Towards a low carbon future
‘A
huge expansion of wind power, home insulation and “smart” electricity
meters are among measures being planned to build the UK’s low-carbon
future. Ministers hope their Carbon Transition Plan will help them meet
2020 targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and expanding
renewable energy.’ – BBC
‘With
transport accounting for 21% of total UK domestic emissions,
de-carbonising this sector has to be front and centre of efforts to
meet our obligations and commitments. Which is precisely why we are
launching our new strategy today: “Low carbon transport: a greener
future”.’ – Andrew Adonis, The Guardian
Balancing the books
‘Britain is facing a decade of public spending “constraints” in
order to “rebalance” the country’s finances, the business secretary has
said. Lord Mandelson said there would be “less spending in some
programmes”, but “sustained investment” in areas like healthcare and
defence would continue.’ – BBC
European parliament opens amid rows
‘David Cameron’s attempts to create a political force in the EU
received a setback yesterday when a row among his MEPs ended in the
expulsion of the Tories’ longest-serving member at the opening of the
new European Parliament.’ – David Charter, The Times
‘The
new members, Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons, avoided the European anthem
and were allocated places 780 and 781, towards the back of the
Strasbourg chamber with kindred MEPs from the neo-fascist parties of
Belgium, Bulgaria, France and Hungary.’ – David Charter, The Times
Tory tax breaks for married couples
‘This week, in a report called Every Family Matters, Iain Duncan
Smith’s Centre for Social Justice (CJS) repeated its demand, which is
now Conservative party policy, that marriage be recognised in the tax
system. It is strange to see Conservatives, who usually disparage the
capacity of government to make the world a better place, turn into Ed
Balls when it comes to marriage.’ – Phillip Collins, The Times
Boris under pressure
‘Boris Johnson faces a grilling by the London assembly over his role
in authorising the expenses of his former deputy, Ian Clement, who was
forced to quit after discrepancies in his claims came to light.’ – Hélène Mulholland, The Guardian