"Two-View Tories" say Lib Dems

6.59.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Jul 2008

At Milton Keynes Council on Tuesday, 8 July, the Liberal Democrats put forward a key amendment to a Conservative motion on climate change. The Tory motion not only tried to overturn Milton Keynes Council's commitment to tackling climate change but also showed that the Tories have two views on climate change.

Liberal Democrat cabinet member for sustainable development, Councillor Douglas McCall, said: "What a shame that political hypocrisy is brought into this important issue. What is the real view of the Conservative Party: there appear to be two at present? First, there is the national Tory Leader who shouts about the need to tackle climate change. Then there is the view of a local Tory councillor who seems to be denying climate change exists!"

Exactly six months ago the Council agreed to a motion, strengthened by a Lib Dem amendment, to make energy efficiency a key pledge to residents. The motion was agreed without one councillor voting against and committed Milton Keynes Council to further work to tackle climate change. More recently, the Lib Dem cabinet voted through an action plan to address the issues raised in the January climate change motion.

The local Tory leader is forever talking of strong leadership. The Lib Dems now challenge the Tory leader to exert strong leadership over his own group to ensure that they are all committed to tackling this key issue.