Southwark Labour Reject Action to Go Greener Faster

On Wednesday’s Council Assembly, Southwark Labour slapped down suggestions from the Liberal Democrats on tackling the Climate Emergency – including supporting the cross-party Climate and Nature Bill, and having greater ambition on what a greener Southwark could look like.  

The Southwark Liberal Democrats’ amendment to Labour’s motion on climate change called for a variety of measures, including more ambition on Green Investment Bonds, signing up to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and introducing community skips to tackle the blight of flytipping. The amendment also condemned the council’s slow progress to date, citing Southwark Extinction Rebellion’s slamming of the “un-emergency like” approach.  

Cllr Graham Neale, the Southwark Liberal Democrats’ Environment Spokesperson, also moved a motion to support the Climate and Nature Bill. The Bill has been presented a number of times by politicians of all parties, but currently has the strongest chance of becoming law as it has been introduced as a Private Members’ Bill by Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage.

Despite support from hundreds of councils, including Hackney, Richmond, and Lewisham, Southwark Labour chose to amend and pass the motion to remove the endorsement.  

Commenting, Southwark Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:

“It’s deeply disappointing that Southwark Labour have chosen to ignore our suggestions to go greener faster, and instead are happy to drag their feet on the climate emergency. With heating systems going haywire and their taking three years to ban fossil fuel reliant homes, it’s clear that Labour just do not take the climate emergency seriously.”

Cllr Graham Neale, Southwark Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson said:

“We’re shocked that Labour councillors decided not to support the Climate and Nature Bill.It's just politics from Labour again, putting their party before the planet! 

We deserve a council that treats the Climate Emergency as urgent.

Only the Liberal Democrats have the ideas and drive to go greener faster.”