OUR MEMBERS
OUR MEMBERS
UK YOUTH CLIMATE COALITION
How green are the parties’ proposals? A deep dive:
Energy and natural resources
Green Party
The Green Party manifesto provides coherent and well funded plans to successfully transition to net-zero carbon energy production. By 2030, they would aim for wind to provide 70% of electricity in the UK, with other forms of renewable energy making up the remaining 30%. They would end the creation of new nuclear power plants and would regulate biofuel use, another contentious 'green' energy source, Further, they would not allow any new oil and gas licences and end subsidies to oil and gas industries, as well as introducing a carbon tax on all fossil fuels. To increase community involvement in the energy transition, they would allow communities to be investors in energy sources and give devolved parliaments control of their energy decisions. They would also nationalise the water industry. If not elected, they will continue to campaign for the government make strong commitments to transition to net-zero a decade before 2050.
Labour Party
Labour remains committed to delivering a zero carbon and improved electricity system by 2030, creating more storage and funding renewable energy generation, mainly through offshore wind farms. Despite this commitment, they would not cancel existing oil and gas licenses (although no new licenses will be issued) and aim to keep a reserve of fossil fuel power to support the energy supply. They will continue to support nuclear energy, but they would ban fracking. To fund their transition, Labour will close policy loopholes allowing energy companies to avoid paying taxes and other fees. Failing water companies would be held accountable for their pollution; water company regulators will also be given new powers to press criminal charges. Nationally, Labour plans to create Great British Energy as one of their six 'first steps', which would be a publicly-owned 'clean' energy company. Internationally, Labour will create a new coalition of countries in the Clean Power Alliance, to lead global climate action.
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Liberal Democrats
Rather than a complete transition to net-zero energy production, the Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring 90% of power generation is from renewables by 2030. They are opposed to new nuclear power generation and would introduce a new ban on coal mines, but do not commit to banning new oil and gas licences. Instead of private water companies, the Liberal Democrats would transform them into public benefit companies, introducing a legally binding target to ban sewage dumping into bathing waters by 2030, and would prevent water company executives from receiving bonuses until pollution is curbed. The Liberal Democrats also have international energy targets, including creating a Joint Climate Council of the Nations to tackle the climate emergency, and continuing UK’s support for the UN Loss and Damage Fund to ensure a just green transition for all countries. They will also use the Paris Agreement to argue for greater global ambition on net-zero targets.
Conservatives
The Conservatives' net zero plans are first mentioned over half-way through the manifesto. They set a target to deliver net zero by 2050, but they do not lay out any plans that involve transitioning away from fossil fuels entirely. They will allow for oil and gas production in the North Sea and they will also create new gas power stations to 'support' an energy grid run mostly by renewable energy. They will create strict rules restricting where solar panels and wind farms can be placed. Nuclear energy is also mentioned as a sustainable source of energy, although this is a very debated topic. The Conservatives also mentioned an improved regulatory process for water companies, while keeping the water industry privatised.
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Social justice
Green Party
The Green manifesto is very strong on social justice issues. Trans and non-binary people would be supported in the self-expression of their gender by removing barriers to legal gender recognition. Full Relationships, Sex and Health Education would be reinstated.
The Green Party supports a restorative approach to justice. Diversion programmes, rather than incarceration, would become available for low-level drug and alcohol crimes and young offenders for low-level offences. Overhauls would be made to the justice system to make it more representative of the diversity in the UK. The police would be made to acknowledge institutional racism, misogyny, homophobia and ableism. There would be an end to routine stop and search, and children and young people would never be strip searched without appropriate adult present. Local authorities would be funded to deliver youth services to keep young people safe. Tackling gender-based violence would become a priority. Misogyny and abuse and violence against women and girls would be made a hate crime and sex work would be decriminalised. Our right to protest and to free expression would also be restored.
Labour Party
Labour promises to take action on gender inequality, predominantly through improved workplace policies and tougher action on violence against women and girls. On LGBTQ+ rights, Labour say they would implement a ban on conversion practices. However, they could be stronger on trans rights: they do not support gender self-indentification, but would support single-sex exceptions for women. On anti-racism, Labour promises to introduce a Race Equality Act to protect the right to equal pay for BAME people and restore adequate monitoring of antisemitism and Islamophobia. They pledge to close the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap. They additionally promise to introduce disability and ethnicity pay gap reporting for large employers. , Labour promise reforms to Access to Work and Work Capability Assessments, and improving special education support in mainstream and special schools. Other youth and social justice policies include a review of the Universal Credit system, expanding the Online Safety Act and new Young Futures hubs in every community with youth workers, mental health support workers and careers advisers.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats would uphold the UK’s commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights and prevent any attempts to withdraw from it. Although the Liberal Democrats are not clear on their commitments to LGBTQ+ rights, they do make some good commitments to racial equality by detailing plans to implement a comprehensive Race Equality Strategy to address systemic inequalities in many aspects of society, including education, health, criminal justice and the economy. They would also ensure victims of the Windrush scandal get the compensation they are entitled to. To make the justice system fairer, a new right to affordable, reasonable legal assistance would be set up. To help ensure a voice for young people's issues, a Cabinet Minister for Children and Young People would be appointed. The Liberal Democrats would also scrap the current anti-protest laws, and immediately halt the use of live facial recognition surveillance by the police and private companies.
Conservatives
There are a number of worrying social justice issues in this manifesto. As well as plans to restrict gender-affirming health care, there would be new updated legislation limiting how teachers can teach students about gender. They would also make biological sex a legally protected characteristic. The Conservatives would try to restrict access to benefits, especially disability benefits. They would additionally increase the restrictions on how we can protest (that have resulted in arrests of hundreds of environmental activists) and limit the chants and symbols that can be used in protests.
Jobs and education
Green Party
Green employment is a main focus for the Green Party in this manifesto, to ensure that the transition to net-zero is led by workers and unions and no one is left without a job. The Green Party would invest in green skills and training, prioritising the training of nature conservation workers. Union rights would be restored giving people the right to strike and campaign for better conditions, the minimum wage would be raised to £15 per hour for everyone, regardless of age, and they would move to a 4 day work week.
Increased funding would also be set aside for schools, including extra support for special education needs. Every child would learn about the climate and biodiversity as well as food systems and growing, preparing and cooking food. All children would receive daily free school meals made with local, organic or sustainable produce. Arts and vocational subjects would be treated equally within the curriculum. More support would be given to further education and training, allowing young people to extend their studies beyond 16. Every higher education student would have a free, fully funded place at university.
Liberal Democrats
Through their industrial strategy approach, the Liberal Democrats would focus on the skills needed for a transitioned UK economy. The Liberal Democrat's key strategy for this is to create far more opportunities for vocational training and apprenticeships though improving and expanding vocational training opportunities, increasing salaries to at least the National Minimum Wage, and creating a flexible skills and training levy. New National Colleges would also be created for key sectors like renewable energy, to deliver high quality vocational training. A Lifelong Skills Grants would be available for adults to spend on continuing their education. In terms of academic education, the curriculum for 16-18 year olds would be updated to broaden subjects taught and potentially change the qualifications achieved. More support would be provided for disadvantaged children (especially early-years education), including extending free school meals, and providing local authorities with more funding for special education needs.
More rights would be given to workers, enforcing the minimum wage (with a review to potentially increase the minimum wage) and tackling modern slavery and protecting agency workers. Everyone would be given the right to flexible working, and every disabled person would have the right to work from home if they want to.
Labour Party
Labour details various plans for reform to education and employment but explicit links to green education, skills and jobs are lacking. The only clear mentions are a £500m/year British Jobs Bonus allocation for domestic clean energy developers and commitment for the creation of 650,000 jobs in 'industries of the future' under their Green Prosperity Plan.
Regarding education, Labour pledges to recruit 6,500 new teachers. Additional funding will be provided to state schools through ending tax exemptions for private schools. They additionally promise free breakfast clubs in every primary school and specialist mental health professionals in every school. Labour emphasises support for work experience and apprenticeships, guaranteeing two weeks of work experience for every young person and training or employment support for all 18- to 21-year-olds. They are also committed to supporting education and jobs in creative sectors.
Labour's flagship employment policy to 'Make Work Pay' would be introduced within the first 100 days of government and includes banning zero hour contracts and fire-and-rehire practices. Labour also commits to adjusting minimum wage so it reflects the cost of living and removing age adjustments to make it universal. However, the manifesto also implies a tough approach to those who are unemployed. Labour plans to address domestic skills shortages through establishing a new body called Skills England.
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Conservatives
From the restoration of compulsory National Service, banning mobile phones in school, and a complete overhaul of the A-level systems, the Conservative manifesto details major changes that don't appear to address any important issues in this sector. While the Conservatives would like to support technical education in young people and adults, apprenticeship schemes would be funded by the closure of university courses in England with the 'worst outcomes for students': given the lack of mention of green skills and green jobs, this could easily mean the closure of some environmental and natural sciences degrees. The manifesto shows a disdain for workplace unions and only promises to 'maintain' National Living Wage (with a forecasted rise to £13), indicating a lack of support for many workers, including young people in the workforce.
Economy
Green Party
The Green party will commit £40 billion per year over 5 years towards the green economic transformation. They will create mandatory targets for all banks to divest from fossil fuels and advocate for a circular economy. Instead of measuring success againstendless economic growth, they will add new indicators that reflect the wellbeing of people and the planet which prioritise our progress towards a green future. Funding for the green economic transformation will come from tax changes. There will be a wealth tax affecting people with assets over £10 million, and other tax changes to ensure rich people are paying an equitable share of taxes.
Labour Party
Labour makes a bold commitment to moving to a circular economy. Through the National Wealth Fund, Labour plans to invest in jobs in green hydrogen; however through the same fund it plans to invest in automotive and steel industries without explicit conditions on how clean/green these industries are. The fund will also support the creation of a Green Prosperity Plan, boosting investment in green industries, and create 650,000 green jobs. Labour will reinstate the Bank of England's power to consider climate change in future mandates, and mandate other UK-regulated financial institutions (like banks, asset managers, pension funds, and insurers) to develop and implement achievable transition plans that align with the 1.5°C global warming goal set out in the Paris Agreement.
Liberal Democrats
Without making specific commitments to a circular economy, the Liberal Democrats would work to create a more sustainable economic system. They would appoint a Chief Secretary for Sustainability in the Treasury to ensure that the economy is resource-efficient and zero-carbon, and establish a new Net Zero Delivery Authority to coordinate action across government departments and devolved administrations, while also handing more powers and resources to local councils for local net zero strategies.
All large companies listed on UK stock exchanges would be required to set targets consistent with achieving the net zero goal. Internationally, the Liberal Democrats would like to position the UK as a global leader on climate change and environmental issues, by prioritising environmental health and animal welfare standards in trade deals. They additionally want to restore international development spending to 0.7% of national income, with tackling climate change as a key spending priority.
Conservatives
The Conservative manifesto focuses on tax cuts and boosting economic growth. There is a specific emphasis on prioritising the growth of businesses and industries. They will not raise income tax, and lay out plans to cut taxes to help businesses, self-employed people and pensioners. There are no plans to make changes to the economic structure of the UK, or to change the distribution of wealth within society.
Distribution of power
Green Party
This manifesto outlines an overhaul to the political system including replacing the House of Lords with an elected second chamber, changing our current, first-past-the-post, voting system, lowering the voting age to 16, and removing the need to have a form of ID to vote. To distribute power more evenly, local authorities will be given more powers and resources, to deliver the needs of the community. They will also be expected to play key role in transition to net-zero and in protecting nature. The Green party supports all countries in the UK to hold independence referendums.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have ambitious plans to make the political system fairer. This includes changing the voting system, lowering the voting age to 16, and removing the need to have a form of ID to vote. They also hope to increase engagement in the political process by giving settled EU citizens, and other immigrants who have lived in the UK for 5 years, the ability to vote. Local authorities would also have more responsibilities to ensure everyone in the community knows how to register to vote. National and local citizens’ assemblies would be established to allow the public to have a say in finding solutions to important issues like the climate emergency. The Liberal Democrats want to see power spread out more evenly across the UK and would support different levels of devolution in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that best suit the needs of each country.
Labour Party
Labour will support local governments to increase their powers through devolution, with a focus on taking control of energy, transport, adult education and skills, housing and planning, and employment decisions. To involve the community further, local leaders roles will be created. These leaders will help to decide on important areas for growth that will benefit the community. Labour want to work with the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive to drive growth, but don't explicitly give them any more powers to tackle local issues.
Conservatives
The Conservative manifesto supports the devolution of power to local governments across England. There are no specific mentions of providing funding or opportunities for communities to tackle local issues. Funding will also be available through the levelling up scheme, but only for local business growth. The manifesto does not support giving increased powers to devolved parliaments or permitting any further independence referendums.
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Land use and biodiversity
Green Party
There are two entire sections of the manifesto dedicated to nature and biodiversity restoration. The Green party outline strong targets to protect existing conservation areas, increase the percentage of land and sea that is protected from harmful activities like overfishing and overharvesting, while ensuring nature is restored in all spaces, not just protected areas. They back the Right to Roam movement, and will provide proper education on the countryside code, to make sure everyone has access to nature within 15 minutes of their homes. By renationalising the water industry, money would be redirected to fix leaks and rebuild infrastructure. Natural flood management would also be implemented in river systems. Most excitingly, they would pass a Rights of Nature Act giving nature legal personhood so it could not be exploited for personal gain.
Regenerative farming would be promoted, phasing out harmful chemicals, and increasing financial support to farmers who restore nature on their land. They would also ban factory and cage farming. Local food partnerships and community agriculture would also be encouraged.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats aim to double the amount of land protected and create a network of marine protected areas. They mention restoration of a number of important habitats, including tree planting, peatland restoration, seagrass meadows and temperate rainforests. The Liberal Democrats are also the only party that mention specific targets on species abundance. They would also plan to boost support for agri-environment schemes. Increased powers would be given to local authorities to monitor the health of local habitats (including rivers, lakes and coastlines) and to restore their natural environments and tackle climate change. Internationally, the Liberal Democrats would continue to work with international partners to fight global deforestation. As a novel legal strategy, the Liberal Democrats also plan to pass a new Environmental Rights Act, recognising a human right to a healthy environment.
Labour Party
Labour are committed to taking action to meet the targets in the Environment Act. They would create a new land-use framework to ensure land management schemes work for both farmers and nature, and encourage local or sustainable food production with new targets in food purchasing. Labour outlines plans to create new protected areas like national forests and national river walks, and also mentions goals to expand 'nature rich-habitats' (including wetlands, peat bogs and forests). They do not lay out any specific targets to increase the percentage of land or sea in the UK protected from environmental damage. In carrying out their plans, Labour would hope to improve everyone's access to nature-rich areas, but there are no specific plans to improve access to green areas, like the Right to Roam scheme.
Conservatives
The manifesto is clear that the Conservatives' main aim for land use is to support agriculture and farming. They aim to improve food security in the UK and promote local and organic food sources. Their commitment to nature restoration remains weak, and plans to speed up building development could put existing environmental protections at risk. Some plans for tree planting, river and peatland restoration are mentioned, and the Conservatives commit to ensuring everyone is within a 15 minute walk of nature (although the quality of this 'nature' is not clear) by protecting some existing green spaces. While they do not support universal Right to Roam, they will also work with landowners and charities to open up some private land for access. There are more ambitious international nature targets, including to expand the blue belt overseas and ratify the Global Oceans Treaty.
Transport
Green Party
A huge amount of money would be invested in improving public transport and other green modes of transport. They stay committed to ending petrol and diesel vehicle sales by 2027. Going further, they back a complete shift of the transport system away from cars and roads, implementing road taxes and creating the infrastructure for all cars and vans to be electric. The Greens would fund the renationalisation of the rail system, and would give local authorities control over bus routes so the needs of the community could be met. Costs of both rail and bus travel would be subsidised. In towns and cities, walking, wheeling and cycling would be encouraged by new infrastructure. Fees would be applied to frequent-flyers to discourage travel by plane.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have specific plans to make public transport more affordable for young people, including extending half-fares on buses, trams and trains to 18-year-olds, and plans to introduce a ‘Young Person’s Buscard’, giving 19- to 25-year-olds a third off bus and tram fares. To improve local connectivity and sustainable transport, they would create new cycling and walking networks and give local authorities and bus operators more support to transition entirely to zero-emission buses. They will also invest in rail electrification and a rail fare freeze. The Liberal Democrats will reinstate the petrol and diesel phase out by 2030 and create financial incentives to make it cheaper and easier to switch to electric vehicles. They would also invest in reducing the climate impact of flying, and reduce demand for flying, by increasing frequent flier taxes and banning short domestic flights (where rail transport is another option). Increased investment in research and development would help make the UK the world leader in zero-carbon flight, and take steps to reduce demand for flying.
Labour Party
Labour's flagship transport policy is Great British Railways, a policy to bring railways back into public ownership as current contracts expire. They state support for improving railways in the north of England but don't yet provide specific details. They promise improvements to buses through devolving power to the local level. Labour would bring back the 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel cars, and commit to supporting electric vehicles through accelerated deployment of charging points. They plan reforms to make transport infrastructure planning easier and more strategic. Despite these greener policies, Labour's manifesto displays commitment to cars as the primary form of transport and support for the aviation sector (though they also mention support for sustainable aviation fuels).
Conservatives
The Conservatives continue to be 'on the side of drivers' when it comes to transport. They would set aside £8.3 billion for potholes and road resurfacing, and support building new roads. They would reverse existing measures to reduce road traffic and make no strong commitments on the transition to electric vehicles. They will cap bus travel but there are no plans to make rail travel more affordable. While the manifesto mentions that the Conservatives will support growth and decarbonisation of aviation and maritime transport (like shipping), no solid plans are laid out and they will instead encourage domestic flights and refuse to introduce charges for frequent fliers.
Military and borders
Green Party
To accommodate for inevitable migration, the Green Party would establish safe routes to sanctuary for those fleeing war, persecution or climate disaster. There would be no barriers for people migrating to the UK to bring family, and those seeking asylum could work and access the NHS while their application is being decided. The Green Party would aim to rejoin the EU. To help people be able to stay in their home countries, they would also increase the overseas aid budget and support lower-income countries to deal with climate crisis, while letting those countries decide how the aid is spent. Under the Green Party, foreign policy would be based on commitment to democracy, peace, global solidarity and the protection of human rights. They would both support Ukraine and call for an immediate bilateral ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, while promoting equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians to get long-term security. There would be more stringent investigation and prosecution of war crimes, and an international law against ecocide. The Green Party would sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and immediately dismantle our weapons and cancel the Trident programme.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats plan to overhaul the migration system, ending the current Hostile Environment, and scrapping the Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda scheme. Safe and legal routes to sanctuary would be created, lifting the ban on asylum seekers working if they have been waiting for a decision for more than three months, replacing the current salary threshold with 'fairer' criteria, and ending the detention of children and reducing detention for adults. As part of their approach to managing the border,young people in the UK would be given more freedom to travel, study and volunteer in the EU.
Although the Liberal Democrats support global disarmament, they also have goals to increasing funding to the army and increase troop numbers. They would maintain the UK’s nuclear weapons and support for NATO, and increase defence with a goal of spending at least 2.5% of GDP on defence. However the Liberal Democrats would introduce a vote before engaging in military action, and would control arms exports to countries with poor human rights records. They would continue to provide support to Ukraine and advocate for an immediate bilateral ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war and provide the space to reach a two-state solution.
Labour Party
Labour aims to reduce net migration and they do not offer a welcoming approach to migrants. They would reform to the current points-based system and the introduction of a new Border Security Command to be tough on people smuggling. Labour plans to address backlog in the asylum system by hiring extra caseworkers and expediting the return or removal to safe countries of failed asylum seekers and migrants without the right to remain in the UK. However, they do promise to end the Migration and Economic Development partnership with Rwanda.
Labour plans to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence and is committed to nuclear deterrents and NATO. They would not try to rejoin the EU but will seek improved relationships with Europe. Their manifesto does mention explicit consideration of the climate crisis in working with other countries around the world. On the Isreal-Gaza conflict, Labour commits to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, increased aid to Gaza, and a two-state solution. On Ukraine, Labour affirms its support for Ukraine, including in joining NATO, and punishment of Russia for the war.
Conservatives
This manifesto makes it clear that the Conservatives would not welcome migrants and asylum seekers, instead focussing on methods to deter, detain and expel those seeking asylum from the country. There will be no return to free movement, and they will continue to make it harder for individuals and families to migrate to the UK. Of course they would also continue to support the unlawful Rwanda policy.
Instead of making global peace a priority, the Conservatives plan to increase military funding with a focus on munitions, weapons development and modernising our nuclear weapons, while supporting other countries to increase their spending on nuclear deterrents. The Conservatives will continue to support Ukraine with arms, and also 'stand behind Israel's right to defend itself'. They do not call for an immediate ceasefire but will push for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Health
Green Party
Taxes on the super-rich would help the Green party to fund a restored NHS. New policies would fight against the privatisation of NHS, and salaries for NHS staff including junior doctors would be increased. Community care hubs would be set up to provide free dental nursing for children and those with low income, and more investment would be allocated to GPs and primary care for community healthcare. Local authorities would also be given funding to support carers and provide them with more career progression opportunities. Mental health care would be prioritised equally with physical health, with a goal of everyone being able to access evidence-based mental health therapies within 28 days. Specific mental health services would be available to communities of colour, children and adolescents, older people and LGBTQIA+ communities. The Green party would also work towards no more HIV transmissions by 2030.
Labour Party
Labour pledges that they will provide an additional 2 million NHS appointments every year, but that this will require partnerships with the private sector. Further pledges include halving the healthy life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest regions in England and ending HIV cases by 2030. Among other reforms, there was a strong tendency towards localising healthcare. This includes a Neighbourhood Health Service - with reformed appointment booking, more GPs and encouraging the same doctor to see the same patients - and a Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service. There is also a commitment to trial Neighbourhood Health Centres, which would collate a range of health services in one place. Labour also pledge to deliver 700,000 more dental appointments.
Regarding mental health, Labour have promised reforms to modernise legislation for minority communities and recruit an additional 8,500 staff in their first term. They specifically mention young people, with a promise to have mental health services in every community via new Young Futures hubs. Labour will introduce bans for under-16s to buy energy drinks and will ban the next generation from ever being able to buy cigarettes. They additionally commit to banning the advertising of junk food and vapes to children.
Liberal Democrats
Community healthcare would be prioritised by building on the Pharmacy First approach to give patients more accessible routine services, while also increasing support to GPs so patients can be seen sooner. Emergency NHS dentistry would be available to everyone and community hubs would be set up to tackle loneliness and youth mental health. There is a general focus on improving healthcare for young people which includes new tobacco and vaping regulations, and a public health approach to preventing youth violence which identifies and treats risk factors, rather than just focusing on the symptoms. Another key aim of the Liberal Democrats is to protect reproductive rights, giving everyone the right to make their own decisions on their reproductive health without interference by the government and enforcing safe access zones around abortion clinics and hospitals. In terms of environmental risk factors, the Liberal Democrats commit to tackling air pollution and poor air quality.
Conservatives
In the Conservative manifesto, the future of the NHS is unclear. Targets are set to hire more doctors and nurses and provide more funding to the NHS, but there is no mention of a pay rise for healthcare workers. The manifesto also doesn't rule out the possibility for more healthcare services to become privatised. There are plans to improve community healthcare and diagnostics, but also plans to use AI to 'free up doctors’ and nurses’ time' in patient care. Welfare targets include ending HIV transmission and improving women's healthcare (mainly maternity care), and for young people, the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. There are also plans to improve mental health services, especially for young people. This includes creating better mental health support in schools. However the Conservatives are clear that they will make it harder for children and young people to receive gender-affirming care.
Housing
Green Party
Future-proofing is at the heart of the Green party's plans for housing. A huge amount of funding would be allocated to making homes more environmentally friendly, providing proper insulation, installing solar panels and heat pumps, and adapting homes to cope with warmer weather. The carbon emissions of building new homes would also be lowered. The Green Party also commit to providing more fairly priced housing for everyone. Local authorities and communities would be given the chance to buy vacant, uninhabitable buildings to transform into homes, reducing the need to build new homes. Communities will be given funding and powers to make planning decisions, to make sure that land is being used in the best way for people and the planet.
Labour Party
Labour's plan for housing addresses both social justice and climate justice concerns through reforms to the planning, building and regulation sectors. Labour commits to building 1.5m new homes over the course of the next parliament as well as a less specified number of new towns. Alongside this are reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework to support sustainable development and re-introduce mandatory housing targets. Labour states it will take a brownfield-first approach but does not ban using greenfield land, though this will be a strategically-managed practice.
Labour insists upon its support for the creation of more affordable and social housing. They would additionally bring in regulations to support first-time buyers and those renting in the private rented sector, banning no fault evictions and reforming the leasehold system. Labour addresses socio-environmental housing issues through its Warm Homes Plan, promising £6.6 billion to upgrade 5 million homes and a commitment for the private rented sector to meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030. Furthermore, it says it would offer grants and loans to retrofit housing, such as insulation, solar panels and low carbon heating. It does however state that there will be no mandatory removal of existing boilers.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats would begin to upgrade homes immediately, launching an emergency Home Energy Upgrade programme, with free insulation and heat pumps for low-income households organised with local authorities. Incentives for households to install solar panels would also be introduced, and further schemes, grants, loans and tax incentives would be rolled out during their time in government. All new homes and non-domestic buildings would be required to be energy efficient and to be built to a zero-carbon standard, including being fitted with solar panels. Local authorities would also be funded and supported to lead on the planning and deployment of local infrastructure, like heat networks. Landlords would be given tighter regulations to ensure their properties meet energy efficiency standards.
Conservatives
Similarly to the manifesto's stance on renewable energy, when it comes to making housing more eco-friendly the Conservatives will not encourage any households to make sustainable changes (like improved insulation, replacing boilers with heat pumps) quickly, and will not supply any substantial subsidies to make this work accessible to all people. Instead of addressing the ecological causes of flooding, funding will be allocated to artificial rather than natural flood defences. Some funding will be available to local households to address local issues and build infrastructure, but the funding has specific limits on what it can be used for. 'Locally-led urban development' would be focussed on local corporations and businesses instead of local communities.