Green Party manifesto analysis | Podcast #66

The Green Party launched their election manifesto on Wednesday, so today we pick through it and analyse their proposals to abolish the UK's nuclear arsenal, the weath taxes proposed and the plan to abolish tuition fees for undergraduates.
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[@liammccabe05]

The cut to Ed when Eva said "big gaping hole" absolutely killed me 😂 God bless the Joe production team.

[@amansparekh]

He really fought to keep quiet there😂

[@LimeyRedneck]

😂

[@alipaulstagram]

That smirk.

[@ajrh82]

Watched it a few times, the strength of that man 😂

[@matsui90]

Wanted him to say “is that your dad’s opinion?”

[@JYCrazy1]

I'm voting Green after voting Labour for years. The wealthtax is the single most urgent thing on the agenda from my perspective

[@BrianMartin-ph7pt]

Do the "green party" all live in 1 room shacks powered by solar and wind, eat grubs and vegetables from their garden, walk everywhere and refuse to use the internet - the worlds biggest Co2 emitter? No? Then shut up, "green" party.

[@jimmoynahan9910]

It's already a thing. How are you this uninformed?

[@JYCrazy1]

@@jimmoynahan9910please, inform me, o great one. How is it a thing?

[@initialb123]

@@jimmoynahan9910 Labour has made it clear that it has no plans for a wealth tax?

[@BrianMartin-ph7pt]

@@initialb123 The marxists will tell any lie to get power - then fill their pockets as they bankrupt the UK - for a third time..

[@soundpost222]

150,000 SOCIAL homes. Which means 150,000 homes which won't be bought by rich landlords and made unaffordable.

[@edpoole1942]

France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium have wealth taxes. Seems doable.

[@BSideWasTaken]

The USA have property taxes, too. When it was suggested here, Angelina Jolie threw a shit fit. Irony, eh?

[@James-mb3je]

I presume there are no rich people in any of the countries you mentioned.

[@samjones7296]

Belgium doesn't, it's just being talked about to bring in

[@jimmoynahan9910]

No they don't they have higher tax rates for the rich, same as the UK. That's literally what "wealth tax" is.

[@jimmoynahan9910]

@@BSideWasTaken How are you this stupid? American "property taxes" are their equivalent to council taxes.

[@1pauljs]

Ava setting herself up for an audit from HMRC 🤣

[@sfshinz]

Never mind that; I’m just wondering how Ed is paying the rest of his rent to his landlady.

[@1pauljs]

@@sfshinz I have it on no authority that Ed’s landlady is his GF so it’s definitely probably not solicitation of any kind like you seem to be suggesting.

[@MINI_JasperJunior]

I shed a single tear reading the Green manifesto, I'd vote for them in a heartbeat if it would actually mean something.

[@GirlsDeMo14]

Just do it, even if your vote won't mean a Green MP, it will help to show that their policies are what you want. All votes inform what each party's policies are, regardless of whether they win or not. If Labour win in your area but see there's a good percentage of green voters, it will encourage Labour to incorporate more green policies next time

[@kinggeoffrey3801]

The Greens manifesto is the best by some distance.

[@keithpanton7486]

@@GirlsDeMo14 Agreed... also, if it gets to the point we get more Green MPs, they can actually influence Labour.

[@GirlsDeMo14]

By far. And sure, there are definitely things that are either in there that I wish weren't, and things missing that I wish were included, but at least the aim of their manifesto is to improve and preserve our lives, not just try keep the top 1% in our country happy

[@GirlsDeMo14]

@@keithpanton7486 I believe that is literally their plan. They know they won't win but plan to put as much pressure as they can on Labour. We'll keep having this problem until we get proportional representation, so fingers crossed at some point the big two parties are forced into a situation where they have to agree to it

[@kanecarreras-gough5401]

You should definitely interview a few competing perspectivas on nuclear deterrence and disarmament. It's a criminally underdiscussed issue in our democracy and should at least be open for discussion, on cost, on foreign policy, global governance, ethics. It's also grossly over simplified in popular discourse, by all parties.

[@alex4251]

A vote for green is not a wasted vote. If you like the policies, then vote for them! Then it will be on the official record for all to see just how popular those policies are. Greens are told to vote strategically *every* election, which is what holds them back

[@James-mb3je]

They will get more short money. 1 day if they have dozens of MP's they could get half as much time on QT as Farage.

[@internationalarchive7700]

The Green Party in this country is a very good example of something that looks wonderful on the surface but beneath is somewhere between brain-dead and naïve. They have a handful of really good, smart policies especially regarding the climate, but also have a huge range of ill-thought through, in cases anti-scientific, utterly utterly naïve policies. To give some examples to make clear this a legitimate reaction to policies not just reactionary sentiment: Policy: Hugely decrease military spending because we’re not presently under threat and could build-up a military if and when a threat materialises. Stupidity: Hard to know where to start. A) We face a large number of threats of severe and very immediate threats; they may not look like they did 100 years ago but they’re nonetheless very real. A) A world-leading military cannot be built on the spot, it requires decades at least. C) Geopolitics moves FAST sometimes, a new threat could appear in mere months. Policy: Anti-GMO because it’s dangerous with unknown consequences. Stupidity: For a party that claims to follow the science, this is astonishingly brain-dead; it has no scientific basis whatsoever and is based entirely upon hysteria. There is no more proof that genetically modified food is dangerous than that 5G towers cause autism. Policy: Anti-nuclear due to its unacceptable risks and polluting effect. Stupidity: The risks of nuclear are extremely low and, as power sources go, it is among the cleanest. Due to improvements in solar and wind technology, nuclear is decreasingly necessary, but it’s still ridiculous to oppose it on unscientific grounds. Policy: Opposing large-scale infrastructure projects for environmental reasons while also supporting a shift towards greater public transport. Stupidity: This is a problem that underlies many of their policies that they want the product without the process; cheap housing, but no new houses; extensive public transport, but no new rail lines. Environmental concern is important, but certain construction projects are necessary. I’m solidly left-wing and desperately want the Tories out of power as well as a serious response to the climate-crisis, but anyone with a serious understanding of politics can recognise that the party runs on nice sentiment alone with absurdly naïve policies. They are and, until they have a significant restructuring will remain, totally unelectable on a national scale.

[@ericaceous1652]

I'm still voting Green in my constituency. Theirs is the only manifesto to my eyes that offers solid progressive policy

[@user-rq7il1kj1u]

I would too, but the predictions are for a Labour win by about 300 votes in my true blue constituency, so I'm lending them my vote.

[@ItsSafehands]

Only if there's no chance of a tory winning the seat.

[@reecegroves]

@@user-rq7il1kj1u i get it, 'it's the reality of it' but that's the most frustrating reason to choose how you will vote, other than not voting at all.

[@saNynho]

@@user-rq7il1kj1u honestly, red or blue is no real difference anymore so why? On top of that, labour will have a landslide win so more than ever people have the opportunity to actually vote for smaller parties

[@LimeyRedneck]

​@@saNynho Exactly it's not often under FPTP that people can vote for a party and not just against Tory, or New Nu-Labour. Greens atm are bad on housing, however everyone else is terrible on everything else. There's time to convince Greens to improve their affordable housing policy between now and 2029, where they should continue to grow 🌱🤠

[@ericaceous1652]

Yes, get the Greens on! Be good to hear them discuss their policies.

[@archive3339]

are the labour homes "social housing" cause the greens said 150k social homes per year not just homes

[@TheLukeLambert]

I think this is what people misunderstand most of the time, also I feel like the PolJoe team doesn't actually give Greens much legitimacy and as soon as houses are mentioned, it's a 20 minute rant about the Greens and how trash they are, it really doesn't fill me with confidence when even the left-leaning journalists slate pretty much everyone. Haven't heard them be satisfied with much of anything in the last month or so!

[@dotty1774]

I will be voting Greens for the first time, Labour have parachuted a candidate into my area against the will of the local Labour party. And then add on Labour not meeting the challanges we face in the country, they would rather let Billionaires keep their wealth than see children out of poverty.

[@alipaulstagram]

This is the way

[@jimmoynahan9910]

Billionaires are taxed like everyone else. Overseas territories also need to close their loopholes too for it to work. " see children out of poverty." That's the job of the parents, and also family planning. Get this weird idea of a big-daddy hand holding government out of your head.

[@domhart9046]

Ollie needs to follow through with that old threat of a mic for the production team. 😂

[@Lemonie76]

I prefer Zack! He’s my favourite! They are the only party offering a wealth tax, which is what this country desperately needs! Especially after £850 billion went to the super rich during COVID. They won’t win, but I have to vote for the party that most aligns with my beliefs!

[@joshalderton3061]

Don't think the 150k homes is as bad as suggested. This is only the figure for council and social housing, not the target for all housing.

[@RedSaint83]

I agree with Ava: More BRT (Bus Rapid Transit). Ideally I'd prefer rail, it's just a lot smoother as a passenger, but just having dedicated lanes for busses so they can get around faster would do wonders.

[@josephshepherd6968]

Also remove 50% of the bus stops in cities. Busses in every city I have lived in are about every 50-100m, I understand some people find it hard to move, but the busses take an age to move anywhere. Surely the vast Majority of people can get 100m -200m down the road? Literally one person getting on at every stop. Also busses suck, more trains.

[@RedSaint83]

@@josephshepherd6968 Aye. Ideally (I use that word a lot lol) there'd be a collector route that connects to a BRT station so the BRT makes fewer stops and get around faster, and then you take a regular bus to get closer to where you want to go.

[@GrowYourOwnLife]

The best thing about this election is daily pods. 😂

[@Jacorpes]

I grew up in Guildford, the town next to Godalming, and the bus system is an absolute cesspit. You'd wait about 45 minutes to spend £7 on a 20 minute bus into the town centre. I just walked everywhere until I was old enough to drive, then moved to a real place with an actual society when I was old enough to do that.

[@tarranstockton7500]

"Big gaping hole" Cuts to Ed smirking 🤣

[@michaelcolbourn6719]

He was definitely deciding if to make a joke about Ava's dad or not 😂

[@kingCookiesupreme]

We don't even own Trident. We rent it from the U.S

[@alipaulstagram]

And the two most recent launch tests failed. Not even a great deterrent

[@arandmorgan]

Ed looks like russian naval personnel. Love you ed! 😂

[@archie-127]

I’ve literally gone from last night’s pod to this pod, one after the other…. The tiredness of you three is palpable :P respect

[@matsui90]

You’ve missed that an annual wealth tax would require millionaires / billionaires to sell assets to pay the tax and this could mean more unused homes back in to the system, reducing the need to build. I think just the London borough of Southwark has 1700 empty homes that are simply hoarded by the wealthy and not even rented out.

[@ohnoitisnt]

Politics joe are lacking in the economics dept, being left of centre

[@James-mb3je]

And now we have schrodinger's billionaire. So rich and mobile they will fuck off if you tax them yet so poor they need to sell assets to pay the tax.

[@danieltucker9971]

I agree with Ava, it would be good to get some people on to have a proper discussion about pros and cons of our "nuclear deterrent"

[@deeps2169]

Whenever Ava talks about renting it’s just random anecdotes and vibes.

[@tommynocash2419]

A minutes silence for Denis Healey's eye brows

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

Andy Burnham currently has the best eyebrows in politics. I find that their upward slant conveys empathy and sincerity. I wonder how much they have contributed to his success.

[@flowerpower7288]

I will be voting Green, along with my 75 year old mother and 18 year old daughter. They are definitely the most aligned with our values and whilst not perfect they seem to actually care

[@johnjohnstone3565]

Telling Shaun he was sacked like that on the podcast was cold.

[@m.a.b.4104]

I got the Shauns mixed-up until they clarified which Shaun was leaving in the next episode.

[@randomzebra1233]

This is the most unhinged for a while, love it!

[@FraRodVal]

Well... Massimo Dutti is actually a Spanish brand. Currently owned by Inditex (i.e. Zara).

[@haseebsaleemi4420]

You guys should have timestamps in these podcasts

[@tenglish_]

I can't tell if you're being serious! 🤯

[@johnharvey1786]

The main problem is that a lot (not all) of moderately and reasonably wealthy people would have no problem with paying more tax if we knew where it was going. We have the highest rate of tax yet public services are in crisis. Paying more tax just to see it given to the super rich mates of the Conservative party is not a good advert for paying more tax.

[@JoeK7]

I am a green voter yet the area i live in is much more likely to end up with reform winning

[@flowerpower7288]

Green is a vote of integrity and conscience. I'll be doing the same

[@LeornianCyng]

Greens so far have the best manifesto. Lib Dem’s have decent policies in theirs though.

[@lanagibson4334]

I am voting Greens I would want Carla has PM

[@curingd]

Came for an actual analysis of the Green Party manifesto, stayed for the relentless banter!🤣

[@dominicparker6124]

A 'friend' trying to claim squatters rights would come home to find their things outside with the locks changed

[@steveharrison76]

I thought it was subject to a period of time in which the squatter’s presence was not noticed by the building’s owner, too. Not sure the squatter has their story straight, to be honest, if I’m remembering correctly (I could well be wrong)?

[@ian_b5518]

Ed had me in stitches with cutting Ava's Dad like that. Never laughed so much at a PolJoe.

[@markysgeeklab8783]

Have you guys ever considered learning a bit more about housing or construction?

[@marcanthonyskidmore4131]

Greens policy is the best for me. Bring family without MIR.

[@reverendroar]

Sean we will miss you man. It’s a real shame you’re going but good luck on your next chapter of your journey. As a fellow Irish descendent - I’ll miss you!

[@edfreak93]

I love in north west Bristol, not the main place greens are focusing as they are focuses more on central ill still vote green regardless

[@reecegroves]

The party with which a lot of younger voters most align, but won't vote for because "what's the point, they won't win."

[@hannah42069]

first past the post :(

[@reecegroves]

I'd love for people to be head strong enough to just vote for the policies that they like the most with a longer term outlook. Rather than just vote for Labour just because they don't want the Conservatives.

[@zoe._.1850]

I couldn’t agree more. It’s so sad

[@samuelmelton8353]

Stupid opinion

[@ARTISTIC1991]

I’m voting green because I despise the Labour Party and conservatives equally as much. I voted for Khan because of Susan Hall but I’ll never vote Labour again in any election moving forward!

[@sfshinz]

“What he gets up to in the privacy of his own home is his business.” Ed’s gonna pay for that one.

[@davidbates3057]

Not defending the housing policy, but I always find the attitude that "just build more" as a one stop solution to housing to be rather naive and silly. The biggest issue with housing has long been the massive sell-off of social housing along with millinoaires/billionaires, at home and abroad, buying up all the stock. Then there is infrastructure, whereby a house is more than just the structure itself. Yes, parking is a consideration, though that's largely down to the poor public options available, but so is water, schools, commercial/social amenities, etc etc, none of which what we've got are being maintained, let alone new ones built in the neo-capitalist system we currently live under. Until you deal with all of that, simply just building houses will never be a solution. But beyond that, if the worst they've got is bad housing policy, but everything else is knocking it out of the park, sign me up. I'd rather vote for a party with many good policies and one so-so one than Conservatives A, Conservatives B in red who want to be Conservatives A, or Conservatives C in yellow who pretend to have good policies, but time and again prove that they don't actually support any of them.

[@zilchica]

Not to mention the terrible quality of homes being built and how everyone seems to think LESS regulation is required to allow more building of crap homes

[@benadams6019]

Day 25 of asking for a production team microphone

[@James-mb3je]

No production team microphone. Stay in your lane.

[@mystic_mimi21]

I love the focus on right to roam. I went to bath and the parade gardens were charging £2 a person to visit a park

[@itzsleazy6903]

15:05 That pan was savage considering the slander from earlier

[@George._.M]

One thing to note is theyve promised social homes. Not just homes which'll be bought by rich landlords

[@samuelmelton8353]

If Labour are predicted a landslide, then you don't need to support them. If you want to vote Green, then vote Green.

[@saNynho]

I'd like the greens to build more as well, but let's be honest, none of the other parties will actually build what they say in their manifestos so you're just asking for the greens to lie to you as well, please. Aside of that, they are the only party that actually offers help to renters and that would benefit people wanting to buy more than imaginary 1.5 million houses.

[@Ma55ey]

Good shout on busses... Try going anywhere in stoke on trent on bus and your journey goes from 10 minutes in a car to well over an hour including having to switch busses.. Social mobility that aint.... but then neither is living in Stoke lol

[@Altashheth08]

Oh god I remember the day I past my driving test and my journey to Fenton dropped from an hour and a half on the buses to 20 minutes…. Is it still PMT?

[@SashaGrace94]

France has also banned internal fights with some caveats. It’s not as wide ranging as you might want it to be and France has one of the best high speed rail networks. It only affects 3-4 regularly scheduled airline routes in France. Also the M26 already exists FFS, it spurs off the M25 and heads to Kent and is part of the OG M25 before it was stitched up to complete the one singular ring road after London Ringways was cancelled.

[@jmanley11]

The number of times I've been late to college because of the bus system is outrageous- almost higher than the times it was my own fault

[@leonkeogh8554]

"We should get them on' (The Greens). Well forgive me but, Duh... D'you think?

[@brandogg974]

Ed looking like an escaped convict

[@GaryFuller]

Ava is totally right about buses. They are an absolute mess in this country, outside of London, and improving them could seriously help people break their reliance on cars.

[@konspiracykid]

Afters in Paris 🤣🤣🤣 not a bad comedown spot, The Louvre

[@ThingsAnStuff]

@15:12 Ed looked like he was trying not to make a reference to Ava’s dad’s gaping hole.

[@County22]

A million homes a year is probably what is needed but before that you need a supply chain and workforce that can deliver those million homes. At the moment we can probably stretch to 250,000.

[@ohnoitisnt]

Deportations easier and better

[@systemchris]

The wealth tax thing could be done in a way that targets people who do massive capital gains claims or writeoffs

[@systemchris]

Plus enforcing the law to show effective owners of shell companies

[@ChristopherCaldwell72]

Your intro line and applause gets better every time

[@seasets]

Eva has done well here in her bid to increase her hours between shoots, fuelling the trajectory of topics her own way. An insightful piece, and one full of a subliminal push for change. 😂 EDIT: keen to see the Dartmoor video reposted

[@richardlaking3171]

One consideration on the wealth tax part of the discussion - with a threshold of 10mil of assets you're not needing to assess the wealth of everyone in the country, you're looking at i'd assume well below 1% of the population. Given we're under a self assessment regime, you'd probably make it the taxpayer's responsibility to register as well, including doing all the legwork (or getting professionals like accountants and valuers to), so it's unlikely to require a massive number of new civil servants to manage, at most a fairly modest new HMRC team to manage checks and investigations.

[@rohanpuri7951]

Ava's right, I was given notice from my property in london to leave because house was going on the market, landlord put on the market, then decided he didnt want to sell because he wasnt getting good offers, then asked if I would stay, I'd already put a deposit on a new place at this point lol.

[@randomzebra1233]

You cannot live in a rural area without a car.

[@martincheeseman5809]

Boris was the best liar we ever had as prime minister!😊

[@slrhas]

All the best Sean. Great work in producing these. Good discussion this time around I thought and very valid criticisms of the greens. They aren't fully there for me yet

[@arrancox3134]

Tax the billionaires to fund the nhs, would be an absolute game changer! The other parties would never dare tax their mates, this is the problem with politicians for decades and it wont ever sadly change in our life times!

[@ItsSafehands]

Can SOMEONE help me - is it ''Love Podcasts, hate nonsense' or 'Love Podcasts hate nonces'' ?!

[@samhickman85]

Nonces

[@hyper_fn_al1459]

yes :3

[@jackoh991]

Nonces

[@lazorr3260]

Nonsense! Its nonces

[@nickdalts]

I was just thinking the same thing 😂

[@LimeyRedneck]

I'd like to hear more about Ed's interesting housing arrangement, as a case study... however I'm more concerned that Oli will end up like Stressed Eric thinking of the potential legal bills 🤯

[@laurence3671]

lol you guys think that rural places have a bus every 30 mins... try every 3 hours

[@johnharvey1786]

We have just got a railway station and have a train out and in every two hours. Then they said we will consider increasing the frequency if the usage shows it’s warranted. Obviously the usage is going to be low but to be fair for a more regular service the line does need upgrading, but the cost is not that high, given the advantages. Currently if you miss the train back it’s either a two hour wait, a long walk or a taxi as the bus service is terrible so that does tend to put people off using it.

[@jeff__w]

Best of luck in whatever you’re going to do next, Shawnee! ✨ And I think we’re all glad you’re not ditching PoliticsJOE _yet,_ Seán-we all know you’re the only one holding the whole production together through Herculean efforts.

[@rarsebumbaclaat2659]

12:10 the reaction is great 😂

[@sluglife9785]

Oli has the correct level of anger when it comes to social housing.

[@hyper_fn_al1459]

when u realise the denier joke a whole podcast later

[@IzziMiller]

Ava’s saying Godalmimg right! But yes buses in Godalming are awful there basically isn’t buses

[@westsideisdabest7825]

Will you do Reforms when it releases? Just for the banter.

[@aarongilchrist9373]

Edinburgh does have two private operators running between it and London - there is competition

[@ginj4ninj4180]

Ye, unfortunately probably the worst place to have chosen to highlight the issue

[@WhichDoctor1]

first cycling/walkability/accessibility, then busses, then trams, then trains. If you can't get around your town or city, then you can't get to the train station. If you arrive somewhere by train but cant get around because there's no functional transport then why bother going? Building from the roots up is definitely the way to go. Everyone has to move around their town all the time, make that easier and more pleasant, then it will improve everyones quality of life on a daily basis. But a lot of people only use the trains occasionally, if at all. Trains are still really important, but id definitely like to see people focus on the local everyday transport a lot more

[@frasercook5823]

I get the feeling Oli shops at the same online retailer as me

[@TheOGFrostiest]

lol what’s Ava’s dad on that’s what I wanna know.

[@jjkeyboards]

Amphetamines, just like JFK

[@lazorr3260]

Poppers

[@martyg565]

Domestic flights can't be banned because of Northern Ireland.

[@CKDefianT]

Section 8 is one month of notice, Section 21 is two months. 8 is the one that gets tenants and landlords to court. You are quite right though, there is no obligation to prove that the landlord intends to sell/move in etc

[@Fortramnasdaq]

New housing makes sense if built to a high standard, on land released from aristocratic hoarding and land banking, near to facilities, and with rationing of 1 to 2 houses per owner imposed to stop landlords hoarding properties. Renting as a business should be discouraged punitively in the same way we discourage quack cancer cures

[@profmatt505]

Day 2 of asking for a production mic

[@jamv2122]

can confirm the bus system is absolute dog crap and and hikes prices up looking at you stage coach doesn't matter if wages go up if services keep going up with it.

[@tbrooke3016]

You could compromise section 8 by saying you have to sell it as a going concern so the house is a business and you as the renter get to keep living there but with a new landlord (not ideal but maybe a middle ground)

[@willlennard8521]

Thanks for making me aware I own the Sadiq Khan suit...

[@section8s]

Rishworth, W. Yorks. No post office, no bank, no train, the bus if lucky every 2 hours. Ps. The roads are full of potholes!

[@ewanmatheson4235]

I'd be right up for an episode on MAD doctrine.

[@JOSEPHC999]

If we are totally subordinate to the USA when it comes to nukes, and Donald Trump might be back again soon as President, then we are in trouble. Might start stockpiling the baked beans just in case

[@samgrainger1554]

There is no way that with all the infromation technology we have today and all the records that a goverment cpuld mandate acsess to/demand be generated that a wealthtax could not be implamented cost effectively.

[@joetidman565]

Buses are shit. Housing never gets supported by infrastructure. That's the problem

[@hylderadox]

I'm amazed no comment on the media related stuff (in sports/art/culture bit).

[@neon_jam1127]

Ed looking like a French Where's Wally

[@RobWallis]

Green belt was a daft idea. Should have been Green spokes with zoning putting controls along waterways and strips between communities radiating out from the centre. That allows the natural expansion and contraction of the city without the price distortion built in by the belt

[@tdtm82]

*Googles Kate Humble

[@altafpatel6294]

Ed needs a filter 😂

[@jameswarland9710]

Would oli go to the hologram of thatcher opening of the M27 with his flies open?