Sacrifices or gains?

Right from the off, Ramsay was pressed on his policies – with the audience asking what they needed to sacrifice to hit the party’s pledges. Ramsay pushed back, saying the UK needed “big changes” in the NHS, schooling and nature. It’s about gains, not sacrifices, he said.

Ending petrol and diesel cars

The Greens are pledging to end the use of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, external – how would they compensate for that? Ramsay talked of a scrappage scheme, but wouldn’t be drawn into specifics.

Trains and planes

He was pushed on plans to ban domestic flights for journeys that would take less than three hours by train. Trains should be cheaper than flights, Ramsay said, which would be achieved by “bringing the railways back into public ownership”.

China and India

Ramsay said the UK should produce more goods domestically, and has a global role to play, when pushed on China and India’s carbon footprint relative to the UK’s.

A ‘world without borders’

He defended the party manifesto’s reference to a “world without borders”, saying the UK benefits “economically and socially” from migration. But he said a world without borders was a “long-term vision”.

Candidates’ Israel-Gaza comments

Bruce pushed him on some of the Green Party candidates who have made comments about the Israel-Gaza conflict, including one who said the 7 October attack by Hamas was orchestrated by Israel. Ramsay said he didn’t support their views, and concerns were being investigated by the party.