five years, the big three parties have followed agendas of privatision and pollution, which have left carbon dioxide levels soaring, local economies decimated, and public services sold off to profiteering private companies.

"Meanwhile, successive governments' neglect of the public transport network has left essential services out of reach to many."

He set out the policies the party would promote if they win any seats in parliament.

"The Green Party proposes real change, such as progressive tax reforms that will raise billions for public services, and £30bn saved from scrapping the government's roadbuilding scheme - to rebuild and repair Britain's public transport network," said Taylor.

"Meanwhile, we will use money from eco-taxes to invest in the renewable energy industry and create more skilled manufacturing jobs.

"Green Party policies are policies about reforging the links between government and the community.

"They are about recognising that we only have this planet and it must meet our needs as well as those of generations to come. Only the Greens are at the forefront of peace, justice and sustainability."

The Green Party said its progressive "eco taxes" will cut carbon dependency and fund a massive investment in renewable energy.

Better air quality, the party says, will benefit every citizen and help to cut NHS bills.