The Skircoat by-election is a chance to stand up for people living in poverty.
Responding to the news that Labour MP Kate Dearden is promoting a cost-of-living surgery for Halifax residents in May, Councillor Martin Hey, leader of the Green group on Calderdale Council, said:
‘Our Labour MP is inviting residents to come to a surgery to discuss “heartbreaking stories” of poverty caused by 15 years of Conservative Government. However, there’s no mention of the thousands of Halifax people who are affected by the cruel cutbacks imposed by the current Labour Government.
‘Scrapping the two-child benefit cap would lift more than half a million children out of poverty across the country, but Labour MPs have voted to keep it. Changes to disability benefits announced by the Chancellor in March, aimed at saving £5 billion annually, amount to the biggest cut in welfare since 2015. And Labour-controlled Calderdale Council has joined in, imposing a 60% increase in Council Tax on its most disadvantaged residents. The Green Party has opposed all these policies and is committed to reducing inequality in Halifax and across the UK.
‘People in Halifax deserve better — and the Skircoat by-election on Thursday 8 May is a chance for residents in Copley and Skircoat to Vote Green and send a positive message that they want to protect those living in poverty locally and nationally.’
