Zack Polanski in ‘La La land’ in humilating economic put down | Politics | News
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has been savaged for living on “la la land” after suggesting the government should be able to borrow as much as it wants for welfare. He also said removing the two-child benefit limit in the budget would be a “victory” but called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to go further and “tax the rich”.
He told the BBC program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: “It’s really outrageous that it’s taken this long for the Labor Government to do this, but if they do it will be a victory and I’ll celebrate it.
“More broadly, we know that this Chancellor will continue to talk about hard choices, but they always seem to be hard choices for unemployed people or disabled people who work really hard, whose wages are not rising but food prices are rising.
“When will we see tough choices for multimillionaires and billionaires?
“It’s time to tax the rich.”
He also suggested that there should be no limit on borrowing.
But former Bank of England economist Andy Haldane said: “This is Lal La Land economics. Now is not the time for funny money solutions.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander did not deny that Ms Reeves was planning a pay-per-kilometre scheme for electric vehicle (EV) drivers in the Budget and also plans to include £1.3bn in grants that reduce upfront costs for EV buyers.
Ms Alexander said she would not preempt the Budget but told the programme: “As we transition to electric vehicles, I think two things can be true at the same time.
“We need a fair vehicle taxation system for all drivers because electric vehicles drive on roads that require maintenance, just like drivers of gasoline and diesel vehicles.
“We have an outdated infrastructure, highways built in the 60s and 70s, and so we need a fair taxation system focused on the future, but we will not do anything that would jeopardize the transition to electric vehicles.”
He also defended the pre-Budget process, saying it was about “a changing of the sands”.
“The OBR’s review of the productivity forecasts means that this whole process is actually taking place on shifting sands to begin with, and we have a very challenging global economic environment,” he told the BBC’s program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday.
Mr Haldane’s remarks came after he said the “financial frenzy” of recent months had caused “paralysis” among businesses and consumers.
“We need decisive action next week that puts beyond condemnation any idea of further tax increases,” he said.
Unite union chief Sharon Graham has called on Rachel Reeves to “go Labor” and change fiscal rules as well as introduce a wealth tax so the government can borrow to invest.
“They need to impose a wealth tax because ordinary people can’t pay it anymore,” he told the programme.
