John thoughts on supporting young people and not insisting on conscription.
‘When I was young, I learned to fly in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. I was very proud to do that, but it was voluntary. What the Conservatives are proposing is to introduce some form of conscription, where you’d have to do some military service, or maybe get in the way of doctors and nurses at Pembury, while they try to look after patients. We don’t think that’s a good idea; and there’s so little money now for Local Authorities, that Kent County Council is thinking of cancelling the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award funding. Again, we’d restore that. And finally, we’re looking to get Britain back into the European Union, so that people, particularly young people, can study abroad and go and find a job – and learn what the world’s all about! So, for Real Hope, and for Real Change – on the 4th July Vote Green!’
Support not Conscription. Post-16, Further and Higher Education – from our 2024 Manifesto
The world of work is changing fast. Fewer young people will experience only one career and workplace in their lives. Education and training must be accessible, and better designed to support lifelong learning.
Green MPs will push for:
• A £3bn increase in funding for sixth-form education over the next parliamentary term, and a £12bn investment in skills and lifelong learning for further education.
• The restoration of the Education Maintenance Allowance to financially support young people to extend their studies after the age of 16.
Marketisation has been disastrous for Higher Education, changing the relationships between students and academic faculty, pushing universities into financial crisis, and burdening a whole generation of students with debts so high that they are ruining their life chances.
We would fully fund every higher education student, restoring maintenance grants and scrapping undergraduate tuition fees. Our long term plans also include seeking to cancel the injustice of graduate debt.
Britain’s Future In Europe
The Green Party is pro-European, and proudly so. We opposed UK withdrawal from the EU, and believe that Britain would be better off politically, socially, environmentally and economically had we maintained our EU membership. A united international response to global issues is needed now more than ever. Full membership of the EU remains the best option for the UK.
Green MPs will work towards:
• Re-joining the EU as soon as the domestic political situation is favourable and EU member states are willing.
• Joining the Customs Union as a first step towards full EU membership, and a way of resolving many of the worst problems resulting from Brexit.
• A speedy return to the free movement of people between the UK and the EU, including reciprocal rights to work for both UK and European citizens.
• Rejoining the Erasmus Programme, which enables students to study for a year in another European country.