With the government’s air quality plans having been found unlawful multiple times by the High Court, today Stephen Morgan MP raised concerns over lack of action to tackle air pollution in Parliament by directly pressing the Minister responsible.
The Government’s new Clean Air Strategy is typical of what we have come to expect from this government on illegal air pollution: vague targets, no detail, and a chronic failure to tackle the issue of roadside pollutants.
Following his action on this locally and by lobbying the Government to do better, the Portsmouth South MP called on the Minister to specifically take action for those from low-income households.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“After the successful motion at Full Council last week developed by Portsmouth Labour and local campaigners to declare a climate emergency in our city, we must now turn words into deeds and keep the pressure on decision-makers to act on air pollution.
That is why today I asked the Minister responsible directly what the government is doing to support people on low incomes to switch to cleaner forms of transport.”
This morning during DEFRA Questions, the Portsmouth MP launched dual questions that raised both idling cars near to schools and hospitals and also the need for the government to do more to help low income families go green.
The MP added:
“Illegal air quality has been escalated into a ‘public health emergency’ on the Government’s watch according to the cross-party select committee. With this issue being so important to our children’s health, we need action and we need it fast.
That is why today I have called on the Government to make tackling the issue of climate change more inclusive and more accessible for those on lower incomes.
In a time of government-imposed austerity, many green alternatives can be costly and unreachable to those who have a tight budget.
I believe that if we are all to do our bit for climate change in Portsmouth, then Ministers need to acknowledge this and support those from low income households across our city to switch to cleaner forms of transport.”
The Portsmouth MP’s question supports Labour’s wider campaign aimed at tackling climate change. Today, Labour has announced nationally plans to declare a National Climate Change Emergency which will challenge Rt Hon Michael Gove MP to back the declaration.
While councils like Portsmouth are declaring a climate emergency, the Conservative government is refusing to do so.
