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| Lib Dem president backs decarbonisation target | Lib Dem president backs decarbonisation target |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrat president, Tim Farron, has raised the prospect that his party is privately negotiating to reopen the green energy deal signed by the coalition last autumn in an attempt to introduce carbon reduction targets for the energy sector. | The Liberal Democrat president, Tim Farron, has raised the prospect that his party is privately negotiating to reopen the green energy deal signed by the coalition last autumn in an attempt to introduce carbon reduction targets for the energy sector. |
| Lobbying has intensified over an amendment to the energy bill due to be tabled by Tim Yeo, the Conservative chairman of the energy select committee, calling for a decarbonisation target for the energy sector for 2030. | Lobbying has intensified over an amendment to the energy bill due to be tabled by Tim Yeo, the Conservative chairman of the energy select committee, calling for a decarbonisation target for the energy sector for 2030. |
| The energy secretary, Ed Davey had said he would shelve the idea of a decarbonisation target as part of a wider deal he reached with the Treasury over subsidies for renewable energy. The question of a target was not due to be reopened until after the general election in 2016. | The energy secretary, Ed Davey had said he would shelve the idea of a decarbonisation target as part of a wider deal he reached with the Treasury over subsidies for renewable energy. The question of a target was not due to be reopened until after the general election in 2016. |
| But Farron wrote in a letter to a constituent that he supported the Yeo amendment. "I have been contacted by a very large number of constituents about this amendment. The need to tackle climate change is urgent and this issue is too important to be used as some kind of political football. I am fully committed to this principle and I can assure you that rigorous efforts are being made to secure this amendment within the government," he wrote. | But Farron wrote in a letter to a constituent that he supported the Yeo amendment. "I have been contacted by a very large number of constituents about this amendment. The need to tackle climate change is urgent and this issue is too important to be used as some kind of political football. I am fully committed to this principle and I can assure you that rigorous efforts are being made to secure this amendment within the government," he wrote. |
| "I believe that a legally binding target will help to secure confidence and investment in low carbon projects, which will serve to strengthen our green economy. However I am advised that it may not be helpful to our bargaining position, if the president of the Liberal Democrats were to distract attention from the efforts of our ministers by signing the Greenpeace pledge." | "I believe that a legally binding target will help to secure confidence and investment in low carbon projects, which will serve to strengthen our green economy. However I am advised that it may not be helpful to our bargaining position, if the president of the Liberal Democrats were to distract attention from the efforts of our ministers by signing the Greenpeace pledge." |
| He continued: "I hope that you will understand that this is intended to enhance the chances of winning Treasury acceptance of the need for the amendment to be adopted. If the negotiations were to fail, I will certainly be voting for the Tim Yeo amendments when the energy bill comes before the House. I strongly believe that a decarbonisation target should be included in the bill because we need to make a firm commitment to tackling climate change." | He continued: "I hope that you will understand that this is intended to enhance the chances of winning Treasury acceptance of the need for the amendment to be adopted. If the negotiations were to fail, I will certainly be voting for the Tim Yeo amendments when the energy bill comes before the House. I strongly believe that a decarbonisation target should be included in the bill because we need to make a firm commitment to tackling climate change." |
| The Yeo amendment backed by Labour could be passed if enough Liberal Democrats defy their leadership. A growing number of Liberal Democrats have said they will support the amendment, including Tessa Munt, the parliamentary aide to the business secretary, Vince Cable, as well as Mark Williams, previously an opponent of wind power. | |
| The Friends of the Earth campaigner Oliver Hayes welcomed the Farron letter. "For months Ed Davey has been saying that the deal is done, but this reveals the government knows full well the energy bill doesn't work without a decarbonisation target," he said. | The Friends of the Earth campaigner Oliver Hayes welcomed the Farron letter. "For months Ed Davey has been saying that the deal is done, but this reveals the government knows full well the energy bill doesn't work without a decarbonisation target," he said. |
| "Liberal Democrats can't hope for a credible green legacy without putting their key green policy on the statute books. They must now win the negotiations or vote en masse for Tim Yeo's amendments" | "Liberal Democrats can't hope for a credible green legacy without putting their key green policy on the statute books. They must now win the negotiations or vote en masse for Tim Yeo's amendments" |