Meeting with James MacCleary MP at Lewes Climate Hub
James MacCleary, Member of Parliament for Lewes, joined us for another meeting to answer questions from local groups about climate and environmental action in late February. Climate Hub co-director Dinah Morgan reports on the topics raised, James’s responses and agreed actions and next steps.
A few times a year the Hub gets together with our local MP James MacClearey to put questions and concerns about people and planet to him from our relevant partner groups.
This month we had a full list of questions from Cycle Lewes, Compass, Defra and Active Travel, Greenpeace, the Quakers, Eco-Churches, OVESCO Lewes Climate Hub, as well as some individual Climate Hub members. This is what was discussed!
The Clean Land Bill
Liz Mansfield, coordinator of the Zane’s Law Campaign, updated us about the Clean Land Human Rights Bill (Zane’s Law) – new legislation to regulate contaminated land, which Natalie Bennett (Green Party peer) is committed to introducing in the House of Lords as a Private Members’ Bill.
Seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola died when hydrogen cyanide gas, carried by floodwater, infused his home during the terrible Thames flooding of 2014. There are thousands of potentially contaminated sites across the UK, some of which are already causing communities serious health problems. And with the need to build more homes, it’s vital that legislation is in place to deal with an impending crisis, exacerbated by increased flooding, due to climate change.
Locally, Luke Douglas Home has come up with an ‘initial site risk and responsibility audit’ for contaminated land (ISRRA for short), which has been commissioned by Lewes Town Council to examine several potentially contaminated sites in Lewes. Liz wanted James MacCleary to be aware of this local initiative, and also to ask whether he will offer his support to Zane’s Law when it appears in parliament.
James’s response: James was talking to a journalist very recently about the issue of contaminated land, and he noted that this is now finally catching the attention of the media. Zane’s Law will have his full support, and if related questions need to be asked in Parliament, Liz should contact his team.
Air quality legislation
Debbie Annells of Lewes Greenpeace asked about legislation on air quality for 2036 as part of the UK’s Seventh Carbon Budget 7 (CB7), which will set a legally binding limit on national greenhouse gas emissions for the 2038–2042 period. This legislation will be the basis of a Greenpeace campaign later this year. Debbie asked if James could raise a question with the Secretary of State about its urgency.
James’s response: Although James was not aware of the legislation until now, he is happy to raise it if Debbie sends information.
Nature and National Security Bill
In mid-May, Zero Hour, the campaign group behind the People’s Emergency Briefing film presented by Chris Packham, issued proposals for a Nature and National Security Bill. This is supported by some key military personnel as the breakdown of nature threatens food and water and is increasingly seen as a national security priority. Lewes Climate Hub asked if James would back the Nature and National Security Bill.
James’s response: James mentioned that he spoke about the national security threat in his response on defence in the last Parliament session. He knows Zero Hour already and said he would be interested in finding out more about the bill and what the LibDems can incorporate from it. He suggested submitting a written question. (At the time of writing, James was about to give a speech on defence on Wednesday 20 May about national resilience and said he would include climate and nature as part of this.)
Bombing of Lebanon
Patricia Cockrell of Lewes Quakers is a lifelong human rights campaigner who has worked in many war zones. The Quakers want to know why the bombing of Lebanon by Israel and the resulting environmental degradation and loss of life is not being raised as an issue in Parliament or in the media.
James’s response: “Gaza and Lebanon are not mentioned in Parliament. Lebanon has been of huge frustration to the LibDems – they have been trying to raise it as an issue. It’s a global emergency but it has been lost in the overall chaos of the Middle East conflict and Trump. It seems to be convenient for major parties not to talk about it. Labour backbenchers have been vocal but not the government. Business in the house is dictated by the Speaker and it doesn’t seem to be on his agenda. There is huge suffering still in Gaza and Lebanon even though the media spotlight has moved off.”
Patricia wanted to know what is the post-conflict reconstruction plan is to be. James’s response was not cheering: “There seems to be misguided faith that the market will somehow fix it all.” James confirmed this is high on his agenda and will keep raising it as an issue in Parliament. He also acknowledged the short-sightedness of reducing foreign aid, recognising that international development is a net benefit to the UK.
Democracy and Elections Bill
Paul Wafer at Compass asked about progress on the Democracy and Elections Bill and whether the local election results will increase pressure for the Bill to call for proportional representation (PR). It is widely felt that Labour and the Conservatives have had a vested interest in not pushing PR. But given the spread of electorate support now, Labour may need the LibDems’ support in the next General Election and PR will be a bargaining chip for this. Many Labour backbenchers also support PR.
James’s response: James’s personal feeling is that the current government chaos is crazy, it has destabilised the bond markets and is costing us all.
Fixing the A27 cycle path
Sheila O’ Sullivan of Cycle Lewes asked if James would join the campaign to fix the A27 cycle path near the Ashcombe Roundabout. She explained it is not safe, including no right of way for cyclists at the petrol garage slip road, and does not comply with National Highways standards even though it is in the South Downs National Park’s and the East Sussex County Council’s active travel plans. The Lewes to Falmer cycle path is very well used, especially by the universities and ESCC workers and the failure of a safe route for cyclists puts them at terrible risk.
James’s response: James will be able to speak to Transport Minister Lillian Greenwood about the cycle path. He has already been in touch with National Highways and will contact the South Downs National Park Authority. Sheila said that Cycle Lewes along with Sussex University and the Amex Football Stadium want the cycle way to be prioritized by National Highways. James said he will do what he can to support this.
Improving accessibility between towns and villages
Shane Snow of Defra and Active Travel England expressed concern that East Sussex is rated in the bottom league for supporting active travel such as cycling and walking and needs a plan for a network connecting towns and villages to improve accessibility. ESCC is about to publish its Local Cycling and Wheeling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and it does NOT include details on connecting settlements. This means ESCC will get less money from the government for travel infrastructure at a time when investment is available.
He wanted to know who made the decision NOT to connect settlements and why given that all the campaigning, feasibility studies and community work has recommended action such as supporting a green way between Lewes and Uckfield, which can also help connect settlements like Barcombe and Isfield and the Egrets Way, and extending the Cuckoo Line, in order to encourage people out of their cars. It is strongly felt that the LCWIP needs to go back to the drawing board and needs to be informed by the Masterplan currently being developed by the new Lewes Planning Group whose goals are all aligned with those of Cycle Lewes.
James’s response: James was concerned and said that the new Mayor will be really important for implementing the plan. James will do whatever he can to support this.
MPs’ response to the National Emergency Briefing film
From OVESCO, Nicki Myers asked if James had seen the National Emergency Briefing film , which has had a number of public screenings across the Lewes constituency and if the film had changed anything in Parliament and if enough people had watched it yet, as all MPs have been sent it.
James’s response: James replied that he was going to attend an upcoming screening at East Dean but that the conversation in Parliament has sadly not changed since the film came out.
He said he will put in a written question asking if some parliamentary time can be put aside for it. A LibDem colleague has asked for an official screening for MPs but more needs to be done to get it into the consciousness. However, it is difficult given the chaos in Parliament right now. “Government policy all needs to be seen through the lens of the climate and nature emergency – it’s not an add on. Nature and climate should be hardwired into our defence strategy. The Armed Forces get it but the government doesn’t,” he said.
Investment support for renewable energy
OVESCO’s Chris Rowland wanted to know about the £1 billion that will be invested in the Local Energy Plan. Can James ask some of this capital to be used so that tax incentives for investment in renewable energy can be reinstated? OVESCO spent six months with GB Energy trying to structure financial support to build a solar farm locally. However, GB Energy has cancelled the last two calls, which is very frustrating.
James’s response: James has offered to get in touch with Jurgen Maier and Michael Shanks at GB Energy. He wants to see the local solar farm progress. The Government removed the Enterprise Investment Scheme tax incentive for community energy companies to raise capital. James asked Chris to write to his office and he will see what he can do.
Debt relief in developing countries
The last question came from Liz Lunt of Eco Churches, a network of churches wanting care for people and the land. Liz asked if James would write to the Chancellor to ask what steps her department is taking to support the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill. Liz also asked if James would speak to Bambos Charalambous MP who is championing the Bill, which was to be reintroduced in the current parliamentary session.
James’s response: James assured Liz that he will do this – he understands the wider implications of debt on poorer countries and how that in turn affects our country.
It was a very full meeting and a lot came out of it! Thanks to all those who took the time to come and speak to our local representative of democracy and to MP James MacCleary and his team. We look forward to the next update!