Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London today attended a march by pensioners against the unacceptable and tragic deaths each year due to fuel poverty, organised to coincide with the annual release of figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), of ‘excess winter deaths’.

After meeting pensioners on the march from Charing Cross to Energy UK- the Big Six energy company’s lobby body – under the banner ‘No More Deaths from Fuel Poverty: Energy Rights Now!’ Jean, who isco-chair of the all-party group on ageing in the European Parliamentsaid:

‘As fuel bills rise and benefits fall the Government continues to ignore thousands of deaths so it’s no surprise people are on the streets. We need action to stop these figures just becoming an annual announcement of faceless statistics that are too easily forgotten. We must also recognise that the adverse health effects from cold homes makes people sick. It cannot be right that we rely on slightly warmer winters to stop people dying, rather than Government action.’

Key findings from the ONS, released today, are:

• An estimated 18,200 excess winter deaths occurred in England and Wales in 2013/14; and

• 11.6% more people died in the winter months compared with the non-winter months in 2013/14; and

• There were more excess winter deaths in females than in males in 2013/14 as in previous years.

Concluding, Jean Lambert said:

‘If we had a concerted programme of energy efficiency, we could cut fuel bills, health care costs to the NHS and carbon emissions – a triple win.’

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She said austerity had been ‘a blunt instrument applied with no thought to the social consequences’, and said the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) would encourage privatisation in the NHS and make Government regulation harder in areas like food safety and environmental protection.

You can read the full interview here.

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Yet Europe really matters, and the people who are at the negotiating table, or who have their fingers on the voting buttons, will have a huge impact on our lives for decades to come. The EU is far from perfect, but it can be a force for good, and that’s something to be built on, not destroyed. Many big decisions will be taken over the next few years – on issues from energy policy to food safety to free movement. The decisions will affect our rights, our public services, our jobs – and the protection of the land, sea and air that we share. So it’s crucial that everyone who has a vote makes sure they use it.

Perhaps one of the most positive influences of the European Parliament has been on human rights. Our shared parliament has been at the forefront of the battle for a fairer society for all, both within Europe and around the globe. The European Union was built on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy and equality. But these values are at stake in this election.

After years of austerity, we have seen some politicians trying to scapegoat immigrants and non UK citizens for the deepening poverty and inequality the country faces. This is not the fault of our international communities, but caused by corporate greed, reckless bankers, and damaging policy decisions which are designed to protect the privileged few. The xenophobic rhetoric which was once the reserve of the far right is becoming almost mainstream, and this is deeply worrying. London is a mega diverse city at the centre of Europe, and I’m proud of this fact. We must celebrate our many cultures, not create more division.

There is a real danger that we will see far-right parties gain ground across Europe. These are politicians who pretend to speak for everyday people, but who do not work for the common good. They see workers’ rights and fair pay as a luxury to be dismantled in the interests of corporate power. They deny the reality of climate change, and would destroy our planet for short term profit. They would remove our right to free movement – something enjoyed by the 1.5 million UK citizens living elsewhere in Europe, as well as the many citizens from other nations who choose to live here. Their rhetoric stirs up distrust and racism, closes borders and cuts choices – we will all lose out if they gain.

Make no mistake – these elections will decide the future direction of the EU. The far right are motivated and if they gain power it will damage the fabric of our society. All progressive voices, no matter which party you support, no matter where you come from, are needed to help ensure the MEPs who return to Brussels are people who will defend diversity, build sustainable jobs for the future, and protect decent standards of welfare, housing and human rights for all.

So these elections are incredibly important for us all, and everyone who can get involved should do so. We must make sure we don’t sleepwalk into a situation where the far right gain in strength. We need to back a positive vision for the future of Europe, with respect and dignity at its heart.

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Speaking at a conference entitled ‘A Better Europe Now’ organised by the Spring Alliance – an umbrella group of civil society groups and trade unions working in Brussels – she said we faced an environmental crisis as well as a social and economic one.

“The Spring Alliance has today called for a lot of great policies for the future of Europe – and I’m delighted to be here offering it my support,” she said.

“The ‘Spring Alliance’ brings together many of the organisations working to try to improve EU policies on development, equality, workers’ rights, the environment and the economy.

“It’s vital that the EU tackles the triple crises the world is facing: environmental, economic and social. They are all intimately linked, and unless we tackle them together we can’t really hope to solve any of them.

The Spring Alliance has called for a more democratic EU, a reduction in poverty, an end to austerity measures, job creation, environmental improvements, more renewable energy generation, and a more just tax system.

“I hope the European Parliament has the necessary representation to put pressure on the European Commission and Member State governments after the May 22 election to make sure that happens.”

For more information on the Spring Alliance, click here .

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Speaking at the launch of the Royal College of Nursing (1) campaign ahead of the European Parliamentary election next month (2), she said that Greens had been focussed on delivering a EU-wide universal right to healthcare – and taking specific measures on improving rights for nurses and other professionals travelling across borders to work.

She said: “Trying to save money by reducing health budgets in times of Government austerity is a false economy: the costs of ill-health are worsened, and borne later – either in terms of increased health costs or in terms of nurses’ workloads.

She said we need to plan for the future of nursing, with an ageing population and an ageing workforce – and that there should be no ‘rollback’ on either working time limits or other working conditions in order to help retain staff and ensure there are enough nurses in future.

Ms Lambert added: “Nurses play a key role in delivering healthcare around the EU: and the European Parliament must support them.

“That means fighting back-door health privatisation through trade deals like the TTIP (3), defending workers rights, seeking to ensure society is healthier – for example through food labelling or opportunities for walking, cycling and play – and ensuring nurses’ voices are heard whenever the EU is considering health or care measures.”
(1) The Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

(2) The election in London takes place on May 22nd.

(3) The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – a proposed trade agreement between the EU and US which Greens fear would entrench privatisation in the NHS. See here for more information.

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The London MEP said: “Austerity measures aren’t working – we are seeing social provisions cut just when they need are needed most.

“Greens have consistently argued that we need to think about the social – not just the economic – impacts of austerity measures.

“There are some 26 million unemployed Europeans, according to the European Trade Union Confederation, and we need to create jobs now: one way of doing this is to adopt the tough targets on renewable energy generation and energy conservation as part of the EU 2030 Climate targets.

“This isn’t just about staving off the worst impacts of climate change – it’s about creating decent jobs for Europeans and reducing our reliance on gas imports from Russia.

“I wish everyone taking part in today’s ‘New Path For Europe’ rally well – and I hope other EU politicians are listening.”

For more information about the European Trade Union Confederation, click here .

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Ms Lambert said the use of the UK’s nuclear weapons would be illegal under international law, cause millions of deaths and unprecedented destruction to wildlife – and serve no useful diplomatic or foreign relations purpose.

She said the Trident programme, estimated to cost as much as £100 bn (1), was ‘a drain on resources’.

“Just this month, for example, the Government ‘casually’ agreed to spend an extra £270m on repairing and refitting nuclear submarines making up the Trident system – that’s more than five time the £50m in cuts from the Legal Aid budget,” she said.

“Cuts in public services – and public servants’ wages – aren’t inevitable: they are a policy choice.

“Greens believe the Government should make a different choice: starting with a commitment to abandon its costly, pointless and dangerous nuclear weapons arsenal.”

For more details on the costs of Trident, see this CND’s ‘People Not Trident’ report here .

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The new directive, which passed with an overwhelming majority today (Wednesday), will help support workers who are using their right to free movement to work abroad in the EU.

It will provide EU citizens with an easier means to combat discrimination they may face based on nationality, such as improving access to support and information through equality bodies.

Lambert, a member of the European Parliament’s Employment Committee which was involved in scrutinising the legislation, said: “This law is good news which will improve the lives for EU citizens that choose to live and work in another European country – including millions of UK citizens.

“It sends a clear message that discrimination will not be tolerated, and all workers must have their rights protected, regardless of where they come from.

“While the right to free movement in the EU already exists on paper, in practice discrimination and lack of support can be major obstacles to accessing these rights. Today’s measures should help ensure all workers are treated equally.

“I am proud to represent London – a mega diverse city which benefits economically and culturally from the many European citizens who choose to live and work here.

“But the danger of discrimination is rising, which is not helped by some politicians who seek to make EU nationals the scapegoats for the poverty and inequality that austerity policies have created.

“This law reaffirms the rights that free movement brings for us all across the EU, and that discrimination is not acceptable. It’s time for all politicians to stop taking cheap shots at people on the basis of their nationality and start tackling the real causes of poverty and inequality.”

ENDS

More information on the legislation here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2013/0124%28COD%29&l=en

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The Green MEP chaired a passionate debate which looked at the impact of austerity on lives across the continent and called for an urgent change in direction from European governments.

Speakers at the ‘Austerity in Europe’ event included WDM Director Nick Dreaden, Liverpool TUC activist Clara Paillard and Green Euro candidates Peter Cranie and Maggie Chapman.

With a recent Red Cross report concluding austerity measures were adding to mass unemployment, poverty, racism and despair across the continent, Nick Dreaden said it was a “man-made disaster driven by self-interest of the elite” and warned that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement – currently being negotiated between the EU and the US – was “the biggest threat we face”.

TUC activist Clara Paillard dismissed the idea that austerity was inevitable as “nonsense” and said people were on the side of policies supported by the Greens such as putting the Royal Mail, rail network and energy companies back into public ownership.

Also present was Green Euro candidate Maggie Chapman who discussed an alternative vision for society being put forward in Scotland (known as the ‘Common Weal’ ), and North West Green Euro candidate Peter Cranie who said redistribution was key to solving austerity, with policies like the Tobin Tax “eminently sensible”.

Speaking after the event, Jean Lambert said: “This debate showed Greens have both the passion and vision to drive forward positive change in Europe.

“With international aid organisations like WDM, Oxfam and Red Cross all warning of the rising tide of unemployment, poverty and despair in Europe, it’s time we said ‘no’ to austerity measures which are devastating lives across the continent.

“Greens in Europe are on the frontline of the battle to ensure that measures taken to stabilise economies must take account of their effect on people’s everyday lives and must not undermine core labour and social rights: we are making some progress but we must not let that slip away.

“The Greens have a positive vision for Europe which will end corporate dominance and refocus capital on public priorities.

“We must fight against the TTIP agreement which threatens the future of our public services like the NHS. And we must work to ensure the Tobin tax becomes reality – a small tax on financial transactions which would make a big impact on lives.

“The European elections are a battle for the very heart of Europe. We don’t need more MEPs who will stand up for the City of London and think human rights get in the way of trade.

“The UK and Europe needs more Greens – working for the common good not corporate greed.”

ENDS

NOTES

Red Cross Report: Think differently. Humanitarian impacts of the economic crisis in Europe.

http://www.ifrc.org/PageFiles/134339/1260300-Economic%20crisis%20Report_EN_LR.pdf

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Highlighting where European Greens have made a difference – from capping bankers’ bonuses to fighting discrimination, Ms Lambert said Greens were the only party offering a positive vision for change – and warned of the dangers of a rise in right wing extremists.

Ms Lambert said: “Europe makes a difference – and Greens make a difference in Europe. From capping bankers’ bonuses to protecting workers’ rights, we are at the forefront of the battle for a fairer society.

“The next few years are crucial for the future of Europe – whether we move towards increased division or enjoy our diversity. There will be struggles over energy policy, over citizens’ rights and freedoms, and to protect our public services from privatisation.

“We don’t need more MEPs who will defend the City of London but won’t combat poverty – or who will support fracking but not free movement. We need people who will protect decent standards of welfare, housing and human rights – who will fight to protect our environment and build a future economy based on sustainable jobs, not asset bubbles.

“After suffering years of appalling austerity policies people feel let down by politicians and think there are no real choices. This is happening in many countries, including here with the Coalition of the willing-and-the-slightly-reluctant, and Labour not looking any better. But this leads to the danger that the only choice they see is between the status quo and those right wing parties who’d erode our rights and leave Europe altogether.

“Make no mistake – the future direction of Europe is at stake in May. Greens want a place where people are treated with respect and dignity – we cannot let these xenophobic parties gain ground. We defend diversity, not bankers’ dividends.

“Greens are the only party offering a positive vision for the future of Europe, and who are making change happen. Europe needs more Greens.”

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