Labour has failed yet again to match words with action on climate change

The Liberal Democrat Opposition Day motion calling for Government, Parliament and all public sector bodies to cut their carbon pollution by 10% by the end of 2010, was defeated in the vote yesterday.

Britain needs a Government which sets an example and delivers immediate and ambitious carbon reduction in the UK.  Today the Government has stopped a clear message from going to the rest of the world that Britain will take action on climate change now.

Thousands of individuals and organisations, including many Councils, have signed up to the 10:10 campaign.   It is a pity that this Government could not get behind this initiative.

Last year, Liberal Democrats successfully added an 80% emission reduction target to the Climate Change Act.  The Liberal Democrats will continue to show leadership in dealing with the climate crisis and will continue to give the strongest backing to the 10:10 campaign.

More people in fuel poverty is a disgrace

Today the Government announced that the number of people in fuel poverty rose to 4 million in 2007.   This  means that millions of vulnerable people are being let down by a Labour Government whose attempts to tackle fuel poverty have failed.    Much of the explanation lies in the fact that ministers have shied away from tough action to make sure energy companies pass on lower wholesale prices in the form of reduced bills.   Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy & Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes, today said that the energy market should be investigated by the Competition Commission.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a change to the way units of energy are charged.  I want to see the unfair system that makes the first units of energy used the most expensive, reversed.  Those who use less should pay lower prices.

Also, with millions more people set to experience fuel poverty in the coming year, it is high time the Government accelerated efforts to get homes insulated so that every home is energy efficient by 2020. 

I am very concerned for families in our area who may be cold in their homes because they are frightened what the bill will be – and for those who may be keeping the heating on by cutting back on other essentials.

Tories walk out of 10:10 vote

Last week, the Tories on the London Assembly walked out of the Mayor’s Question Time.  Their action made the meeting inquorate – just as the Assembly was to debate a Liberal Democrat motion calling on Boris Johnson to get the Greater London Authority to sign up to the 10:10 campaign.   Did they leave because they did not want to support the 10:10 vote or had they some more pressing things to do?

Liberal Democrats secure debate on climate change

This Wednesday, the Liberal Democrats have secured a debate in the House of Commons on climate change.  The Lib Dems will call for Parliament and Government to sign up to the 10:10 Campaign and commit to achieving a 10% reduction in emissions by the end of 2010.

I signed up to the 10:10 campaign in September and would encourage everyone to join the campaign.  It is free to sign up and you will be part of a movement which is trying to make a positive impact on our environment.  Use the following link to go directly to the site http://www.1010uk.org .

Once I’ve posted this message, I will be contacting Micham and Morden’s Labour MP to ask her to vote in favour of the Lib Dem motion on Wednesday.  Sadly under this government there has been a lack of action on climate change – green taxes have gone down and the government are still pushing for environmentally disastrous policies like Heathrow airport expansion, new nuclear and dirty coal power stations.

Liberal Democrats are beating the Conservatives

Yesterday the people of Bedford voted on who they wanted as Mayor.  They chose Liberal Democrat Dave Hodgson.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:  ”This is a sensational victory for Dave Hodgson … By electing Dave Hodgson as Mayor the people of Bedford have put their trust in the Liberal Democrats to work hard on their behalf.  The fact that the Tories are losing in their South of England heartland is proof the General Election is not the foregone conclusion they think it is.  People told me and Vince Cable at our visits to Bedford that they are enthusiastic about our message for real change.   This result shows how misplaced the Conservatives’ complacency about the next election really is.  The Liberal Democrats have never taken a single vote for granted.  With Labour lagging behind at a disastrous fifth this is yet more evidence that the real choice is now between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

After second preferences, Lib Dem 13352, Conservative 11543, Turnout: 30%

First preferences, Lib Dem 9428, Con 9105, Ind 7631, Ind 4316, Lab 3482, Green 1183

 

A video clip of Nick Clegg congratulating Dave Hodgson can be found on www.youtube.com/libdem