By Cllr Rob White
Inequality in Reading is a massive injustice.
People in the richest part of Reading live 10 years longer than people in the poorest part. Greens want to see everyone living healthy, long lives.
It is also getting worse under this Tory government and Labour Council.
We used to have two areas in the most deprived 10% in the country. This has now more than doubled to five.
Why is Reading under Labour suffering more than other areas?
As Green councillors we are getting more casework with people struggling. In particular recently we have had a rise in people contacting us struggling to pay rent and facing eviction and homelessness.
Previously it was Green Party councillors that got the council to become a Real Living Wage employer for council employees and contracted out services. We are keeping up the pressure to ensure that everyone in Reading gets at least the Real Living Wage of £10.90 per hour.
GREENS WANT A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY
Having a strong local economy is key to tackling many of the challenges we face. Manchester City Council has increased the amount of products and services it is buying from local businesses. Greens think that Reading needs to do the same.
We asked about this recently but disappointingly the council doesn’t have a robust figure for the amount of money it is using to buy local products and services. We will keep up the pressure to establish a baseline for money spent by the council into the local economy and work to increase this amount.
GREENS WANT A PROPERLY FUNDED NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE AND SOCIAL CARE SYSTEM
Devastatingly under this Conservative government the National Health Service and social care are in crisis. The accident and emergency department at Royal Berkshire Hospital is experiencing 20% more demand than winter 2021 and patient handover times between paramedics and the accident and emergency department are longer than they need be.
We need a properly funded National Health Service and national social care system. In the short term patients need to be seen and discharged in a timely fashion. In the medium term more of a focus needs to be put on prevention. Greens support more funding to make this happen.
Subheading: Greens are the second largest party in Reading
There’s now real, constructive opposition to Labour on Reading council. Following the local elections in May there are now more Green councillors than Conservatives. There is a growing team of hard-working Green councillors standing up for residents across the town.
If you’re keen on being part of the change in Reading, get involved and help us make Reading fairer, greener and cleaner: reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved
By Green Party councillor Rob White, leader of the main opposition group on Reading Borough Council
