The Tories today published a list of ‘Ten reasons to vote Conservative’ which did not include any reference to the environment or climate change.

This is despite David Cameron’s claim that he has ‘sought to push the environment up to the top of the political agenda’, and his own Shadow Climate Change Secretary Greg Clark’s assertion that Cameron ‘wanted the environment to be a very important part of the proposition we put to the public at the General Election.’

It follows the recent revelation that reducing Britain’s carbon footprint was at the bottom of Tory PPCs’ priorities.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes said:

“For those of us who really care about the environment and the future of our planet the Tories have demonstrated once again that there is no reason to vote for them.

“Cameron the PR man likes having his picture taken with huskies, but when it comes to governing this country the Tories have never made the climate one of their priorities.”

Notes:

1. David Cameron during his ‘hug a husky’ trip in 2006: “Since becoming leader of the Conservative Party I have sought to push the environment up to the top of the political agenda. Not only is it something that I feel strongly about, but I am aware that my position has given me a unique opportunity to stimulate national debate on an issue that we cannot afford to ignore. I intend to take it.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-we-need-a-gr...

2. Shadow Climate Change Secretary Greg Clark in an October 2009 interview:

“When David Cameron appointed me, we had a conversation and he said to me he wanted the environment to be a very important part of the proposition we put to the public at the general election – as it always has been to David personally.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/greg-clark-global-warm...

3. Today’s list of 10 reasons to vote Conservative excludes the environment and climate change:

1. The NHS - our number one priority.
2. Dealing with Labour’s debt crisis.
3. Creating new jobs.
4. Protecting the poorest.
5. Supporting families.
6. Giving every child a good education.
7. Helping keep bills down and clamping down on consumer rip-offs.
8. Fairness for pensioners.
9. Fighting back against crime.
10. Building more affordable homes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/feb/15/davidcameron-conserv...

4. According to a ConservativeHome survey, reducing Britain’s carbon footprint is bottom of Tory PPCs’ priorities:
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2010/01/cutting-the-deficit-i...