All but one elected Conservative MP have consistently voted against climate initiatives, based on a review of parliamentary voting patterns since the party assumed power in 2010.
According to VoteClimate’s analysis, Lisa Cameron MP from East Kilbride, who switched from the Scottish National Party in October, was the only Conservative to receive a “good” rating for her climate votes.
VoteClimate, an NGO aimed at informing UK voters about impactful climate policy choices, conducted an analysis of all parliamentary votes since 2010. Their assessment encompassed various critical issues such as energy, transport, finance, housing, and other factors relevant to the climate crisis.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats were prominent among the MPs rated as “very good” on climate-related issues, based on their voting records across various legislations, including those on fracking and the burning of upland peat. MPs earned points for votes that positively impacted the climate and lost points for those that had a negative impact. The final score was determined by dividing the net points by the total number of votes in which the MPs could have participated.
VoteClimate additionally scrutinized the social media posts of more than a thousand prospective parliamentary candidates to identify any climate-denying opinions or views that might conflict with their parties’ positions.
Shaun Spiers, executive director of the Green Alliance think tank, emphasized that all parties should acknowledge that climate and environmental issues are key voter concerns. “The message for all parties is that voters care about the environment. Unless the major party’s campaign on the environment, they will inevitably lose votes to those prioritizing it,” he warned.
Adrian Ramsay, co-leader of the Green Party, stated, “The overlapping climate and nature crises must be a central topic of this election. The environment is at the core of everything the Green Party stands for, and we will always prioritize it. We’ve already seen other parties backtrack and underdeliver on environmental issues. Electing a group of Green MPs at the next election can hold the next government accountable.”
A Labour spokesperson said, “The choice at this election is clear. Either we have a Conservative government that pollutes our rivers with toxic sewage, is led by and funded by climate deniers, and fails to meet our climate and nature targets or a Labour government that will restore nature, deliver the largest investment in clean energy in our history, cut bills for families, make Britain energy independent, and tackle the climate crisis to protect our homes for our children and grandchildren.”
The VoteClimate rating echoed Friends of the Earth’s assessment of the Government’s management of nature loss and climate change as “dismal”. Among the highlighted failures, the Government’s climate action plan has faced legal challenges twice, and the approval of a new coal mine in Cumbria has garnered significant criticism.
Additionally, the issuance of new oil and gas licenses goes against global climate objectives, while delays in implementing a ban on new petrol and diesel cars are viewed as setbacks. Other concerns raised by Friends of the Earth include sewage contamination in England’s waterways, abandonment of plans to enhance energy efficiency in rental properties, and substantial reductions in bus services outside of London.
Nadine Osman
