A progressive test for the environment
Labour’s challenge is to ensure that we hold the government to account as well as develop new priorities for the future, writes shadow environment minister Mary Creagh MP.
Green Politics
Alexander: Welfare reform is meaningless amidst jobless recovery
Douglas Alexander used his first major speech as Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions to criticise the Coalition Government’s welfare proposals – and warned Iain Duncan Smith that his reforms will be meaningless against a backdrop of £18billion in welfare cuts and a jobless recovery.
Cameron’s ‘tech city’ vision is laudable, but more needs to be done
David Cameron’s speech to East London entrepreneurs about the government’s long-term commitment to transform London’s East End into “a world-leading technology city to rival Silicon Valley” is laudable in its intent. The prime minister said a number of companies including Vodafone, Google, Facebook, Intel and McKinsey & Co were interested in investing in the region over the longer term.
EU should join forces with China to create a joint carbon market
If Ed Miliband were to set out a radical programme for climate change that urged the EU to join forces with China to create a joint carbon market establishing an international price for carbon around the globe it could be a game changer. More than that: it could be a game changer that market makers in the US suddenly find threatening. America can resist any opposition to its policies. What it cannot take is being sidelined.
Landlords are the real winners from Huhne’s ‘Green Deal’ speech
Whilst others are busy comparing competing views on the coalition’s environmental record after Chris Huhne’s speech on the Green Deal at the LSE on Tuesday, all the papers – The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian – seemed to miss a significant aspect of the story behind the climate change and energy secretary’s speech.
Coalition should abandon immigration cap or redefine the target
The Home Affairs Committee’s Immigration Cap report sets out some striking findings about the minimal impact the cap will have in achieving the coalition government’s policy objective of reducing net migration.
Minister: Local Enterprise Partnerships lack “a clear focus” on growth
In a searing critique of government policy, business minister Mark Prisk has written to his boss, Vince Cable, warning that the introduction of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) across England to replace the eight regional development agencies has generated “considerable friction” from the business community, running the risk that they “become detached from this policy heralding likely failure [of LEPs] in large parts of England”.
Political will at home is key to climate change talks
With less than one month to go until the return of the UNFCCC Climate negotiations, many are beginning to ask the question: Will the UN climate talks help save the planet or is it time to look elsewhere? Guppi Bola looks ahead to the Cancun conference.
Ireland left with nowhere to go, damned if it does, damned if it doesn’t
If Ireland tightens fiscal policy to reduce the deficit, output growth will be even weaker in the short-term, pushing the deficit back up again. And if it cuts taxes or increases spending to boost economic activity, the deficit will also increase. It is damned if it acts, and damned if it doesn’t. Unfortunately, the only way out may be recourse to the IMF.
UN must make the most out of clean energy investments
On Thursday, the UN’s High Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing is due to report back after eight months of deliberations on this thorniest of issues within the international negotiations.