Lib Dem controlled cities sign up to 10:10 energy saving programme, but Oxfordshire's Conservatives refuse to

11.31.32am GMT Wed 4th Nov 2009

Logo of the 10:10 initiative

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP yesterday announced at the Core Cities conference in Liverpool that every city in the group under Liberal Democrat control has signed up to the 10:10 campaign. Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield make up half the Core Cities group of England's major regional cities. But on the same day, the Conservative group on Oxfordshire County Council voted out a Lib Dem motion which would have committed the council to achieve the same 10% reduction in carbon emissions during 2010.

The city regions represented by the Lib Dem run city councils together have a population of over five million people, contain over 50,000 businesses and emit 40,406kt of carbon (or 7.8% of the UK total). The Liberal Democrat councils' commitment therefore shows real leadership in these major cities. Oxford City Council has also signed up to the 10:10 campaign, with cross-party support. (There are no Conservatives on Oxford City Council.)

Mr Clegg said: "The message is clear: Liberal Democrat run cities are green cities. I am proud that every Core City controlled by the Liberal Democrats has signed up to the 10:10 campaign. Liberal Democrats run vast swathes of urban Britain and are taking the lead in combating climate change in Bristol, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle. The Government shamefully ducked the opportunity to demonstrate leadership on this issue, so it has been left to Liberal Democrat councils to show the way."

Oxfordshire County Council committed during 2006 to reduce carbon emissions in its own buildings (including the county's schools) by 18% by 2012. In a media event at Oxford Castle with Conservative Party Leader David Cameron in attendance, the county administration invited people to judge their commitment to the environment by their achievements in energy reduction. Recent reports indicate that despite a 4% reduction in carbon use in the first year, current levels are falling well short of target. There is now no clear programme for achieving the 18% target by 2012.

Oxford East's Labour MP Andrew Smith recently voted against the Lib Dem parliamentary motion calling for the Government to sign up to the 10:10 campaign, though he turning up to climate change demos lobbying on the campaign! Lib Dem spokesman in Oxford East Dr Steve Goddard said: "It is a shame that our MP's principles have deserted him at the crucial moment. Sadly this is not the first time - he also voted to close several post offices in Oxford despite posing with campaigners trying to save them. It's clear that if you want real action on climate change the only party to support is the Liberal Democrats."

The motion and voting record can be seen here, on publicwhip.org.UK

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2009-10-21&number=229&mpn=Andrew_Smith&mpc=Oxford_East&house=commons