The failure of the Liberal Democrats in Parliament this week to support a decarbonisation target for the UK electricity industry leaves their green credentials in tatters, says Cambridge Labour Parliamentary candidate Daniel Zeichner.
A cross-party amendment to the Energy Bill, proposed by Conservative Tim Yeo and backed by Labour’s Barry Gardiner would have committed the UK to decarbonise the power sector by 2030 – giving industry the certainty they need to make the investment needed. Mr Zeichner says that the blame rests squarely with the Liberal Democrats:
“The Government’s failure to back a decarbonisation target will leave households vulnerable to completely unnecessary increases to their energy bills and cause Britain to miss out on vital new clean energy jobs. The transition to a low-carbon economy has the potential to be a major source of growth and prosperity, but the Government’s failure to back a decarbonisation target means businesses will choose to invest and create jobs elsewhere. It didn’t have to be this way – this is a major betrayal by the Liberal Democrats of many voters in Cambridge who have supported them on green issues.”
The decarbonisation target has been backed by a range of key business leaders as well as key green groups. Their view was summed up by Donna Hume, Spokesperson for Friends of the Earth:
“What’s my biggest disappointment? It has to be the Lib Dem leadership’s complete failure to stand by their climate change commitments – and their decision to side with George Osborne’s polluting dash for gas.”