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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greens 'more relevant than ever' | Greens 'more relevant than ever' |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has said its policies and values are "needed more than ever" during the economic downturn. | Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has said its policies and values are "needed more than ever" during the economic downturn. |
| Ms Lucas told her party's spring conference that environmental concerns could not be discarded as a "luxury" because of the recession. | Ms Lucas told her party's spring conference that environmental concerns could not be discarded as a "luxury" because of the recession. |
| Instead, investment in green industries could create thousands of new jobs. | Instead, investment in green industries could create thousands of new jobs. |
| The government had "betrayed" the environment by not "taking the lead" on the issue, she told party members. | The government had "betrayed" the environment by not "taking the lead" on the issue, she told party members. |
| 'Genuine alternative' | 'Genuine alternative' |
| The Greens offered a "genuine alternative" to other parties at Westminster, Ms Lucas told activists in Blackpool. | The Greens offered a "genuine alternative" to other parties at Westminster, Ms Lucas told activists in Blackpool. |
| Unlike them, the Greens had predicted the "cocktail" of "irresponsible" policies which she said had caused the recession. | Unlike them, the Greens had predicted the "cocktail" of "irresponsible" policies which she said had caused the recession. |
| Suggestions that the UK could not afford to meet its environmental objectives in full or should modify its outlook because of harder economic times was "bogus". | Suggestions that the UK could not afford to meet its environmental objectives in full or should modify its outlook because of harder economic times was "bogus". |
| We know in hard times we are needed even more Caroline Lucas, Green Party leader | We know in hard times we are needed even more Caroline Lucas, Green Party leader |
| "There are people who peddle the line that during a recession, green issues must take second place," she said. | "There are people who peddle the line that during a recession, green issues must take second place," she said. |
| "As if the environment or social justice was a luxury that could be given up like that expensive cappuccino on the way to work. | "As if the environment or social justice was a luxury that could be given up like that expensive cappuccino on the way to work. |
| "We know in hard times we are needed even more. Let's be clear. The Green Party is needed more than ever." | "We know in hard times we are needed even more. Let's be clear. The Green Party is needed more than ever." |
| Labour had lied to the public over claims that its policies would help preserve the environment, she said. | Labour had lied to the public over claims that its policies would help preserve the environment, she said. |
| The government's support for new coal and energy plants and its backing for a new runway at Heathrow airport showed these promises to be hollow, she continued. | The government's support for new coal and energy plants and its backing for a new runway at Heathrow airport showed these promises to be hollow, she continued. |
| On the other hand, her party was proposing a genuine "green new deal" to put environmental industries at the heart of the economic recovery. | On the other hand, her party was proposing a genuine "green new deal" to put environmental industries at the heart of the economic recovery. |
| "For years we gave been pointing out the benefits to society that would come with a sustained investment in green measures like renewable energy and energy efficiency," she said. | "For years we gave been pointing out the benefits to society that would come with a sustained investment in green measures like renewable energy and energy efficiency," she said. |
| A programme of domestic energy saving could create up to 140,000 jobs alone, she added. | A programme of domestic energy saving could create up to 140,000 jobs alone, she added. |
| Ms Lucas has been leader of the Green Party since last year, when it ended its policy of having two joint conveners. | Ms Lucas has been leader of the Green Party since last year, when it ended its policy of having two joint conveners. |