Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has said a controversial Green policy to provide all adults with a citizen’s income is aspirational and not part of the party’s 2015 manifesto.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today program this morning, Ms Lucas said: “The citizen’s income, as I’ve explained, is not going to be a red line and because it’s not going to be in the 2015 election manifesto.”
The policy was previously discussed by Green party leader Natalie Bennett on Andrew Marr’s BBC programme.
The scheme would see benefits replaced with a universal payment of £72 a week for each UK adult, regardless of income.
During the interview, Ms Lucas also defended the Green party’s record on Brighton and Hove City Council, saying its bad record on recycling was due to an inherited problem with equal pay, which in turn led to the city’s bin strikes.
You can listen to the interview on iplayer here – the segment on the Green party begins at 2 hours 20 minutes.
