LibDem sees red on Labour's green U-turn

Natalie Younes, North Northumberland's LibDem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, has accused Labour of "red-faced shame" after it ditched its pledge on climate crisis cash.

On the same day that climatologists confirmed global temperatures had exceeded internationally agreed targets and ocean temperatures were now the hottest on record, Labour announced that it was slashing its green investment plans from £28bn to £15bn per year.  

Natalie commented: "By cutting their commitment in half, Labour has shown, just like the Tories, that they lack the courage and leadership to take the action on climate change we need to build a prosperous green economy.”

She went on to say: “The Conservatives have already shown they don’t take the climate seriously by approving a new coal mine in Cumbria and more fossil fuel fields in the North Sea. They’ve also failed to push tidal energy, or effective schemes to retrofit and insulate our homes. And their 2023 auction for offshore wind projects was so unattractive it received not one bid!

“The Tory charge sheet is a long one: delaying the new petrol and diesel vehicle ban by 5 years, slashing flood defence funds and axing cash for solar panel installations in homes. I could go on – but Labour now appears to have trumped them, losing all the eco-credibility they once claimed.”

The Lib Dem also stated: “Building a robust, thriving green economy is a real win/win situation – confronting the climate crisis and generating growth by sustained public and private investment. Our whole economy needs change: creating tens of thousands of green jobs, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and to net zero by 2045 and ending fuel poverty through renewables and retrofits.

“Labour seems blind to the costs of inaction, which are even higher. Cutting their home insulation plans from £6bn to just £1.3bn per year means it will take 14 years to reach their 19 million home target, leaving low-income families in poorly insulated homes facing fuel poverty for far longer.”

Natalie concluded: "This latest Labour announcement is further evidence of why strong Lib Dem representation in the next Parliament is so vital – holding the next Government to account, with the courage to make the right decisions on green investment to deal with the climate emergency.”