Tory reaction to Climate Change Fund shows their true colours (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Tory reaction to Climate Change Fund shows their true colours

March 24, 2007 8:09 PM

Islington's Liberal Dem council has broken new ground by setting up a £3M climate change fund to take local action on climate change, through promoting renewable energy, energy conservation, walking and cycling.

At the same time the Liberal Democrats have delivered on their longstanding pledge to keep Islington's tax below the London average. Residents who pay by direct debit are offered a £20 discount, with an invitation to give the £20 to the climate change fund.

Nationally the Conservatives claim to support both low taxes and action on climate change. But the local Conservatives have shown their true colours - and that colour is not green.

Quoted in the 'Tribune', Islington Conservative Party chair Margaret Reese says "It is not for councils to tackle global warming by spending council tax. It's something governments do internationally."

Tim Newark, former Conservative council candidate, argued that the council is spending money on a "fashionable theory". He added: "We have no real scientific proof that links rising carbon emissions and pollution with climate change. Indeed, recently scientists have been arguing that the theory is a lot of hot air. In fact, from 1945 to the early 1970s, when carbon was actually rising because of the post-war boom, global temperatures went down." http://www.thecnj.co.uk/islington/031607/news031607_14.html

The Tory environment spokesman, Peter Ainsworth, recently said ":"The science is clear - mankind is responsible for climate change. Now we must be responsible for preventing it".

Liberal Democrat campaigner Bridget Fox says "It seems the Conservative party leadership does not have the backing of Islington Tories.

"Meanwhile the much-heralded 'green taxes' in Gordon Brown's forthcoming budget will not be matched by a cut in income tax - the Green Tax Switch backed by the Lib Dems. Gordon's taxes - like the ludicrous retrospective air tax which saw people having to hand over cash in checkin queues - are all about raising revenue, not about changing or rewarding behaviour. Labour's taxes are not green; they're mean.

"With Tories divided and Labour discredited, it's once again the Liberal Democrats who are putting fair green taxes into practice."