Benet (right) joins Climate Clinic's 'Coal vs Renewables' debate
One of the great traditions of British politics is the seaside conference. It is sad to think it might soon be a thing of the past. In 2007 all three political parties held their conferences in seaside resorts; this year the Climate Clinic only needs its bucket and spade once – for the Lib Dem Conference in Bournemouth.
I am writing this from the Fairtrade Café inside the 2008 Climate Clinic, which next week will move to Manchester for the Labour Conference and then to Birmingham for the Conservatives. I can’t believe it will be many years before all three parties opt to meet in a City Centre rather than with the fresh air and fine views you get away from town. I will miss my walk along the coast from a B&B to the conference centre before an 18 hour shift of meetings, networking, and arguing about the challenges of global warming.
But for now we are here, the sun is shining and the real political work is underway. The Lib Dems face an interesting political challenge this year. Last year they were tearing themselves apart trying to get rid of Ming Campbell. Now, under Nick Clegg, they are trying to reposition their policies on tax, the euro and are even talking about big cuts in Government bureaucracy; and as a result are being accused of aping the Conservatives.
They are – however – still very strong on green issues. The Lib Dems see the environment as crucial political territory; they can lead all the other parties on the subject and set themselves apart from both the other main parties. I have just been meeting with Chris Davies MEP, the Lib Dem politician who is a key part of negotiations over the 2020 EU Energy Package. He is still working hard to secure a deal which will rule out unabated coal-fired power stations.
The Lib Dems are clear in their opposition to the Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent; we will need their support. Nick Clegg has also been telling delegates about his meeting with Dr James Hansen, when he was over to testify for the Kingsnorth Six.
Talking of the Kingsnorth Six, they haven’t stopped their campaign for a second. Will Rose, one of the defendants is our official Climate Clinic photographer – although I keep stopping him from taking pictures by getting him to talk about why he was prepared to risk prison in order to draw attention to the dangers of burning coal!
