David Cameron’s environmental record (spoiler: it isn’t good)

The Daily Mirror has a good round-up of the reality behind Conservative Party leader David Cameron’s claims to be serious about the environment:

1 HIS CAR: David Cameron switched to a supposedly green Lexus GS, which is more polluting than the 10 best selling models in the UK.

2 GREEN TAXES: The Conservatives were silent during the debate on the recent Finance Bill on fuel duty, vehicle excise duty, climate change levy, landfill tax and aggregates levy.

3 NUCLEAR POWER: Cameron avoided the tricky issue by shunting the decision off to his policy commissions, which is not due to report until 2007. And Scottish Tories voted in May for the building of new nuclear power stations north of the border.

4 COMPANY LAW REFORM BILL: Shadow ministers in the Lords voted against measures in the Company Law Reform Bill requiring companies to give greater regard to the environment.

5 CLIMATE CHANGE: In March, Tory backbenchers attempted to kill off the Climate Change and’ Sustainable Energy Bill by filibustering – talking it out of time.

6 ROAD BUILDING: In his first speech as party leader, David Cameron said: “I want to build more roads, we need a concerted programme of road building.”

7 EARLY DAY MOTIONS: Half the Tory party, including David Cameron, have snubbed environmental motions calling on the Government to tackle climate change.

8 EUROPE: Tory Euro MP Caroline Jackson admitted: “I think from the point of view of the Conservative party pursuing the green line it is all talk and no action at the moment.”

9 PARKING CHARGES: Tories on the London Assembly attacked plans to impose higher parking fees on gas-guzzling cars.

10 DEFECTOR: Penny Hedge-land, a councillor in Mole Valley, Surrey, quit the Tory party last month, saying: “Mr Cameron does not seem to be following up his rather vague aspirations with any solid policies.”