Hugh Janes, Plymouth Lib Dems Honorary President, took part in the BBC Radio Devon political debate on 10 January 2023. In the studio were presenter David 'Fitz' Fitzgerald, and Councillors Tudor Evans (Leader of the Labour group), Rebecca Smith (Cons), Ian Poyser (Greens) and Nick Kelly (Ind).
Today, Lib-Dem run Sutton Council has continued its fight against Mayor Sadiq Khan’s unfair ULEZ expansion by refusing to give TfL access to roll out the scheme in our borough.
South Lakes MP Tim Farron and leaders from Cumbria's hospitality and tourism industry met with the Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick, in Parliament yesterday to discuss the staffing crisis in the sector.
Opposition Liberal Democrats on Wearside are celebrating victory in their campaign for replacement wheelie bins to remain free for local people when their bin has been stolen through no fault of their own.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has spoken yesterday in a parliamentary debate on the future of the postal service, calling for Ofcom to use its powers to protect and enhance the universal service. Speaking in the debate, Mr Carmichael highlighted the challenges faced by isles businesses due to “unreliable” delivery services by Royal Mail, exacerbated by the absence of alternative delivery companies in the Northern Isles. He noted that Ofcom has a central regulatory role in overseeing Royal Mail and must use its powers to protect the universal service obligation.
Finally, it is clear for all to see that there is something deeply unpleasant and wrong at the heart of the Conservative Party. The Tory MP Andrew Brigden has finally had the Tory Whip removed following unbelievably offensive remarks comparing the COVID vaccine programme to the Holocaust.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, called on the government to provide incentives for energy providers to develop solar power in the UK.
Mrs Hobhouse slammed the government for falling behind on meeting the UK’s renewable targets for solar energy capacity. The government plans to deploy 70 GW of solar power across the country by 2035. However, as of 2022, the UK had only installed 14.3 GW of solar pv.
Following a visit to a rooftop solar system installed by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) at Beechen Cliff School last year, Wera Hobhouse is keen to encourage the development of similar solar projects across Bath. The solar system is predicted to significantly cut the school’s fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 52 tonnes a year.
In the House of Commons on the 27th February, the Bath MP noted that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the world in renewable energy investment, she urged the government to offer incentives to energy providers to improve solar capacity.
However, Andrew Bowie, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, ignored Hobhouse’s proposals, failing to describe the ways in which the government could incentivise solar energy. Instead, Bowie said that the government’s Solar Taskforce would publish recommendations for solar power and reiterated the government’s target to deploy 70 GW by 2035.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, commented:
“The Conservatives are falling dangerously behind on meeting our targets for renewable energy production. It is no good the government setting an ambitious 70 GW solar target if they are nowhere near reaching it.
“It is clear that they have no plan to get us back on track to reach Net Zero. Evidently, they are more than happy to dismiss perfectly good proposals like incentivising solar power. That is why I am so proud that Bath is home to many community energy projects like the solar system at Beechen Cliff School, so that we can lead the way in renewables.”
“It is not just our climate targets harmed by the Conservatives’ delay. Families in Bath and across the country are struggling to pay soaring energy bills which investment in renewables could curb. That is why we Liberal Democrats would build significantly more renewable energy, aiming to generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030.”
Peter Capener, Managing Director of Bath & West Community Energy said:
“Our work with schools is really demonstrating the value of community energy in both addressing the climate crisis and reducing fuel bills. Rooftop solar installed last year has already saved local schools a combined total of £134,209 and has reduced carbon emissions by 224.3 tonnes, which is equivalent to 12,173 journeys from Bath to Edinburgh by train!”
