Watching a Donald Trump press conference can sometimes feel more like an endurance test than anything else. But for anyone tuning in to his latest ramblings on Tuesday evening, there was a moment of genuine surprise – namely, that he seems to be on the same page as Zack Polanski.
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‘Tax oil companies so we can prevent wildfires’ – Zack Polanski
The president stated that big oil firms – who he has unapologetically supported through his Drill Baby, Drill mantra – now ‘make too much money’. Though his motivations lie with bringing inflation down and cutting gas prices, it still comes as a surprise that we’ve found a level of greed even Trump cannot stomach.
Whether Donald wants a Green Party leaflet posting through the White House letterbox remains to be seen. But Zack Polanski has moved to seize the moment, taking a major swipe at the eye-watering profits declared by BP earlier this week.
BP Profits – how much have they made this year?
While we are all paying much more for our fuel in the wake of the US-Iran conflict, the oil giants have absolutely coined it. The price hikes have resulted in BP declaring a dizzying annual profit of £4.2 billion – more than double the figure the posted last year.
The UK and mainland Europe also finds itself in the grip of a relentless, long-lasting heatwave. Many experts believe we are now experiencing the full brunt of climate change – largely brought on by a dependency on fossil fuels. The Green Party leader has since put two and two together.
The extreme heat has wreaked havoc across the continent, and caused widespread damage here in the UK. Zack Polanski, therefore, believes that the next logical step is to start taxing fossil fuel giants on their obscene profits, and using that money to fund a ‘ robust wildfire prevention strategy’.
“In the immediate term, we need to keep people safe from extreme temperatures. That means a free accessible cool space in every local area. And financial support for households so they can heat proof their homes. We also need a robust wildfire prevention strategy.”
“And that must include firefighting helicopters when needed. And not again ever seeing the shocking sight of requiring a charity to step in to contract a private firm to help fight fires. This should all be funded by taxing the fossil fuel giants who are profiting from fueling these infernos.” | Zack Polanski
Zack Polanski asks Andy Burnham to ‘stand firm’ on North Sea
Alongside introducing public cooling spaces and financial packages to ‘heat-proof’ homes, Polanski has also laid the gauntlet down for the Prime Minister. He has challenged Andy Burnham to issue no more oil and drilling licenses in the North Sea – remaining in-line with Labour’s 2024 manifesto committments.
If we are to secure a livable future for our children and for our grandchildren, there can be no new drilling for oil and gas. On this, the, the science is crystal clear. As politicians, we have a moral responsibility to do what is right for the people we serve, even when it’s not politically convenient.
“I know we both care deeply about the people of this country. So when the time comes, I hope you will have the courage to be truthful, be brave and hold firm to your party’s commitment to no new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, including both Rosebank and, Jackdaw.” | Zack Polanski