Lib Dems go on green offensive

Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell today accused the government and the Conservatives of being all talk on how to tackle climate change.

He said that while the government pledged tough targets on cutting carbon dioxide, there had been a "failure of nerve" in taking the necessary action.

And he rounded on Tory leader David Cameron as suffering from a "surfeit of spin", particularly in his recent trip to the glaciers in Norway, where he announced new plans for a carbon tax.

"Moving to a low-carbon economy presents both opportunities and challenges. But carbon emissions cannot be reduced in a flurry of snow and a dog-friendly photo opportunity," he said.

The speech in Norwich is Sir Menzies' first real attempt to regain the environmental agenda – traditionally a Lib Dem issue – from the other two main parties, who have made it a focal point in campaigning for next week's local elections.

He called for a cross-party consensus on how to turn Britain into a low-carbon economy, but insisted Labour and the Tories must "state plainly whether they are prepared to take the steps necessary to achieve it".

"The Liberal Democrats are rightly proud of their record at the forefront of thinking global and acting local on the environment. And we are proud of our readiness to take tough and unpopular decisions on the environment," Sir Menzies said.

"It is contradictory to put a windmill on your roof, while calling for a 'concerted programme of road building', as David Cameron has done.

"And it is disingenuous to boast about Britain's green leadership while presiding over a rise in emissions and campaigning in Europe for a weakening of UK emissions targets, as the government has done."

The Lib Dem leader outlined a number of key measures which the party wants to see implemented, including the extension of the climate change levy – a carbon tax on businesses – to all households.

He welcomed the sentiment behind Gordon Brown's decision to increase a higher rate of vehicle duty on the most polluting cars, but said it was far too small an increase and would have little effect. He also criticised the seven-year freeze on fuel duty.

In addition, Sir Menzies highlighted the "madness" of exempting aircraft from VAT, excise duty on fuel and the climate change levy, and said the air passenger duty should be restructured as a tax on aircraft emissions, not passengers.

"These principles are a minimum test of commitment. Without these simple but serious steps, a cross-party agreement on climate change is impossible," he said.