Got Vision, Gordon?

Ben West — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:45:35 +0000

In June, our government will announce whether or not it has decided to allow the construction of a new coal power plant at Kingsnorth, In Kent- the first in Britain for 20 years. For a Labour government, it should be a no-brainer. If allowed to go ahead, Kingsnorth will make it impossible for Britain to meet its CO2 emissions targets, and send out the message to the World that Britain is content to rest on its laurels, to rely on Victorian technologies and is not serious about being at the forefront of the next industrial revolution.
It will also send out the message that a Labour government does not care about those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The summer heat wave of 2005 caused the death of hundreds of the most elderly and vulnerable citizens of Paris, whilst flood damage in the UK has left the homes of many of Britain’s worst-off uninsurable.
A three degree rise in the global temperatures (which the UK government has expressed its willingness to accept), will create tens of thousands of refugees, many from the poorest countries on Earth who are least responsible for this mess. Will we accept them? The scientific consensus on this is overwhelming. James Hansen, head of NASA and the US’ leading climatologist has described coal power plants as ‘death factories’.
But fear is not what should provoke us to action. Fear of Climate change and its consequences cannot be allowed to drive us towards cynical despondency and selfish despair. In the face of global threat, we will not succumb to the temptation for Britain to withdraw, to blame our neighbours, to grow organic food in middle class isolation, or to deny the aspirations of the poorest.
We can, and will do better than to compete with the nations of the world on such grim terms. Responding to the climate crisis is not a lifestyle choice nor a middle-class whimsy nor a passing fad. It’s an issue of justice, equity and an indication of how serious we are about a modern, globally competitive Britain.
The climate challenge calls upon us to pursue energy freedom- freedom from the extortion of oil companies and cartels of governments who share none of our values. It means the freedom for little old ladies and single mums on benefits from winter fuel bills and yo-yoing fuel prices. It means freedom from air pollution for kids in the school playground and the freedom for European states to produce and export energy to one another. It means reclaiming the billions of pounds that have been lost on the roulette wheels and betting parlours of the Square mile by placing Britain, with its abundant resources of wind and waves, as the powerhouse of Europe.

The climate challenge also demands that this Labour government works towards building an infrastructure capable of fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of ordinary people across the country. A Labour government fit for the challenges of 21st century works for lower rail fares to allow those trapped in rural poverty and on isolated estates the mobility to seek out new opportunities.

It believes in healing the geographic scars of the 20th century with rail links that place the most depressed areas of the North East within just a few hours commute of our nation’s economic hub, and in free bus travel to allow our young people to explore this country rather than trapping them on street corners and outside convenience stores. It is a transport network that allows our industries to grow and trade and compete seamlessly across the largest free trade area in the World without jams or delays.
In this time when the fundamentals of our economies will be changed forever, the climate agenda cannot be conceded. It is central to what we, as a continent stand for- central to the continuing evolution of a Britain which is fair, economically strong, internally secure and, just as we have been in the past, amongst the most innovative and forward looking nations in the World.

Oxford University Labour Club » Ben West

Got Vision, Gordon?