Conservatives abandon environment as a priority

10.53.00pm GMT Mon 15th Feb 2010

Stephen Robinson with Simon Hughes MP on a visit to Chelmsford

The Conservatives today published a list of 'Ten reasons to vote Conservative' but none of the ten included any reference to the environment or climate change. This is despite David Cameron's claim that he has 'sought to push the environment up to the top of the political agenda'. Commented Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson, "Local council decisions on housing allocations have already shown that the Conservatives are not really concerned about the environment. This is just further proof."

Shadow Climate Change Secretary Greg Clark MP previously asserted that Cameron 'wanted the environment to be a very important part of the proposition we put to the public at the General Election.' However, reducing Britain's carbon footprint was recently found to be at the bottom of a list of priorities for Conservative candidates.

Simon Hughes MP (Lib Dem Shadow Climate Change Secretary) commented: "For those of us who really care about the environment and the future of our planet, the Tories have demonstrated once again that there is no reason to vote for them.

"Cameron the PR man likes having his picture taken with huskies, but when it comes to governing this country the Tories have never made the climate one of their priorities."