Cardigan launches ambitious environmental policy

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Alex Cardigan
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Cardigan launches ambitious environmental policy

Post by Alex Cardigan »

The Honourable Alexander Simon “Alex” Cardigan, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, today assembled regional press and local party members to his estate just outside Dobcross. Since taking over in 1991, he himself had made a name for himself locally by championing rewilding projects, and opening it up to the public for the first time in living memory.

Atop one of the higher points, overlooking Saddleworth moor, with a professionally arranged podium, Cardigan had briefed that he was going to speak on environmental policies that he wished to spend his time as a backbencher advocating, alongside Beveridge Group colleages.


“Friends, where we stand today is a mark of this country’s story. Behind me, and all around me, we look over Saddleworth moor. A land of mystery, of unique wildlife, of a rural tradition that has forged this area into the place it is today. More than anything, a place that people take real pride in. However, off in the distance, beyond those hills, we are marked with stark contrast - Manchester. A key city, of bright lights, of a different and distinct identity and political tradition. That we are in such a land of contrast is a mark of a modern and developed country, that those of different identity and ways of life can live side-by-side.

“However, not all issues divide us by identity, by heritage, or by way of life - some are more existential. The future of our planet and environmental sustainability is one of those issues, and one which affects us every bit as much across the country and world. The Liberal Democrats are a party which are only going to grow in influence in our national political scene - we must make a dynamic and innovative pitch on the planet, and I wish to make my case for what we must advocate.

“Behind me is a moor which looks quite different to how it used to. Human endeavours to build more, however noble, have meant our wildlife and area’s beauty has waned. Successive governments - whether they be blue or red - have not acted. Humanity is part of the same eco-system as the heather, crowberry, and featherbed bogs we see here. And the air we breath here, down the hill in Manchester, and across the country is much the same. That is why liberal proposals - which I was able to propose to Parliament just yesterday - to reforest Britain’s ancient woodlands at a £50 million budget, and to re-introduce lost species to our wildlands are so welcome. I will be pioneering this in Parliament as best I can, to ensure that Saddleworth Moor and beyond are stewarded forth to the next generation.

“The Liberal Democrats are also committing to a doubling of the environmental research budget. This is a much neglected area of public spending despite one that has an existential importance to the way that our country is run. I am, however, also calling for this to go further - we should not only double this at the next budget, but call for legislation requiring each budget to have a full and public environmental assessment presented before Parliament. Government should be transparent. It is vital we ensure that this transparency applies to the questions that matter, and this step would be a radical improvement in accountability.

“Change must have a local focus on our planet. That is why I am also here to announce ambitious targets for local authorities - with funding to match - on recycling. Such a shamefully vast proportion of household waste is disposed of in an environmentally damaging way. We have to change tack. I want to see the creation of at least £100 million worth of support to local Councils who wish to improve their recycling schemes. By 2010, we should be recycling two-thirds of household waste. That is ambitious - but it must be, if we wish to protect our planet for the next generation to inherit.

“Rural regeneration is a policy I wish to see at the heart of my work in Parliament this term. We are lucky to have a special area here. We must preserve it, not just for ourselves, but for those who will follow after us. And as a liberal, I will forever champion the need for that stewardship and to hold governments to account on how they treat our planet. We must do it positively - the tax and levies on ordinary people proposed by the Conservatives are unnecessary. The inactivity of Labour and lack of any interest in the countryside is inevitable. Only our party can champion the planet and the people - and we will work hard to make real policy change happen.

“On a final point, we must look at the economic damage not of policy costs, but of not acting. Tens of billions a year is the cost of environmental damage to our economy. More still is the cost to citizens up and down the country. Policy as mentioned above solves the former, but not the latter. That is why on the latter, I suggest two key changes could make a difference to ordinary people - both relate to microgeneration.

“Firstly, it should be a far more clearly defined part of modern planning legislation that the planet is taken into consideration. Better insulation and microgeneration projects would save your average household money every year, on heating and energy bills, all whilst ensuring we protect our planet.

“Secondly, as you can see by looking around here, not all of us have a taste for modern housing, and so we must provide for those in the traditional redbrick, timber beam, and thatch-roofed homes that define our country’s historic architecture. A microgeneration fund of £300 million to cover two-thirds of the market value of installing renewable energy projects in one’s own home should be created. We must take action now, but we must be innovative in finding ways that mean we are protecting the planet without having to adversely change our lifestyles or radically increase our bills. To that end, this policy is a real winner - protecting the planet and reinvigorating our economy.

I have always endeavoured, as someone lucky enough to have a very direct stake in our countryside, to protect it. But it will take the government’s support and action if we wish to not simply protect and conserve, but to innovate, improve, and renew. The heather and peat of Saddleworth has forged me into who I am today, as it has so many. We must protect not just it, but the fens of the Highlands, the hills of Shropshire, the valleys of Brecknockshire, the broads of Suffolk, and each and every part of the country which makes it more special. And we must do so with an eye to passing Britain on to the next generation with pride. Thank you all for being here - I cannot wait to get these policies moving in Parliament.”
The Rt Hon. Alexander Simon "Alex" Cardigan MP
Deputy Leader of the Opposition (2015 to present)
MP for Kensington (1974 to present)
Secretary of State for International Development (2010 to 2015) | Shadow Secretary of State for International Development (2005 to 2010) | Shadow Secretary of State for Trade (1997 to 1999) | Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1995 to 1997) | Secretary of State for National Heritage (1992 to 1995) | Minister for Schools (1990 to 1992) | Minister for Foreign Affairs (1979 to 1981)
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Barclay A.A. Stanley
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Re: Cardigan launches ambitious environmental policy

Post by Barclay A.A. Stanley »

An enjoyable speech, honestly, and one that is well-received by the invited guests and, overall, by the press. This being a pre-Inconvenient Truth world, the global warming question isn't really on anyone's mind, but Cardigan does a nice job of showing the importance of conservation efforts-- well, the importance of conservation efforts to well to-do country folk. His attempt at linking it to Manchester and the city are less strong and fall a little flat.

Nevertheless, the speech has what it needs: policy, a touch of spin (enough to work, but not enough to be detected by anyone but the most active listeners), and a strong overall message. Really, it is a speech that feels Lib Dem-y: it is fairly dense, fairly privileged-but-not-Tory-privileged, and fairly, err, boring to be honest. Not that that's a bad thing. Not when you're trying to introduce policy. But the Lib Dems will need to work on getting their messaging out to more than just the blue haired stuffies who care about thatched roofs and country lifestyle.

At the same time, the Tories must, once again, be watchful that the Lib Dems don't take their rural, moderate base away. A few more announcements like this and the leader's recent tax policy promise and people might just start to flip.

+2 XP to Cardigan, and +1 momentum to the Lib Dems for both this speech and Flair's speech which, combined, have generated some excitement.
Lt. Col. Sir Barclay A.A. Stanley, Rtd., KBE
Member of Parliament for Macclesfield

Armed with nothing but a pint of gin, Sir Barclay went to battle against the forces of Communism, Socialism, and Liberalism.
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