Wednesday 10 November 2004 3:31 am
Today I slammed our Labour MP Chris Smith for failing to support vital legislation to increase energy efficiency in homes which would have made a major impact on reducing CO2 emissions and on relieving fuel poverty.Islington's Labour MP said all the right things and supported energy efficient homes
right up until he had to vote on it. He has
failed to put his money where his mouth is when it counted.
This legislation could have saved many lives.As I wrote to you last week, fuel poverty - which energy efficient homes can help combat - contributed to there being 2,800 excess winter deaths in London in 2002/03. Previously Chris Smith had signed Early Day Motions supporting this aim, but yesterday he voted against the amendments in the Housing Bill, contributing to their defeat by the Labour Government.
And don't just take my word for it; Charles Secrett, Co-Director of ACT (Active Citizens Transform) and former executive director of Friends of the Earth, has said "Is it any wonder that people don't trust politicians when on the most important issues facing the world they promise one thing and do another. When the Housing Bill returns to the Commons next week Chris Smith must decide: what is more important - promises to constituents and the future of the planet or obedience to Tony Blair£"
Decent homes should mean warm homes. By not supporting these amendments Chris Smith is leaving our planet over-heating and Islington residents out in the cold.
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