The debate online between those who believe that climate change is a peril to the planet vs the climate change deniers, who seem to believe that climate change is some form of Communist, lefty, conspiracy should be highlighted as a major issue of disagreement between Labour and Conservative party members and perspectives on our future.
In Medway, the Conservative Party is stuffed full of vocal climate change deniers. The former chair of the Conservative Association in Rochester & Strood called cimate change a 'pseudoscience' and called Green taxes punitive. Local Tory bloggers regularly cite that Climate Change is a myth foisted by a European communist diaspora.
Medway Conservative PPCs probably, maybe, I dont know, disagree but oh, how quiet they are. Why challenge the foot soldiers, remember they deliver the leaflets and design the campaign slogans.
It isnt just locally, however, that the Tory membership remain on the wrong side of scientific consensus. Nationally the Conservative membership is far from convinced, despite rational evidence, that anthropogenic climate change is happening. The right wing Conservative blogosphere, despite its support of Cameron does not believe that climate change is a major challenge of our generation. It openly disagrees with its leadership over the issue.
The Tory blogosphere pandering to the right wing base could be short-term opportunism but it is also a disagreement with the leadership, which should be highlighted and exposed. The Cameroon 'move' onto the centre-ground, where most people accept the science of climate change, on the 'Vote Blue...Go Green' slogan can be shown to be total fiction by the views of the Tory membership.
A debate on climate change is therefore welcome.
It will highlight internal Tory splits on climate change, it will highlight the total madness of a very vocal (but increasingly) visible Tory minority who are found online (and in public view) and it will serve to highlight the vacuous 'Green' position of the Conservative Party as just a PR exercise. Cameron with huskies vs membership with 4x4s. Cameron 'Green' taxes v Lower fuel tax. Cameron bycycle v Shoes in car driving behind. Cameron 'targets' on Carbon emissions v Communist conspiracy to stop economic development. All wedge issues within the Conservative Party itself!
A wedge issue it is. However, the issue of climate change and the development of green industries, renewable energy and tax on dirty industries will also be a key policy position of any government, irrelevent of political complexion, over the next decade. Climate Change talks to set targets on cutting emissions fell apart in Copenhagen last year, but will be on any Prime Minister's table, and exposing and challenging the Climate Change deniers should be key part of the centre-left on twitter and social networking sites for this and future elections.
In looking to previous elections in Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States the political right has always denied that climate change mitigation should be prioritised over economic expansion. The Tory leadership is right to focus on climate change, but for political opponents, it is an open goal with which to beat the Tory base, who openly disagree with the leadership. Centrist Conservative PPCs will also be looking over their shoulders. If they vote to increase tax on carbon emissions, the same activists who delivered their leaflets will disappear overnight.
Hannan and his cohorts are waiting in the wings, a split over climate change is a very real possibility, and the centre-left should be there for whenever it happens.
In Medway, the Conservative Party is stuffed full of vocal climate change deniers. The former chair of the Conservative Association in Rochester & Strood called cimate change a 'pseudoscience' and called Green taxes punitive. Local Tory bloggers regularly cite that Climate Change is a myth foisted by a European communist diaspora.
Medway Conservative PPCs probably, maybe, I dont know, disagree but oh, how quiet they are. Why challenge the foot soldiers, remember they deliver the leaflets and design the campaign slogans.
It isnt just locally, however, that the Tory membership remain on the wrong side of scientific consensus. Nationally the Conservative membership is far from convinced, despite rational evidence, that anthropogenic climate change is happening. The right wing Conservative blogosphere, despite its support of Cameron does not believe that climate change is a major challenge of our generation. It openly disagrees with its leadership over the issue.
The Tory blogosphere pandering to the right wing base could be short-term opportunism but it is also a disagreement with the leadership, which should be highlighted and exposed. The Cameroon 'move' onto the centre-ground, where most people accept the science of climate change, on the 'Vote Blue...Go Green' slogan can be shown to be total fiction by the views of the Tory membership.
A debate on climate change is therefore welcome.
It will highlight internal Tory splits on climate change, it will highlight the total madness of a very vocal (but increasingly) visible Tory minority who are found online (and in public view) and it will serve to highlight the vacuous 'Green' position of the Conservative Party as just a PR exercise. Cameron with huskies vs membership with 4x4s. Cameron 'Green' taxes v Lower fuel tax. Cameron bycycle v Shoes in car driving behind. Cameron 'targets' on Carbon emissions v Communist conspiracy to stop economic development. All wedge issues within the Conservative Party itself!
A wedge issue it is. However, the issue of climate change and the development of green industries, renewable energy and tax on dirty industries will also be a key policy position of any government, irrelevent of political complexion, over the next decade. Climate Change talks to set targets on cutting emissions fell apart in Copenhagen last year, but will be on any Prime Minister's table, and exposing and challenging the Climate Change deniers should be key part of the centre-left on twitter and social networking sites for this and future elections.
In looking to previous elections in Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States the political right has always denied that climate change mitigation should be prioritised over economic expansion. The Tory leadership is right to focus on climate change, but for political opponents, it is an open goal with which to beat the Tory base, who openly disagree with the leadership. Centrist Conservative PPCs will also be looking over their shoulders. If they vote to increase tax on carbon emissions, the same activists who delivered their leaflets will disappear overnight.
Hannan and his cohorts are waiting in the wings, a split over climate change is a very real possibility, and the centre-left should be there for whenever it happens.
The Centre-left should make climate change a central part of the General Election campaign and should continue to expose the Tory base on its out of touch and irrational position on Climate Change.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment