The Green Party endorses The Big Issue's poverty prevention manifesto

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas has endorsed The Big Issue’s manifesto, which puts prevention at the heart of tackling poverty and homelessness.

Along with other party leaders, Lucas is backing The Big Issue’s approach to achieving social justice for all.

“The Big Issue is absolutely right to put poverty prevention at the heart of this election,” she says. “We know that poverty costs around £78bn in this country, and it causes untold misery.

“So The Green Party is proud to say that when Green Party MPs are elected, we will put poverty prevention at the heart of everything we do.”

The Big Issue believes that there must be a focus on ending poverty in Britain. And the only REAL way to break the poverty cycle is to work to prevent it taking hold. Led by Big Issue founder Lord John Bird, we’re pushing for the creation of a non-partisan Poverty Prevention Unit, which would put poverty prevention right at the heart of national decision-making.

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley commented:

“The Green Party is proud to back the Big Issue’s proposal for a Poverty Prevention Unit, as we believe that tackling poverty must be front and centre of the government’s plans.

“Greens will also fight poverty by ending the cruel cuts to public services that have done so much damage – and reverse the bedroom tax and benefits sanctions to ensure that people don’t face destitution. We are also proposing a pilot scheme to revolutionise the welfare state by introducing a Basic Income – a non-means tested benefit that would be paid to every adult, and ensure that no one slips through the social security safety net.

We can afford to eliminate poverty, we just need the political will to do it

“Britain is the 5th largest economy in the world. We can afford to eliminate poverty, we just need the political will to do it.

Deputy Leader of the Green Party, Amelia Womack, also expressed her support for The Big Issue’s poverty prevention plans:

There are many social problems in the UK that need addressing – including around poverty, health, social care, education, literacy, housing and pay equality. The Big Issue believes that these problems should be prevented from happening in the first place – a sentiment shared by Green Party peer Baroness Jones:

“Prevention is always better than cure and that especially applies to poverty, which is at the root of other evils such as ill health and educational failure,” says Jones.

Poverty is at the root of other evils such as ill health and educational failure

“I support any attempt to deal with the causes of poverty, rather than alleviating the symptoms. A good home, a decent education and worthwhile work are the basics that everyone needs, and all of those have to be available in people’s local communities.”

The Big Issue has asked for YOU to help us hold political leaders to account – to become part of our Activist Army and challenge MPs to back The Big Issue’s prevention manifesto.