You are here: Home » Archives »

Co-sign my letter to David Cameron

October 21, 2009 3:48 pm

Author:

Share this Article

EdsPledgeBy Ed Miliband MP / @EdMilibandMP

UPDATE: In just a couple of hours, over 1,000 people have already co-signed my letter. You can join them here.

Dear David,

I am concerned that your business spokesman Ken Clarke has said that no wind farms should be built on dry land in Britain. This could have serious impacts on the country’s energy security, the UK’s early shift to a low carbon economy and the UK’s international standing on tackling climate change.

Such comments will be met with concern by the renewable energy industry which needs certainty in the market for investment decisions.

For your business spokesman to cast such doubt over the future of this industry raises urgent questions about whether your party is serious about supporting low carbon jobs and energy generation. The record of Tory Councils in turning down windfarm applications already suggests not.

Renewable energy is an important part of the shift to a low carbon economy and greater energy security. It has the potential for major green job creation. The UK cannot achieve that without onshore wind generation.

The energy industry, and the British public, therefore need to know whether or not the Conservative Party is committed to the UK’s target of 15% renewables by 2020, and that you accept the need for onshore wind to contribute significantly towards this.

If you do, particularly in the run up to the Copenhagen international climate change talks, I am sure that you will want to disown Ken Clarke’s comments. I would welcome you doing so on the record.

Without such a clarification the British public will have to question not only your party’s commitment to energy security and tackling climate change, but your economic competence.

Ed Miliband

You can co-sign my letter by clicking here and completing the form. By signing, your name and town/city will appear publicly alongside mine.

Related posts:

  1. Thank you for your letter: here’s what the Labour government is doing on Vestas and the wider renewable energy industry
  2. David Cameron and his Masters of Disaster
  3. 100 activists have signed my letter to help save Vestas in less than 24 – will you?
  4. Labour’s winds of change: it’s time to nationalise the Vestas Isle of Wight turbine factory
  5. David Cameron: not a fan of democracy?

Comments are closed

Latest

  • Comment The culture of high risk credit is being exploited by betting shops

    The culture of high risk credit is being exploited by betting shops

    By Matthew Zarb-Cousin

    Since the financial crisis, the perfect storm of recession and banks restricting access to credit has led to the rise of payday lenders. Our high streets are slowly deteriorating from the vibrant, diverse places they once were into an abyss of pawnbrokers, payday loan shops and bookies. The three feed off of each other, targeting some of our most deprived areas and perpetuating a cycle of despair driven by the need for extra income. Research carried out by Geofutures found [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment Should people be asked if they are party supporters when they register to vote?

    Should people be asked if they are party supporters when they register to vote?

    Chris Clark and Rav Seeruthun on a small change that if adopted, would free activists to spend more time on community work Every year at party conferences we hear professional politicians eulogise hard-working party volunteers. And there’s no activity more often evoked than that of ‘knocking on doors’. It’s a common delusion that the purpose of doorstep canvassing is to ‘persuade’ voters. Having taken part in our fair share of Labour canvassing sessions, we’ve both had the dispiriting experience of [...]

    Read more →
  • Europe Featured You can always rely on the Conservatives to ignore the public when it comes to Europe

    You can always rely on the Conservatives to ignore the public when it comes to Europe

    By Douglas Alexander

    Europe is not often the issue which comes top of people’s concerns on the doorstep. Nor do opinion polls suggest that Europe is a priority for voters when compared to issues like the economy or jobs. But you can always rely on the Conservatives to ignore the public when it comes to Europe. This week saw over a hundred Conservative MPs rebel and vote against their own Queens Speech. They were angry that it hadn’t included a bill which would [...]

    Read more →
  • News Seats and Selections Vicky Foxcroft selected as Labour’s PPC for Lewisham Deptford

    Vicky Foxcroft selected as Labour’s PPC for Lewisham Deptford

    Vicky Foxcroft has been selected by Lewisham Deptford CLP as the party’s candidate for 2015 at a selection meeting this afternoon. Here’s a brief biography: Vicky grew up in the North West in a single parent household, and was the first person in her family to go to university. She has held many positions in the party including Chair of Labour Students, has sat on the National Policy Forum and is currently a local councillor and is Chair of Lewisham [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment Labour’s future schools policy: why accountability matters

    Labour’s future schools policy: why accountability matters

    By Mike Ion

    Stephen Twigg, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary is one of the more thoughtful and pragmatic individuals to hold this vitally important brief for some time. To his credit Stephen has been out and about these past two years listening to pupils, teachers, parents and governors and finding out more about the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. In addition Stephen has been looking closely at some local, regional, national and international programmes that have had a demonstrable impact in raising [...]

    Read more →