This letter was published in the Guardian today:
Instead of the eye-wateringly cruel cuts in public services inherent in the chancellor’s obsession with rapid deficit reduction, the pre-election debate should radically change direction to one that has at its heart a Plan QE. This time, instead of giving £375bn to the banks to waste, e-print £70bn for every year of the next parliament to build the homes we need and make every building in the UK energy efficient. If all the jobs involved were paid an adequate wage then the tax take across the country would soar and help return the economy to a balanced recovery. Just like the first round of QE, the e-money would not have to be repaid so wouldn’t affect the deficit.
Colin Hines
Convenor, Green New Deal Group