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| UK 'needs carbon neutral target' | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The Lib Dems are calling for Britain to become entirely carbon neutral by 2050 in an "ambitious" attempt to reclaim the green agenda. | The Lib Dems are calling for Britain to become entirely carbon neutral by 2050 in an "ambitious" attempt to reclaim the green agenda. |
| The move follows recent high-profile Tory and Labour announcements. | The move follows recent high-profile Tory and Labour announcements. |
| The Lib Dem conference in Brighton is expected to back a motion calling for an "urgent" response to the "serious threat" of climate change. | The Lib Dem conference in Brighton is expected to back a motion calling for an "urgent" response to the "serious threat" of climate change. |
| But delegates are likely to reject a separate proposal to end the party's opposition to nuclear power. | But delegates are likely to reject a separate proposal to end the party's opposition to nuclear power. |
| 'Overwhelming' | 'Overwhelming' |
| The Lib Dem conference will vote later on a range of environmental policies that will be at the heart of their next election manifesto, including new incentives and targets for energy to come from renewable sources. | The Lib Dem conference will vote later on a range of environmental policies that will be at the heart of their next election manifesto, including new incentives and targets for energy to come from renewable sources. |
| The Lib Dems also want taxes on highly polluting cars, a climate change charge for domestic flights and a toll on road freight, with cash raised used to fund rail improvements. | The Lib Dems also want taxes on highly polluting cars, a climate change charge for domestic flights and a toll on road freight, with cash raised used to fund rail improvements. |
| Look you need a thick skin in this business...and the one thing the public does see through is if you try to be something you are not Sir Menzies Campbell At-a-glance: Day one | |
| On Monday, Lib Dem environmental spokesman Chris Huhne will present a motion calling for 30% of the UK's electricity to be produced from "clean, non-carbon-emitting sources" by 2020 - rising to 100% by 2050. | On Monday, Lib Dem environmental spokesman Chris Huhne will present a motion calling for 30% of the UK's electricity to be produced from "clean, non-carbon-emitting sources" by 2020 - rising to 100% by 2050. |
| Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said his party was the only one to stand up and say what has to be done to address climate change. | |
| "We should be working towards a carbon-neutral Britain by 2050. We should be working towards the elimination of petrol-driven motor cars," he told BBC1's Breakfast programme. | |
| "We should be really radical in what we do - the urgency of the problem is really enormous." | |
| The conference motion says the scientific evidence for climate change is "overwhelming" and that "if decisive action is not taken in the next decade, any prospect of a stable climate may be lost". | The conference motion says the scientific evidence for climate change is "overwhelming" and that "if decisive action is not taken in the next decade, any prospect of a stable climate may be lost". |
| But the Lib Dem leadership is maintaining the party's opposition to nuclear power. | But the Lib Dem leadership is maintaining the party's opposition to nuclear power. |
| Unfair | Unfair |
| This will be challenged by Chris Davies, the Lib Dem climate change spokesman in the European Parliament. | This will be challenged by Chris Davies, the Lib Dem climate change spokesman in the European Parliament. |
| He said: "I have always been opposed to nuclear power. It is expensive, creates a legacy of radioactive waste and has absorbed public resources that should have been used to develop alternative technologies. | He said: "I have always been opposed to nuclear power. It is expensive, creates a legacy of radioactive waste and has absorbed public resources that should have been used to develop alternative technologies. |
| "But the imperative now is to fight global warming. We cannot ignore the fact that our existing nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide. | "But the imperative now is to fight global warming. We cannot ignore the fact that our existing nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide. |
| "Carbon emissions will rise as they come to the end of their lives." | "Carbon emissions will rise as they come to the end of their lives." |
| The party's Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable will also make a keynote speech on Monday, attacking the government over the Northern Rock crisis. | The party's Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable will also make a keynote speech on Monday, attacking the government over the Northern Rock crisis. |
| He will unveil research suggesting voters believe the wealth gap in the UK is unfair. | |
| 'Genuine disgust' | |
| "It's clear that the Lib Dems' emphasis on fairer taxes - but not higher tax levels - with tax cuts for those on lower and middle incomes, strikes a chord with the voters," he said. | |
| "There is a genuine disgust at some of the tax dodging by the super rich, including the abuse of non domicile status, and a large majority share our wish to see a crackdown." | |
| The Lib Dems are stressing they are on full general election alert, with campaigns manager Ed Davey warning on Sunday that a poll could be announced "in nine days time" at Labour's annual conference in Bournemouth. | The Lib Dems are stressing they are on full general election alert, with campaigns manager Ed Davey warning on Sunday that a poll could be announced "in nine days time" at Labour's annual conference in Bournemouth. |
| Mr Davey shrugged off his party's opinion poll ratings, which have dipped below 20% in recent weeks, saying they would improve once a poll was called because of increased media exposure. | Mr Davey shrugged off his party's opinion poll ratings, which have dipped below 20% in recent weeks, saying they would improve once a poll was called because of increased media exposure. |
| 'Out of touch' | |
| He said the Lib Dems were determined to smash the "cosy" two party consensus, stressing the party's "distinctive" policies on the environment, nuclear power, Iraq. | He said the Lib Dems were determined to smash the "cosy" two party consensus, stressing the party's "distinctive" policies on the environment, nuclear power, Iraq. |
| He also hit back at Lord Rogers, the Lib Dems' former leader in the Lords, who said people had been "disappointed" by the performance of the party's leader Sir Menzies Campbell. | He also hit back at Lord Rogers, the Lib Dems' former leader in the Lords, who said people had been "disappointed" by the performance of the party's leader Sir Menzies Campbell. |
| Mr Davey "I think on this particular issue, he is totally out of touch," he told reporters. | Mr Davey "I think on this particular issue, he is totally out of touch," he told reporters. |
| He said people who had worked closely with Sir Menzies since he took over as leader had been "impressed" by his performance, he added. | He said people who had worked closely with Sir Menzies since he took over as leader had been "impressed" by his performance, he added. |
| Sir Menzies insisted he had "a spring" in his step. | |
| "Look you need a thick skin in this business...and the one thing the public does see through is if you try to be something you are not," " he told the BBC. |