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Good quote from @sarahjolney1 here. An observation, if I may: The Lib Dems’ more ambitious climate targets are indeed ‘entirely achievable’, but would require swingeing cuts in motor traffic, effective immediately. Car drivers, esp in cities, must face major new restrictions. 1/ https://twitter.com/crisortunity/status/1303034993904672771
This will be exceedingly unpopular in certain quarters, but achieving a 75% emissions cut by 2030 is certainly impossible without it. Urban & suburban motorists in places like Sarah’s own constituency, Richmond, will be amongst those called upon to change most and fastest. 2/
But motorists in Richmond really do not like it when their freedom to drive is impinged upon, and consequently @sarahjolney1 is campaigning vigorously for #HammersmithBridge to be reopened to private car traffic as soon as possible. 3/ https://twitter.com/sarahjolney1/status/1138798036006707200
This situation is basically a microcosm of the one @grantshapps also finds himself in. You *want* to do the right thing on climate change, but you *need* to get re-elected https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/05/councils-must-stop-abusing-green-roads-cash/
4/
4/
So the easiest way through is to talk a good fight and set ambitious targets for the future, while refusing to acknowledge or discuss the clear implications of your own climate policy. Or as @instituteforgov put it: https://twitter.com/instituteforgov/status/1302979942960033793
This is obviously a much broader problem, but I regard west london politicians’ ambitions for #HammersmithBridge as a litmus test of whether they have actually grasped the meaning of their own climate emergency declarations.
So far nobody has passed this test.
6/ends
So far nobody has passed this test.
6/ends
