Climate change is focus at Lochgilphead hustings
Time for Change, an Argyll campaign group raising awareness of climate change, organised the Argyll and Bute Climate Hustings at Lochgilphead Joint Campus on Monday night.
Three of the parliamentary candidates standing for election on July 4 for the new Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber seat answered questions from a busy public audience.
Brendan O’Hara, SNP, Alan Reid, LibDems and Hamish Maxwell, Labour, took to the stage, hosted by Freya and Rowan Aitchison from Time for Change.
Conservative candidate Amanda Hampsey had to cancel due to personal reasons.
A major climate topic which repeatedly came up was fuel poverty and the fact that despite producing the most renewable energy in the UK, people in Argyll and the north of Scotland pay more for electricity.
The issue of smart meters not working in Argyll was brought up by a member of the public and was a problem all candidates agreed must be solved.
Each candidate was given the opportunity to sum up.
Time for Change climate hustings in Lochgilphead: Freya and Rowan Aitchison with candidates Brendan O'Hara, SNP; Alan Reid, Lib Dems; and Hamish Maxwell, Labour. Photograph: Kevin McGlynn
Alan Reid said: “The incoming government is going to have a challenging situation in order to meet our international commitments combating climate change. It’s something we obviously must do.
“We must meet net zero by 2050 which I think is still achievable. Developed countries have to work with developing countries to make sure the entire world can meet that goal.”
He spoke about transferring skills of those who work in the fossil fuels industry to green energy.
Mr Reid added: “We need to invest in green technologies not fossil fuels. We need to tax big oil and gas companies. We need to insulate the homes of those in fuel poverty.”
Hamish Maxwell said the climate issue was “scary,” adding: “I don’t think enough has been done about it.”
Dealing with climate change is “going to be costly, has to be fully costed and we have to get on with it now,” he added.
Mr Maxwell said he would continue to repeat Labour’s policy about a public energy distribution company.
“We have to have leadership. We have to create a company to secure our supply chains. It would have responsibility for supply chains and distribution. That company will be publicly owned, Great British Energy.”
Mr Maxwell said they would make homes more efficient, relieving pressure on deprived households.
Brendan O’Hara said: “I want to be your voice locally and globally. I want to be standing up for the people of Argyll and Bute, pointing out the disgrace of 43 per cent of our people living in extreme fuel poverty in an area of the country which produces far more energy than it can ever use.
“To deal with the climate issue we need to show leadership, courage and sacrifice. We can’t expect to go on as we are.”
He also called for investment in new green energy technology.
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