THE GREEN Party has called for a ‘wartime-like’ set of measures in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Oxfordshire’s Greens have joined their colleagues across the country to call for measures which will help people deal with the economic shocks caused by social distancing measures, including a universal basic income and nationalising all public utilities for six months.

Oxfordshire’s only Green county councillor, Pete Sudbury said the crisis the nation faces was an opportunity to ‘do something better’.

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A press statement from the Green Party said its series of policy suggestions were aimed at ‘protecting people and their environment, and bolstering the NHS’.

Councillor Pete Sudbury said: “A crisis is always also an opportunity to do things better.

"The 2010 banking crisis was such an opportunity. Instead, we ended up with the wealthiest 0.1 per cent, including those whose greed and folly caused the crash, doubling their wealth, whilst the rest of us, especially those at the bottom of the heap, paid for it.

"This time needs to be different."

The Green Party's main proposal is to nationalise all public utilities during the coronavirus outbreak for six months.

Other measures they want the government include suspending mortgage and rent payments, preventing evictions, making sure pension schemes are backed up with central bank loans, and help with household utility bills.

The party also wants to see the introduction of a universal basic income scheme to cover essential needs, primarily for food.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has also promoted the scheme in recent weeks, which would see everyone given a small, guaranteed income from the government.

On Twitter, Ms Moran said: "An Emergency UBI is the simplest way to help everyone in the UK during times of uncertainty. Especially those who are self employed and most vulnerable."

Many of the Green's demands have been partly met by the government, and on a local level by councils.

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Oxford City Council pledged it would not evict any of its council tenants during the coronavirus outbreak last week.

It also said it would work with housing associations to do the same and also pressure private landlords.

The Green Party is also demanding state aid for businesses should help them transition to zero carbon.

Dr Sudbury added: “We are seeing what governments can do when they put countries on a 'war footing'.

"Many of us have argued that exactly such a response was needed to tackle the climate crisis which, left unchecked, will make the impact of coronavirus look like a storm in a teacup."