Climate March and Political Disconnect

I was at the rally on Saturday in London organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change where Caroline Lucas MEP gave a stomping speech about the need for "more militancy" and for an end to half measures. Caroline also called for people to think about electing different politicians as well. Caroline's last point was well made and timely with the announcement this morning, along with an editorial in 56 global newspapers calling for active decisions at the Copenhagen Climate Summit, that the House of Commons Transport Committee has backed an extra runway at Heathrow http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/07/mps-third-runway-heathrow-report

Are these MPs living in the same world as everyone else? Is there a total political and logical disconnect here? It seems that on Saturday we have huge global protests and one of the largest ever in the UK about climate change and on Monday morning it is back to business as usual! On Saturday we were treated on television to a scene of Ed Milliband, the Secretary of State with responsibility for climate change, out on the streets with the demonstrators, assuring reporterst that this government would be battling hard at Copenhagen for decisive measures against climate change and on Saturday night, there were scenes all over the media of Gordon Brown sitting down with some of the demonstrators to assure them that Uncle Gordo shared their concerns and would be fighting all the way at Copenhagen to get a deal. And what does the Labour dominated Transport Committee do on Monday - decide that more flights and more noise and more carbon emissions over London are good for business.

So now we see another reason why so much of politics in this country has fallen into disrepute. Lack of joined up thinking and basic honesty! For a start, a suggestion to groups such as Plane Stupid and others - the constituencies of the MPs who backed this report should be targeted - that is if they are not retiring already. Hopefully good Green Party candidates are standing for election in all of them.