General election hustings in Sheffield: ‘tax the rich’ and you solve the climate emergency?

Seven candidates were present at St Thomas Church in Crookes, Sheffield, to answer questions about what they (or their parties) would do to solve the problem that is the climate emergency.

The candidates were as follows:

Angela Argenzio – Central, Green Party

Olivia Blake – Sheffield Hallam, Labour Party

Sam Chapman – Sheffield Hallam, Rejoin EU

Isaac Howarth – Sheffield Hallam, Conservative

Shaffaq Mohammed – Sheffield Hallam, Liberal Democrats

Mick Suter – Sheffield Heeley, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Alison Teal – Central, Independent

After a brief introduction, members of the panel were asked what they were going to do (if elected) to ensure a phase-out of fossil fuels that is fair as fast.

First, Ms Blake talked about the impact “the closure of coal mines and attack on steel” had on Sheffield and other parts of the country.

She said they need to recognise the need of phasing fossil fuels out and alternatives should be found and used – which could result in the creation of green jobs.

Mr Suter said we had “reached the tipping point” and we needed “urgent action”. He called for “massive investment” into renewable energy and public ownership of the energy companies.

Ms Teal talked about how industrialisation and a move to a service economy have led to the production of goods being largely offshore and how this led to unemployment.

She added that a green future is a big need for communities left behind because “renewable energy production will require significant people power from the production of green steel to the installation of heat pumps.”

Mr Mohammed said the next government will have to see through a home insulation programme and heat pumps should be installed in the “poorest quality of housing”.

Also, he added he wanted to see Sir Keir Starmer commit or re-commit to the £28bn green investment pledge.

The Conservative candidate Ian Howarth said he was “proud of the Conservative Party’s legacy” as he said the party changed the net zero target from 80 per cent to 100 per cent.

Mr Chapman from Rejoin EU called for bringing back the steel manufacturing from China and building those wind turbines here in the country – he said this should be possible but no political will or ideology is there.

Angela Argenzio said they would invest £4bn a year into training and skills so people would be able to take green jobs and handle the new technology. The Green Party, she added, wanted to move to “renewable energies as soon as possible and stop any further extractions for gas and oil”.

The candidates were also asked whether they would support the Climate and Nature Bill when it’s introduced in the next parliament even if their parties (again, if they have one) choose to vote against it.

Every candidate apart from Mr Howarth said yes.

They were asked about a tough decision they were prepared to make “for the sake of the future”.

This is the first time – and this has become a theme of the night – that candidates talked about the possibility of “taxing the rich” in order to find the money to be able to tackle the climate crisis.

Ms Argenzio said they wanted to tax the wealthy “to pay for what needs to be done in the country”.

She said it wasn’t a tough but courageous decision. She added tackling climate action was projected to cost £50bn in the next few years but not doing that (not tackling climate change) would cost a lot more in the long term.

Mr Chapman, answering the question about the tough decisions necessary, said a reduction of living standards could be and brought in how much of an impact cruise ships have on the planet.

TUSC’s Mick Suter said Labour in the past was able to create the NHS “in a time when that government was in even more debt than the government is today”. He said now we have to nationalise the energy industries and the banks.

The panel was also asked about how they would solve the housing crisis while protecting the climate and nature.

They all agreed upon the fact that there was a housing crisis in the country and more houses needed to be built.

As such, the numbers were just flying around – ranging from a few hundred thousand to millions – as in how many houses this or that party would build in the next five to ten years.

In a curve ball, candidates were asked whether they supported a campaign to mandate swift bricks – a special nest box for birds – in all newly built properties.

Those who knew what a swift brick was would support it.