Newsletter - Election 2010

This newsletter is different to our usual seasonal offering.  The General Election will take place on 6th May 2010, and we have invited the six candidates to use this web page to tell their prospective constituents about their environmental policies, beliefs and practices.  We hope that it will encourage more local people to vote in the General Election.  The contributions are posted here as they come in, so their order on this page has no significance.

Martin Blakebrough Liberal Democrat
David Davies Conservative Party

Labour, Hamish Sandison 12,041 (25.9%) -11.1%

Liberal Democrat, Martin Blakebrough 9,026 (19.4%) +6.6%

Plaid Cymru, Jonathan Clark 1,273 (2.7%) +0.6%

UKIP, Derek Rowe 1,126 (2.4%) +1.2%

Green, Steve Millson 587 (1.3%) +1.3%

Turnout was 74.1%

The Monmouth Constituency background

The Monmouth Constituency has flipped between Labour and Conservative majorities since it was won by the Labour Party in a 1991 by-election.  In recent history it has been a closely fought battle between the Labour and Conservative parties to win or hold the seat.  The constituency boundary has not changed since the last general election in 2005. 

In 2005 the voters in the Monmouth constituency polled as follows:
Conservative: 21396 (46.9%)
Labour: 16869 (37%)
Liberal Democrat: 5852 (12.8%)
Plaid Cymru: 993 (2.2%)
Other: 543 (1.2%)
Conservative Majority: 4527 (9.9%)

Turnout in 2005 was 72.4% (UK turnout 61.4%)

Liberal Democrats - Martin Blakebrough

Q  How would you move us towards a de-carbonised future and address the impending fuel gap, and do you have opinions or policies related to the Severn Barrage options, nuclear power and clean-coal?
A  I do accept climate change, I believe in future fuel security and that we need to deal with the fuel gap. I think we need to consider a range of options to achieve reductions of CO2, which the Lib Dems have demonstrated a commitment to. I am in favour of a Severn Barrage although a smaller one to avoid ecological disaster in the region. I think nuclear power should be the last option and I believe we have exciting options to consider before nuclear. I think clean coal is one option particularly in Wales. 

Q  How will you address the issue of maintaining mobility (or reducing the need to travel) for rural people as fuel costs rise and the technological advances are only addressing urban transport issues?
A  I am opposed to the Conservative Party’s cut locally of school transport for 6th Formers. I believe we should invest in transport for people in communities such as Llanishen where I live. Young people in rural communities are disadvantaged by not having access to friends particularly poorer families.  We need to ensure fuel prices are fair for rural communities and we need to look at discounts for certain people.

Q  If you are elected, how will you make sure that habitats and species in Monmouthshire are protected in the face of development, changes to agriculture, climate change and public spending cuts?
A  I am a fan of the Woodland Trust and believe we should look at increasing woodland in Monmouthshire. I think we have a beautiful county which should be sustained for environmental reasons as well as for tourism.

Q  What do you do in your own work or other aspects of your life to be green?
A  I feel a fraud because I do not do enough! At work, Kaleidoscope (I am the CEO) has a green policy where we encourage people to cycle to work etc. We recycle where possible. At present we have a reward scheme for staff if we cut heat and electricity usage by way of pay increase linked to success. I live in a rural community so do drive a lot. I do however use the train if possible; a recent trip to a meeting in North Wales for example, although I had to drive to the station. I am aware of packaging and reduce it where possible and use old carrier bags etc. I try and buy Fair trade and am a big fan of it as I believe in ethical trading. We put out the lights for WWF and we do try and reduce our lighting, but with kids our house can be like a Christmas tree! We use oil but do so sparingly.  We do not grow our own food although we have made an area to do so.

In terms of the last election I would want to say that many Liberal Democrats lent Labour their vote to Keep the Conservatives out. This year we are seeing a change in the political map not seen before. In Monmouthshire people are wanting change and see us as achieving that. A fairer voting system is fairer to all those not supporting the Conservatives. In Monmouthshire we are now the only real alternative and we should ignore the last election result.

Personally I run the charity Kaleidoscope, working in Monmouthshire and South Wales supporting people with drug and alcohol issues. I am a board member of Solas (local homelessness charity) and a school governor.

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David Davies - Conservative Party

• We favour giving people the information and incentives to do ‘the right thing’ rather than taking a ‘do as you’re told’ stance which in my opinion often turns people against green issues.  “Instead of using rules and regulations to impose a centralised worldview, we will go with the grain of human nature, creating new incentives and market signals which reward people for doing the right thing.  Instead of pulling bureaucratic levers from above telling people what they can’t do, we will provide people with the information they need to make responsible choices.”  (Extract from Conservative Party environmental policy document)
• We will give much more priority to energy security.  One third of our electricity generating capacity will close, and almost all of our gas will be imported by 2020.  If this situation is allowed to continue Great Britain will be left at the mercy of all sorts of tin pot tyrants and power hungry despots; we will be completely defenceless.    “Our national security is threatened by a looming energy crunch in which a third of our electricity generating capacity will close, and most of our gas will need to be imported by 2020.”  (Extract from Conservative Party environmental policy document)
• We will reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.  We will cut government emissions by 10% within 12 months.
• We will create an electricity internet, replace the current clumsy, unresponsive systems for transferring renewable energy into and out of the National Grid.  “A Conservative government will transform this ‘dumb’ unresponsive network and create an ‘electricity internet’ – a highly interactive network, based on a new smart grid that will interact with smart meters in people’s homes.”  (Extract from Conservative Party environmental policy document)
• We will clear the way for new nuclear power stations, provided they receive no public subsidy. 
• We will create an offshore electricity grid to support development of offshore wind power.  “and establish at least two Marine Energy Parks” (Extract from Conservative Party environmental policy document)
• We will give incentives for smaller scale energy generation.
• Conservative Ministers will make an annual Energy Statement to Parliament to set a clear direction for energy policy.
• We will increase storage capacity to help guarantee gas supplies.
• We will push for reform of the Common Agricultural and Fisheries policies to promote sustainable farming and fishing.  We will promote high animal welfare standards and ensure the government procures locally produced food wherever possible.
• We will work to reduce litter which spoils so much of our countryside.
• Food security: we will prevent development on our most fertile farmland.
• We will develop a legally binding protocol covering the separation of GM and non-GM material.
• We will negotiate for further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to deliver greater value for money, while supporting the sustainability of British farming.
• We will reform the water industry and bring in new measures to encourage businesses and households to value this precious resource.

In terms of my own life, we do all we can at home to recycle as much as possible using the Council organised red and purple sacks and food waste scheme.  I use low wattage bulbs and am very careful with my household energy use (apart from anything else, careful use reduces my bills).  Whilst travelling in the constituency I am pretty much forced to use my car by the lack of convenient public transport.  On longer journeys to Westminster or other parts of the country I invariably travel by train.
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