'Labour Playing Games with Climate Change' - say Medway Liberal Democrats

Medway Labour are failing to deliver on the climate change policy to reduce the amount it invests in fossil fuel companies. This is the same policy that the Labour Party were pressuring the previous Tory administration to implement in 2022.

During a full council meeting in April 2022, Labour Councillor Tris Osborne submitted a motion calling on Medway Council halt all new investments in fossil fuel companies for its pension scheme, and to begin the process of divesting any current investments. Not only would this be a powerful symbol of the Council’s commitment to the climate emergency but would also encourage valuable investment in renewable energy companies. It was for these reasons that the motion gained cross-party support from Medway Lib Dems and Greens. Sadly however, it was voted down by the Conservatives, showing again their dismissive attitude towards saving the planet.

Now, after a year of a new Labour administration, the Medway Lib Dems wanted to check on the progress of this policy. So we submitted a question at the Council meeting on the 18th July, asking for an update. Labour responded by saying that the Council doesn’t have the powers to implement this policy, as the pension scheme is administered by a Kent-wide body, but they are hoping to influence their guidelines in the future. Their response was deeply disappointing, and begs the question that if they already knew it was impossible, why did Cllr Osborne submit the motion in the first place? Are Medway Labour more interested in playing politics than doing what’s best for Medway and the globe?

Stuart Bourne, spokesperson for Medway Lib Dems, said ‘The climate emergency isn’t a tool to score cheap political points against your opponent. It needs responsible politicians working hard to implement policies that will save our planet. Let’s hope Medway Labour stops playing these games and focuses on a plan to end investing in companies that are destroying our planet.’

Medway Liberal Democrats call on the Labour administration to take the climate emergency seriously. We also call on them to publish a detailed plan, including clear timescales, on how they intend to divest investments into fossil fuel companies in the Council’s pension scheme.

ENDS