The Yorkshire Party is a political party in the United Kingdom that emphasizes social democratic values including subsidiarity, dignity, community, and cooperation. The party focuses on moving power closer to people to empower communities and promote individual creativity and enterprise, asserting that governance should be rooted in service to humanity and collaborative societal participation.

Addressing the Cost of Living Crisis:

The Yorkshire Party proposes a six-point plan aimed at protecting households and businesses from rising energy costs. Implement a windfall tax on oil and gas companies profiting from the crisis to fund the following measures.

Eliminate standing charges on energy bills and remove the 5% VAT currently applied to these bills. Initiate a free insulation campaign to improve home energy efficiency, conducted with the support of local councils.

Provide one-off grants to businesses and public institutions like schools and hospitals for the installation of solar panels and other green energy technologies. Develop training courses to reskill and upskill engineers in the manufacturing and installation of solar panels, addressing the current skill shortage.

Future Energy Strategy:

The party advocates for supporting the next generation of clean energy through Sponsoring domestic energy production to reduce reliance on foreign energy sources. Investing in larger offshore wind farms and promoting micro and community generation schemes.

Establishing green technology colleges to train the next generation in sustainable energy technologies.

Regional Governance:

The Yorkshire Party supports the creation of a standalone Regional Parliament for Yorkshire similar to those in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, arguing that Yorkshire has a distinct identity and economic profile that is currently underserved by centralized UK governance.A local parliament would better address local issues and unlock Yorkshire's potential by fostering more tailored and effective governance.

Education:

The party views education as a fundamental tool for social mobility, proposing reforms to empower and engage citizens. Advocate for reducing the reliance on unqualified teachers and depoliticizing education policy to focus on actual educational outcomes.

Support the development and retention of highly qualified teachers through better support mechanisms and professional development opportunities.

Environmental Policy:

Commitments in environmental policy include Increasing investment in renewable energy and improving energy efficiency across Yorkshire. Protecting Yorkshire’s natural environments and promoting sustainable practices in agriculture, industry, and urban planning.

Social Equity:

Key proposals aimed at promoting social equity involve Implementing comprehensive strategies to prevent homelessness by supporting at-risk groups and integrating public services. Advocating for substantial investments in affordable housing to reduce disparities in housing availability and improve living conditions across the region.

Infrastructure Development:

The Yorkshire Party calls for significant investments in the region's transport infrastructure to Reduce regional disparities in transport funding and service quality compared to other parts of the UK, particularly London. Improve connectivity and support economic growth in rural and previously economically vibrant tourist areas.

The Yorkshire Party's platform is built on principles of fairness, community engagement, and sustainable development. By advocating for devolved powers and focusing on local resources and needs, the party aims to make Yorkshire a more equitable and thriving region within the United Kingdom.