Lib Dems urge local MPs to oppose cut to Winter Fuel Payment which could impact 46,264 local pensioners
46,264 pensioners in the New Forest at risk of losing the £300 fuel payment this winter.
46,264 pensioners in the New Forest at risk of losing the £300 fuel payment this winter.
On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, South Lakes MP Tim Farron secured a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to discuss plans to build a memorial for the Windermere Children
Speaking ahead of the Finance Secretary's statement on the Scottish Government budget, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:
Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, has backed a motion in Parliament to block government plans to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for most pensioners.
Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife, has secured a debate highlighting the importance of working cross-governmentally to improve unpaid carer’s rights.
Dundee Liberal Democrats have today announced their by-election candidates for Strathmartine and Lochee Wards where there are by-elections on 3rd October due to the resignation of Cllr John Alexander and the sad passing of Cllr Charlie Malone.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, called on the government to provide incentives for energy providers to develop solar power in the UK.
Mrs Hobhouse slammed the government for falling behind on meeting the UK’s renewable targets for solar energy capacity. The government plans to deploy 70 GW of solar power across the country by 2035. However, as of 2022, the UK had only installed 14.3 GW of solar pv.
Following a visit to a rooftop solar system installed by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) at Beechen Cliff School last year, Wera Hobhouse is keen to encourage the development of similar solar projects across Bath. The solar system is predicted to significantly cut the school’s fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 52 tonnes a year.
In the House of Commons on the 27th February, the Bath MP noted that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the world in renewable energy investment, she urged the government to offer incentives to energy providers to improve solar capacity.
However, Andrew Bowie, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, ignored Hobhouse’s proposals, failing to describe the ways in which the government could incentivise solar energy. Instead, Bowie said that the government’s Solar Taskforce would publish recommendations for solar power and reiterated the government’s target to deploy 70 GW by 2035.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, commented:
“The Conservatives are falling dangerously behind on meeting our targets for renewable energy production. It is no good the government setting an ambitious 70 GW solar target if they are nowhere near reaching it.
“It is clear that they have no plan to get us back on track to reach Net Zero. Evidently, they are more than happy to dismiss perfectly good proposals like incentivising solar power. That is why I am so proud that Bath is home to many community energy projects like the solar system at Beechen Cliff School, so that we can lead the way in renewables.”
“It is not just our climate targets harmed by the Conservatives’ delay. Families in Bath and across the country are struggling to pay soaring energy bills which investment in renewables could curb. That is why we Liberal Democrats would build significantly more renewable energy, aiming to generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030.”
Peter Capener, Managing Director of Bath & West Community Energy said:
“Our work with schools is really demonstrating the value of community energy in both addressing the climate crisis and reducing fuel bills. Rooftop solar installed last year has already saved local schools a combined total of £134,209 and has reduced carbon emissions by 224.3 tonnes, which is equivalent to 12,173 journeys from Bath to Edinburgh by train!”