Parliament was recalled today to allow MPs to debate the violent rioting and looting which has taken place across England in the past week.

Commenting ahead of the debate, Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said: "The Green party rejects and condemns the horrendous violence, arson and looting that we have seen on our streets in recent days.

"But we must also seek to understand why this happened to prevent these events being repeated.

"If we stop at denunciations and crackdowns, nothing will be learned about why sections of our own population feel they can riot, loot and treat their neighbours and communities so appallingly.

"The bigger picture has to be considered. It's a fact that Britain is deeply unequal. Last year, London's richest people were worth 273 times more than its poorest.

"Given the growing evidence, from the Scarman report onwards, that increasing inequality had a role to play in at least some of the rioting, the Government must commit to an impact assessment of further policies to establish if they are likely to exacerbate inequality."

Caroline continued:

"Furthermore, if individuals are defined as consumers rather than citizens, there is danger that those who cannot afford to consume feel they have no stake in their community and become more likely to turn against it.

"The Prime Minister has said this is 'not about poverty but about culture.' But it is about both.

"It is about inequality and culture, and how dangerous it is when you combine growing inequality with a culture which puts consumerism above citizenship."

ENDS