Britain will lead to cut carbon emissions says Houseley

12.54.14pm GMT Thu 22nd Sep 2005

If Liberal Democrats are given the chance to govern in Britain, the country will become a world leader in reducing carbon emissions, Central Suffolk & North Ipswich Parliamentary Spokesperson Andrew Houseley has told the Party's faithful in Blackpool. And this will be achieved without small onshore windfarms, which he described as not worthwhile and ethically questionable.

Speaking to delegates on Wednesday in a full session of Conference in the main hall at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, Mr Houseley welcomed enhanced Party policy targets to reduce emissions by a minimum of 60% by 2050 with an interim target reduction of 20% by 2010. He also decried the lack of a defined sustainable energy strategy, described low cost airfares as "unsustainable in every sense" and reaffirmed the Party's long-held policy to phase out nuclear power generation.

In a reference to the proposed windfarm in his home village of Parham, Mr Houseley said: "The energy market is not transparent, it catches consumers out; it makes some believe that small onshore windfarms are financially as well as environmentally ethical and worthwhile. Well I say NOT! Energy provision is a story of constantly shifting sands, and we need information to make sense of it."

The Lib Dem conference ended on Thursday with Leader Charles Kennedy restating to delegates what kind of Britain he wants to see, in a passionate and rousing address. He looked forward to leading the Party on to greater success and looked back on his achievements, amid media speculation on Mr Kennedy's future.