Miatta Fahnbulleh has sent a bulletin round to her constituents trying to justify her decision to approve the Jackdaw gas field project. Some extracts:
“I know for many of you it is not an easy decision but I wanted to take the time to explain how I got here. As a mother, I worry deeply about the world my children will inherit and this summer has shown the impacts of climate change are here to stay. We are making great strides in tackling the causes of climate change by investing in clean, green energy production – including Labour councillors’ £25 million for community-owned energy right here in Southwark…
I understand concerns about the impact on our climate of extracting more fossil fuels. But using our domestic supply is more environmentally friendly than importing gas from abroad. There is a clear, pragmatic case for agreeing consent to the Jackdaw project today…
I am very clear. This decision will not impact our legally binding carbon budgets nor our ability to meet net zero by 2050. These commitments remain and I will do everything in my power to ensure we meet them.
I know this decision will be met with protest and opposition, particularly here in Peckham. But Andy and I have been clear that we must be pragmatic in the decisions we take, protecting our country, our communities and using this decision to accelerate toward a clean energy future.”
An inspired argument from the Energy Secretary who wrote in 2022 that “we can’t have any new oil or gas fields” and argued they would worsen the cost of living. Volte-face – anyway, good luck convincing the eco-loons…
Robert Jenrick on the Today programme:
“Can you now give a guarantee to your listeners this morning that no BBC presenter in the future will be exposed as a paedophile, as a number have been in the recent past? No, of course you can’t…”