Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP has described Chris Huhne's speech to the Lib Dem conference in Liverpool as “a combination of half-hearted measures and bad policy.”
“Wrong about nuclear” – and “so-called ‘green deal’ is a pale shadow”
Caroline Lucas said of the secretary of state for energy and climate change:
“He’s wrong about nuclear. It won’t deliver emissions cuts fast enough or big enough.
"And he is being completely disingenuous about no public subsidies. The fact that nuclear doesn't pay its full liability costs is a subsidy, the fact that it doesn't pay its full waste and decommissioning costs is a subsidy.
"Instead of weasel words, the Lib Dems should be offering robust and ambitious policy change – yet this was clearly lacking."
The Brighton Pavilion MP added:
“His so-called ‘green deal’ is a pale shadow of the Green New Deal that green organisations are demanding. Huhne’s opt-in plan won’t achieve the emissions cuts we need, and it won’t create anywhere near enough jobs.”
“More urgency needed on climate change”
“Chris Huhne is right that time is running out on climate change, so he ought to be showing greater urgency.
“We need science-based targets taking us to 90% cuts by 2030. We need commitment to serious year-on-year reductions immediately towards that. And we need a radical action plan to transform Britain’s economy. But how can the government deliver if it steadfastly refuses to make the necessary investments?"
Mr Huhne said in his speech that the coalition's spending cuts were a drag-anchor on the economy. Caroline Lucas commented:
“In fact the coalition’s policies are a drag anchor on what Britain could do to tackle climate change and build a more stable, sustainable economy.”