POLITICS PANEL: Heating or eating?
Deputy leader of Wealden District Council, the Green party’s Rachel Millward, claimed the cost of living crisis has got to a point where people are choosing between ‘heating or eating’, telling students that the cost of living crisis is an 'inequality crisis' at a political discussion that took place at Heathfield Community College.
Speaking on Friday 10 November, the Green Party representative shared her view that the cost of living crisis is a crisis focused on inequality and according to Christine Bayliss, who was representing the Labour Party, agreed that the cost of living is 'the number one topic' on doorsteps.
Millward brought to light the inflationary pressure felt by the lower and middle class of England, highlighting her strong support and the Green Party’s objectives to catalyse change.
“What we’re calling a cost of living crisis is really an inequality crisis,” Millward told students at Heathfield Community College. The Green councillor stated the party’s intentions to inflict a wealth tax upon the country’s richest in a bid to reduce wealth inequality and reinvest into de-escalating inflation. 'People shouldn’t be choosing between eating and heating,” argued Millward, expressing her view that it is a crisis focused on inequality where a growing minority find themselves having to make a choice between heating their home and having a warm meal.
MP of Bexhill and Battle Huw Merriman retaliated, arguing “1% of the population pays 30% of taxes” and therefore raising taxes for the wealthy would drive them out of the country, resulting in loss of tax money for the government.
When the focus of the conversation moved to the impact of the cost of living crisis on the students themselves, Rachel Millward exclaimed that “university fees should go” which appealed to her audience, some of whom will be thinking about university.
This event was organised by Mr Carter, who is a History and Politics teacher at Heathfield Community College, to give students the opportunity to express their views on topical issues to those who have the power to bring about change.
Ruby Wadmore and Emma Hills, Year 12
Speaking on Friday 10 November, the Green Party representative shared her view that the cost of living crisis is a crisis focused on inequality and according to Christine Bayliss, who was representing the Labour Party, agreed that the cost of living is 'the number one topic' on doorsteps.
Millward brought to light the inflationary pressure felt by the lower and middle class of England, highlighting her strong support and the Green Party’s objectives to catalyse change.
“What we’re calling a cost of living crisis is really an inequality crisis,” Millward told students at Heathfield Community College. The Green councillor stated the party’s intentions to inflict a wealth tax upon the country’s richest in a bid to reduce wealth inequality and reinvest into de-escalating inflation. 'People shouldn’t be choosing between eating and heating,” argued Millward, expressing her view that it is a crisis focused on inequality where a growing minority find themselves having to make a choice between heating their home and having a warm meal.
MP of Bexhill and Battle Huw Merriman retaliated, arguing “1% of the population pays 30% of taxes” and therefore raising taxes for the wealthy would drive them out of the country, resulting in loss of tax money for the government.
When the focus of the conversation moved to the impact of the cost of living crisis on the students themselves, Rachel Millward exclaimed that “university fees should go” which appealed to her audience, some of whom will be thinking about university.
This event was organised by Mr Carter, who is a History and Politics teacher at Heathfield Community College, to give students the opportunity to express their views on topical issues to those who have the power to bring about change.
Ruby Wadmore and Emma Hills, Year 12
Shame of leaking sewage systems
Deputy leader of Wealden district council Rachel Millward told students at HCC that the privatisation of water was the leading cause of water pollution along Bexhill’s coastline.
Millward argued that water companies must be brought back into public control, and claims the council has already taken steps towards this goal; 24 councils now challenge South East Water’s control.
“It has been 20 years since water privatisation”, said the Greens’ councillor, pointing out the parallels between privatisation and water pollution in the south east: a publicly-controlled water industry would focus less on profit and more on the environment unlike the money-driven corporations whose primary goal is to minimise industry costs and to make money. Millward told students that as a nation we need to change our water companies from private to public to gain back control of what is going into our oceans.
‘Bring back public control of water companies,’ argued Millward.
The deputy leader of WDC stated that ‘we need to celebrate all that's been done (so far)’ but she believes that clean waters won't happen overnight and it will be a long process to bring back safe waters ‘that our children can swim in’.
Millward was supported by Christine Bayliss, Labour Councillor of Rother District, in her argument about water companies. She added that ‘we don't know what's going out there’.
Challenging this, conservative transport minister Huw Merriman argued that the primary cause was that “the Victorian commingling piping is outdated”, referencing the lack of modernisation in the water industry while still insisting that without private investment the problem would be far worse.
The contributions were made at a local political speaking event held at Heathfield Community College with the idea that the youth could ask questions of their local representatives Rachel Moor (Green Party), Huw Merriman (Conservative) and Christine Baylis (Labour).
Charlotte Williams and Logan Uglow-Landa, Year 12
Millward argued that water companies must be brought back into public control, and claims the council has already taken steps towards this goal; 24 councils now challenge South East Water’s control.
“It has been 20 years since water privatisation”, said the Greens’ councillor, pointing out the parallels between privatisation and water pollution in the south east: a publicly-controlled water industry would focus less on profit and more on the environment unlike the money-driven corporations whose primary goal is to minimise industry costs and to make money. Millward told students that as a nation we need to change our water companies from private to public to gain back control of what is going into our oceans.
‘Bring back public control of water companies,’ argued Millward.
The deputy leader of WDC stated that ‘we need to celebrate all that's been done (so far)’ but she believes that clean waters won't happen overnight and it will be a long process to bring back safe waters ‘that our children can swim in’.
Millward was supported by Christine Bayliss, Labour Councillor of Rother District, in her argument about water companies. She added that ‘we don't know what's going out there’.
Challenging this, conservative transport minister Huw Merriman argued that the primary cause was that “the Victorian commingling piping is outdated”, referencing the lack of modernisation in the water industry while still insisting that without private investment the problem would be far worse.
The contributions were made at a local political speaking event held at Heathfield Community College with the idea that the youth could ask questions of their local representatives Rachel Moor (Green Party), Huw Merriman (Conservative) and Christine Baylis (Labour).
Charlotte Williams and Logan Uglow-Landa, Year 12
Onshore wind - the way forward
Students at HCC were questioned about their viewpoint about an introduction of wind turbines to the British countryside by Labour Councillor of the Rother District Council, Christine Bayliss.
The students unanimously agreed that the development of wind farms further onshore would be a welcome prospect. The politicians were unanimous in their response, saying: 'Tell your parents!'
Huw Merriman, MP for Battle and Bexhill, agreed with the Labour member's enthusiasm for onshore wind, adding ‘26% of all our homes can now be powered by wind’ further stating that as of this year 'emissions are down 40%’ .
All parties present agreed that energy production and emissions would both be positively affected by this investment, making the government's plans for a decarbonised power sector by 2035 look all the more promising.
Also in attendance was Rachel Millward, leader of the Wealden District Council and Green party member.
The meeting was held in Heathfield Community College and allowed students to directly question local leaders on pressing matters in today's society.
Zoe Tooke, Year 12
The students unanimously agreed that the development of wind farms further onshore would be a welcome prospect. The politicians were unanimous in their response, saying: 'Tell your parents!'
Huw Merriman, MP for Battle and Bexhill, agreed with the Labour member's enthusiasm for onshore wind, adding ‘26% of all our homes can now be powered by wind’ further stating that as of this year 'emissions are down 40%’ .
All parties present agreed that energy production and emissions would both be positively affected by this investment, making the government's plans for a decarbonised power sector by 2035 look all the more promising.
Also in attendance was Rachel Millward, leader of the Wealden District Council and Green party member.
The meeting was held in Heathfield Community College and allowed students to directly question local leaders on pressing matters in today's society.
Zoe Tooke, Year 12