Westminster MP's record on climate change under fire (Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats)

Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats <info@westminsterlibdems.org.uk>

Westminster MP's record on climate change under fire

November 24, 2006 11:18 PM

Victoria Tower Houses of Parliament, House of Lords, Westminster

Mark Field's environmental track record leaves a lot to be desired

Local MP Mark Field's record on climate change is under fire from local Liberal Democrats after he failed to sign a House of Commons motion calling for big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

The motion, which was open for MPs to sign for over 17 months during the last parliamentary session, was signed by a total of 412 MPs and was the most popular of 2,924 such motions in Parliament during that time.

Commenting, local Liberal Democrat Stuart Bonar said:

"Over the past year, Mr Field found time to support House of Commons motions congratulating Reading FC on their promotion to the Premiership and another protesting against a rail depot in Romford, but not this very popular one on cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

"Given the recent official figures demonstrating that Westminster is producing 50% more carbon dioxide emissions than the national average, Mr Field's lack of support for this motion suggests a strange set of priorities on his part. This is an urgent issue - globally, nationally and locally.

"I am pleased to say that all 63 Liberal Democrat MPs did what Mr Field failed to do and backed this important motion."

The Conservative MP, who represents the Cities of London and Westminster in the Commons, also failed to take part in a survey about what steps MPs were taking personally in their own lives to make a difference to global warming. The survey was conducted by Rough Guides to mark the publication of a book on climate change.

Stuart continued, "Nearly half of all MPs took part in this survey, so again it's sad that Mr Field did not. His record on the environment seems somewhat of a letdown."

The Liberal Democrats had the highest level of participation in the Rough Guides survey of any of the three main parties, with 56 out of 63 MPs taking part.