This will be my last weekly update of 2015. It’s been another packed year and I’m deeply proud to continue to serve the people of Brighton Pavilion. Here’s an update from 7th December until today.
Paris climate Talks
For the first two weeks of December leaders and diplomats from across the world came together to try and hammer out a climate change deal. It’s fair to say, I think, that the deal struck has been met with celebration and condemnation in equal measure.
On the one hand almost 200 countries have agreed that we must seek to limit global warming to 1.5C. Yet the devil is in the detail and, unfortunately, what was signed in Paris doesn’t provide anything approaching a clear enough roadmap for how we’ll keep warming to well below 2 degrees.
I put my post-Paris thoughts together in this blog on my website: http://www.
I’d also really recommended reading this excellent piece by George Monbiot. He put it perfectly when he said: “By comparison to what it could have been, it’s a miracle. By comparison to what it should have been, it’s a disaster.”
Fracking vote and Solar cuts
In the context on the Paris Summit the Government’s performance on climate last week was stunningly appalling. First we saw them force through a chance in the rules on fracking which means that places like National Parks lose their protection for shale gas extraction. Shockingly the fracking vote took place without ministers even allowing a debate in the House of Commons: http://www.
And then Ministers revealed their deep and damaging cuts to support for the solar industry. It’s astonishing that just days after the world came together to sign a crucial climate deal our own Government is acting in such a short-sighted way. The renewables industries is facing cutbacks and thousands of job losses at a time when the Government should be providing long-term support. http://www.
Putting the Railways back in public hands
After another dreadful week for commuters last week, and with further problems on the trains expected around the Christmas period, I spoke to The Argus about my campaign to bring the railways back into public ownership. My Public Railways Bill has just been published and i've also called for an urgent rail summit to address the terrible problems on the lines that serve Brighton & Hove. You can read more in The Argus: http://www.theargus.co.
Stop the War
In November I stepped down from my position as a patron of the Stop the War coalition. Despites lots being written on the subject the simple truth is that I stepped down because I disagreed with a few things put out by them and, at the moment, don’t have time to commit properly to the role of Patron. I continue to support the movement against bombing in Syria and will speak be speaking at a Stop the War event in January.
A summary of my thoughts on the issue is here: http://www.independent.
EAC Green Investment Bank
As part of my work for the Environmental Audit Committee in Parliament I’ve been keeping a close eye on the proposed sale of the Green Investment Bank. On Saturday our committee released a report which said the GIB must not be sold off unless the Government can absolutely legally guaranteed its environmental objectives will be upheld, and its role in seeking out complex, novel investments continued.
I oppose the sale of the GIB but, if it is sold, its identity and purpose absolutely must not be undermined.
You can hear me talk about the report on Saturday’s Today Programme (21 minutes in): http://www.bbc.co.uk/
NUS cut the costs Lobby
In Parliament recently I joined a number of MPs at the NUS’s ‘Cut the costs’ lobby. The Government is planning to make university even more expensive for students from the poorest background. But what they have failed to recognise is that money from maintenance grants and student support, isn’t just ‘free money’. It’s a lifeline and a sense of security which make being a student possible.
Food bank surgery
On Friday I held a special surgery at one of the city's Food Banks, the City Mission, to mark their 15th anniversary and to hear from some of my constituents about the pervasive problem of food poverty direct
The City Mission’s 3 members of staff and 16 volunteers do incredible work to support individuals and families in the city, at a time of crisis. Fareshare have declared them ‘one of the UK’s best run food banks’ and praised the care and compassion with which they support and empower clients. They are the city’s busiest food bank, with over 200 visits every month.
The irony is, all of the fantastic people doing this kind of work, also sincerely wish that they didn’t have to. We all agree that the continued, growing need for their service is an indictment of a Government which is continuing to make some of the poorest people pay the highest price for a banking crisis that was none of their making.
A new Air pollution monitoring site
Last Friday I unveiled a new high-tech air quality monitoring site at the University of Brighton. Air pollution kills many thousands of people each year in the UK and it’s exciting to see groundbreaking new technology which can assess the situation even more accurately. Now the UK Government really needs to clean up its act and follow the EU rules which set strict limits on pollution.
That’s all for this year. Thanks for reading these updates and have a very happy Christmas.
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