A life-size white elephant called HS2 greeted us as we arrived to support so many of our inspiring councillors at the Green Party Conference in Brighton in October.
They are not following the Prime Minister’s eye-catching U-turns and, in stark contrast, are looking for reliable, long-term funding for energy-saving measures, community-led energy schemes and a clean environment.
At the Independent Group’s evening conference reception and Saturday morning debate on the LGA’s ‘Make It Local’ campaign, there were rousing speeches from Green Party Co-Leader Cllr Carla Denyer, our LGA Vice-President Baroness Natalie Bennett, LGA Independent Group Deputy Leader Cllr Caroline Jackson and me.
Locally, we can lead the journey to net zero faster and more efficiently compared with national approaches, taking our communities with us and saving taxpayers around £140 billion, creating £400 billion in wider co-benefits.
“Sunak’s delays put the agreed 1.5°C maximum temperature rise further out of reach”
PM Rishi Sunak’s delays put the agreed 1.5°C maximum temperature rise further out of reach, with significant damage.
All our speakers emphasised the importance of ‘local’ in local government.
Cllr Julian Dean, from the Association of Green Councillors, wrapped up events with a brilliant session highlighting the achievements of our councillors across the country.
I hope our Plaid Cymru colleagues also had an excellent conference, and I look forward to joining you in the spring.
The LGA Independent Group’s own political conference is for all members: Independent, Residents Association, Green Party, Plaid Cymru, and smaller political parties.
It’s at award-winning Wyboston Lakes, near Bedford, from 24-25 November. Don’t miss it!