Yesterday I attended the RSPB Hustings in Tavistock. The more observent will spot that Tavistock is in Torridge and West Devon rather than South West Devon – the reason for me attending was to stand in for my Labour colleague Darren Jones who was unable to attend. He’s a superb PPC and it was a privilige to stand in for him and meet so many Labour supporters in the audience too.
The debate last night was centred on how to address climate change. Since 1997 Labour has invested significant resources in fighting climate change and reducing the UK’s carbon footprint. It is also an area where there is a very real imperative to ‘check against delivery’ in what each party is promising at this election.
The Conservatives’ green credentials is now largely recognised as only being spin-deep. We’ve seen this in SW Devon where in the same week as David Cameron praises wind turbines the local Tories attack a local school for wanting to put up a wind turbine.
In SW Devon my Tory opponent is very skeptical of whether climate change is man made or not but Darren’s Tory opponent doesn’t share Gary Streeter’s views – concurring with my view, he said climate change is real and is happening now. I agree – that is why we need more focus on addressing it – and more support from the Tories for Labour’s efforts to tackle climate change not simply green words and more of the same.
The truth is that tackling climate change is going to require a fundamental change in the way we live, travel, live and work. That means tackling these problems head on. Efforts to increase insulation, cut CO2 emissions and create green jobs here in the UK is a start but we also need to reconfigure the UK’s energy generating capacity, develop new technologies and support a greener and more sustainable form of development around the world. In short, soundbites and spin might win a view votes but it will require fundamental change if we are to tackle climate change properly.
My message to those concerned about climate change (and we all should be) is use your vote wisely at the election. Labour has a record of delivery on tackling climate change and international credibility and leadership to push for co-ordinated global action and the Tories can’t even decide whether they are in favour or against wind turbines. Climate change is serious and we need a government that takes it seriously in policy as well as image.
UPDATE: The Western Morning News covers my tweets about the RSPB Hustings here.
Share this page on social networks
Downloads
- No documents for download.
Track comments via RSS 2.0 feed. Feel free to post the comment, or trackback from your web site.
Currently there are no comments related to article "RSPB Hustings".