The Green Party has launched its manifesto for Greater Manchester, setting out plans including 20,000 genuinely affordable homes, free bus travel for under 22 year olds and investment in town centres if its mayoral candidate Geraldine Coggins is elected.
Party leader Zack Polanski joined Geraldine Coggins and Gorton and Denton MP Hannah Spencer at the launch in Hulme on Thursday.
The Green Party says its plans would focus on affordable housing, high streets and public transport across Greater Manchester.
Under the proposals, the party says 20,000 genuinely affordable and publicly owned homes would be delivered over the next decade. It says this would include buying and refurbishing 10,000 existing homes alongside building 10,000 new publicly owned properties.
The party also says it would campaign for rent controls from the Government and establish a £10 million fund to help councils and community groups bring empty shops on local high streets back into use.
On transport, the Greens say they would introduce free bus travel for everyone under the age of 22 to help young people with the cost of living.
Launching the manifesto, Geraldine Coggins said the plans would put "people over profit".
She said "I am proud to launch my plan today. If I am elected, I will take Greater Manchester back from big money.
"People over profit, I pledge 20,000 genuinely affordable homes, free bus travel for our young people and will breathe new life into our struggling high streets.
"We need real change, not more Labour tinkering around at the edges and putting up dodgy skyscrapers to enrich developers not the ordinary people of Greater Manchester.
"Greater Manchester deserves better than Labour's failed model and we must stop Reform at all costs. Our vision of hope contrasts with Reform's division and scapegoating of vulnerable people. In Greater Manchester, we are good neighbours not strangers."
Party leader Zack Polanski said "Geraldine has a vision for a Greater Manchester that works for everyone. Genuinely affordable housing. Tackling the rampant inequality that blights this city. Giving everyone who lives here a say in how things are run."
He added that she would use the mayoral role to press the Government for further change and said she had a long term plan for Greater Manchester.
Responding to the manifesto, a Labour spokesperson said "Greater Manchester deserves a Mayor who will deliver, not a manifesto built on fantasy policy pledges and undeliverable promises.
"The Greens have produced a wish list full of expensive commitments but they've failed to explain how any of it adds up or fits within the powers and budget of the Greater Manchester Mayor.
"People are tired of empty headline pledges with no credible plan to pay for them, and no route to actually making them happen.
"Labour's candidate Bev Craig is the only candidate with a proven track record of delivering for Greater Manchester including working closely with Andy Burnham to deliver and expand the Bee Network, building more genuinely affordable homes in the last 25 years in Manchester and building on the strongest devolution settlement anywhere in the country.
"Bev Craig knows the difference between making promises and making progress.
"This election is about who can actually get things done for Greater Manchester, not who can write the longest wish list."
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