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Dale Vince in Hotwells to campaign for ‘green government’
Green energy industrialist and campaigner Dale Vince has urged people in Bristol Central to vote for Labour as “the only party that can form a green government” in the upcoming general election.
“For the first time, the Labour Party gets the green agenda,” said Ecotricity founder Vince as he joined Thangam Debbonaire in Hotwells. “This is a historic opportunity.”
But Green Party co-leader, Carla Denyer, who is tipped to take Bristol Central from Debbonaire, said that “sticking the word ‘green’ in front of a plan doesn’t make it Green. Far from it in Labour’s case.”
is needed now More than ever
Responding to Labour’s plans to pledge £7.3bn to accelerate the green transition, Denyer said: “The headline figure of £7.3bn falls massively short of the £40bn per year that Greens have committed to spend.
“Our priorities for a truly Green transition include retrofitting homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run, investing in modern electric railways, and investing in our sewage and wastewater infrastructure.
“Issues that the Labour Party are silent on.”
On his visit to the affluent enclave of Dowry Square, Vince praised Labour’s potential to enact environmentally-friendly policies, arguing it is the only party that could achieve a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy usable in the UK.
“Labour will pursue 100 per cent energy independence, which is the biggest single thing we can do as a country to drive energy bills down, tackle cost of living crisis and the climate crisis all at the same time,” said Vince, who previously bankrolled Just Stop Oil and is now one of the Labour Party’s biggest donors.
Vince added: “Lend your vote to Labour, and give them the benefit of the doubt in this next election.”
In its manifesto, Labour has promised to tax oil and gas companies to help fund transitions to renewables and end new oil and gas licenses.
The party have also promised to create a publicly owned renewable energy company that will double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, pledging £7.3bn to green industrial sectors.
Asked about his decision to end his sponsorship of Just Stop Oil, Dale said: “Rishi Sunak saw the protests as an opportunity to double down on off-shore drilling as part of the culture wars, and what he refers to as ‘eco-zealots’.
“It struck me that the only way to stop oil was to stop the Tories at the coming election.”
During his canvassing, Vince was interrupted by a member of the activist group, Green New Deal Rising, who lamented his support for the Labour Party. Mal Kee, 28, said: “I just don’t feel convinced the Labour Party are taking climate action seriously.
“We need full-scale transformative change to pull us off a trajectory of climate collapse but Labour are sidelining this to an energy issue – but it’s going to take a lot more than building more wind farms or solar panels to meet the scale of the challenge we are facing.
“For me as a young voter, it is just not enough. I’ve always voted Labour but I’m planning to vote Green in Bristol Central at this election.”
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In response to Vince’s campaign, a Green Party spokesperson said: “Climate scientists and experts have been clear about the scale of the challenge facing us.
“Unfortunately, we are not seeing the level of ambition needed to ensure a safe future for our children, from the Labour Party.
“Labour’s refusal to block the new oil licences given out by the Conservatives such as the Rosebank oil field and their U-turn on their £28bn green investment pledge are both incredibly disappointing.
“We can all see that the Conservatives are headed for an electoral wipe out and that Labour will form the next government.
“A team of Green MPs will keep climate action on the agenda and defend our children’s future at every opportunity.
“In Bristol Central, voters have the chance to make history and elect Carla Denyer, as the city’s first Green MP. Before entering politics, Carla worked as an engineer in renewable energy.”
Main photo: Hope Talbot
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