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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Lib Dem leader in flood-hit city | Lib Dem leader in flood-hit city |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has criticised the government's flood plans as he visited Hull to see the aftermath of last month's deluge. | Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has criticised the government's flood plans as he visited Hull to see the aftermath of last month's deluge. |
| He said a lack of government planning had led to a "summer of suffering". | He said a lack of government planning had led to a "summer of suffering". |
| Sir Menzies was in Hull to visit one of the many schools affected by the flooding in June. About 17,000 homes in the city were also damaged last month. | Sir Menzies was in Hull to visit one of the many schools affected by the flooding in June. About 17,000 homes in the city were also damaged last month. |
| His visit also took in a distribution centre where essential items, such as clothing, are being held. | His visit also took in a distribution centre where essential items, such as clothing, are being held. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a £14m relief package for areas devastated by the recent floods when he visited Hull on 7 July. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a £14m relief package for areas devastated by the recent floods when he visited Hull on 7 July. |
| Last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings Sir Menzies Campbell, Lib Dem leader | Last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings Sir Menzies Campbell, Lib Dem leader |
| But Sir Menzies said: "In Hull, one in every five houses and 90 out of 105 schools were damaged by flooding earlier this month. | But Sir Menzies said: "In Hull, one in every five houses and 90 out of 105 schools were damaged by flooding earlier this month. |
| "Now millions of people in the Midlands and South East are finding themselves in a similar position. | "Now millions of people in the Midlands and South East are finding themselves in a similar position. |
| "There is no doubt that climate change is going to lead to more extreme weather in this country and the government has a duty to prepare for this and put in place plans to minimise the devastation. | "There is no doubt that climate change is going to lead to more extreme weather in this country and the government has a duty to prepare for this and put in place plans to minimise the devastation. |
| "Yet last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings. | "Yet last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings. |
| "The government must now give the overall responsibility for flooding to the Environment Agency, put a significant amount of investment in flood defences and learn the lessons from a natural disaster that has caused suffering to millions of families this summer." | "The government must now give the overall responsibility for flooding to the Environment Agency, put a significant amount of investment in flood defences and learn the lessons from a natural disaster that has caused suffering to millions of families this summer." |
| Sir Menzies defended his decision to visit Hull a month after the flood. | |
| He said: "I don't think there's any point in politicians getting in the way ofemergency services. | |
| "The last thing you need if you are the fire-master trying to cope withflooding is for an MP to turn up in Wellington boots and get in the way. | |
| "It's much better for politicians to wait for a while and come and see thelong-term consequences, particularly when the dramatic television pictures havegone." |