Tories' hypocritical green policies pledge

David Cameron correctly identified global warming for the type of extreme weather events causing floods and droughts around the world.

But the response of the Tory government has not been a drive to switch to renewable energy supplies and other green policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

On the contrary, it was revealed just before December's Paris climate change summit that the UK government has increased its fossil fuel subsidies to 'big energy' despite pledging to phase them out.

Notwithstanding the vast profits made by big energy, the government gives UK production subsidies of Ł5.9 billion to major fossil fuel companies operating in the country and a further Ł3.7 billion to subsidise fossil fuel production overseas.

Earlier in 2015 Chancellor George Osborne gave new tax breaks for North Sea oil and gas production costing a further Ł1.7 billion by 2020.

In his Autumn Statement Osborne slashed millions from the domestic energy efficiency scheme for householders, having previously ended subsidies to renewable energy companies.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.