Matthew Snedker is the Green Party candidate for Darlington.
North East Bylines asked candidates for our 27 constituencies ten questions on a range of subjects. We will be publishing their answers over the next few weeks.
1, What is your plan for economic revival in the North East?
Our plan to invest in Britain will benefit the North East by improving education, training and creating thousands of well paid jobs.
Investment in schools will solve the problems of teacher vacancies, especially in core STEM subjects, setting up children to be equipped for a high-skill economy. By retaining unspent apprenticeship levy in the North East we will create more apprenticeship opportunities, delivering high quality training to fill the jobs created in the green economy. Our commitment to delivering 150,000 social houses and free adult social care will also create secure well paid jobs for thousands of people in the North East.
2. How will you help to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets?
- Develop and expand renewable energy generation, this will also create jobs and cut fuel bills for households and business.
- Invest to improve insulation and heating upgrades for every home that needs it, up to one million homes per year.
- Reduce carbon pollution from transport while investing in public transport and active travel.
- Provide transitional grants to electrify industry so less production is dependent on fossil fuels, and develop a circular economy to cut waste.
- Restore nature, by planting forests and woodland and restoring peatland.
- Support sustainable agriculture with subsidies and training for farmers.
3. How will you work to end child poverty in the North East?
Our plan to invest in Britain will create thousands of well-paid jobs because we know that secure, decent employment is the best way to lift people out of poverty. We will restore pupil premium to 2010 levels in real terms and extend free school meals to secondary pupils.
Other measures to focus on ending poverty include;
- Raise the minimum wage to £15 and remove the age discrimination for under 18s.
- Remove employer NI costs to further stimulate job creation
- Increase Universal Credit by £40 per week and abolish the two-child benefit cap
4. What is your view of the war on Gaza and how would you resolve it?
I support calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages.
I condemn the Hamas attacks but have also condemned war crimes carried out by Israel including the disproportionate killing of civilians and collective punishment of the Palestinian population by the denial of food, water and medicines.
I believe there is no military solution to the Israel-Palestine issue. There must be a political solution that allows for the security and protection of human rights of Israelis and Palestinians based on the end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories’.
5. How can the curriculum be widened to make it more useful and inclusive for our pupils?
The Green Party’s education policy includes a focus on the rounded needs of children and students and an inclusive, creative and collaborative curriculum.
This is in contrast to the current pressure heaped on teachers and students to achieve higher targets in English and Maths, resulting in even more school hours spent away from lessons in music, PE, humanities, technology and the arts.
Young people need to be offered a broad and balanced curriculum to learn, show their potential and to succeed.
6. How do you propose to protect our waterways from contamination with sewage?
I support the public’s call for water companies to be brought into public ownership after a rising tide of sewage discharges.
Asking the public to pay for any improvements, after £57bn has been paid out in payouts to shareholders over the last 30 years, is an insult.
Currently water companies dump sewage into our rivers, waterways and coastal waters, this situation cannot go on.
Shareholder payouts need to be halted immediately and, ultimately, the water supply needs to be brought back into public ownership at the earliest practicable opportunity in order to end leaks, stop sewage discharges and cut bills.
7. What do you see are the main benefits of Brexit?
The downsides of Brexit dwarf the handful of minor benefits.
Yorkshire Bylines maintain a Davis Downside Dossier which records 1,8739 downsides from Brexit – so far.
8. What will you do to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?
The Green Party will reform the tax system, by ensuring that the 0.07% of people who are the richest in the UK pay a small wealth tax. 1% on people worth more than £10m and 2% for those worth more than £1bn.
Taken with other measures to make the tax system fairer, this will raise £50bn per year by the end of the next parliament.
These reforms will allow us to resolve outstanding pay disputes in the NHS by securing a pay settlement that matches inflation.
9. Which historical figure would you go to for advice?
Martin Luther King Jr. because he challenged individuals to assess their character during difficult times, emphasising the importance of integrity and moral courage. He encouraged a commitment to equality even when faced with opposition.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
10. How would you ensure that you represent all constituents, including the ones who didn’t vote for you?
I already have a good understanding of Darlington, having lived here for 24 years, choosing to bring up my three children in the town.
I have served Darlington as a Borough Councillor for the past five years, and lead the group of seven Green Party councillors.
I will be a truly dedicated constituency MP, ensuring that I support the people of Darlignton and I am Darlington’s voice in parliament.
I will maintain a fully staffed constituency office in the town and will visit schools, businesses and community groups across the Borough to continue to keep up to date with the needs of all people in the area.
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