ON the 10th anniversary of the 2008 financial crash, Bradford Green Party has welcomed a report by The Green New Deal Group which, if implemented, would mean hundreds of new skilled 'green' jobs across Bradford District.

The Green New Deal Group, whose members include Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas MP and tax campaigner Professor Richard Murphy, launched a report in London this week calling for a programme of investment in green infrastructure across the country.

Bradford Green Party is echoing the Group's call adding that emphasis should be put on helping investment in jobs in the Bradford district.

Ten years ago this week the Lehman Brothers’ collapse heralded the worst global economic crisis since the 1930s – the political, economic and social effects of which are still being felt today.

The Group says that to help ensure these adverse trends are reversed it is crucial to return a sense of hope for the future, both through the provision of economic security for all and at the same time protecting the environment.

They believes a key part of this should be the urgent consideration and adoption green infrastructure programme which ould benefit every part of the country including Bradford.

This would involve programmes to make the UK’s 30 million buildings super-energy-efficient, accelerating the shift to renewable electricity supplies and storage and tackling the housing crisis by building affordable, properly insulated new homes. A transport policy would need to rebuild local public transport links, properly maintain the UK’s road and rail system and encourage a shift to electric vehicles.

Shipley councillor Martin Love, leader of the Green Group on Bradford Council said: “Bradford has been left behind and we need real investment in jobs if we want to revitalise our local economy.

"These proposal would be a win-win for Bradford. They will mean new, local skilled jobs in addition to helping us lay the foundations of the economic systems of the future – one that protects provides good jobs and that protects our environment.”

Green New Deal group member and Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas MP said: “A decade after the collapse of Lehman Brothers that marked the beginning of ten years of austerity, it's long past time we took steps to avoid a repeat of the 2008 crash. Our economy needs a complete overhaul to make it work for everyone and to stop the degradation of the natural world we all depend on.

“A Green New Deal will help tackle climate change and provide good, secure jobs in every constituency for decades.”

Green New Deal group member Professor Richard Murphy said: “The tens of billions required annually to fund this massive infrastructure programme will require traditional government borrowing at the current low interest rate, but might also include the use of ‘Green Quantitative Easing’ to help rebuild local economies. Additional finance could come from fairer taxes and the creation of savings opportunities in local authority bonds and green ISAs.

“Such diverse economic activity would not only improve social cohesion and environmental sustainability but should also make our economy more resilient in the face of any repeat of the economic crisis of a decade ago.”