Tim Farron - Green Hero - Green Liberal Democrats

Green Hero - Tim Farron

Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

"Climate change is the biggest issue we face. I am determined that the government will take the big strategic decisions to fight it."

11 December 2023

Working for the local community

Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and defending his seat of Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron is a Green Hero. He is the current party Spokesperson for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

He was first elected to the constituency in 2005 with a very narrow majority of only 257 votes; he is a dedicated member of parliament with a strong sense of community. This is one of the prerequisites for an environmentally oriented parliamentarian.

He has been consistently helping to save rural bus services helping constituents as well as the environment. Rural routes are under threat of discontinuation due to government underfunding. He knows that they are vital for boosting our local economies, tackling climate change and congestion and rural isolation.

Furthermore, he is steadfast in his commitment to stopping the illegal and disgraceful sewage dumping in the UK's public waterways at an alarming rate by private water companies. He believes we have to make these companies pay for the danger they pose to public health and the damage they inflict on our precious ecosystems.

Tim Farron is a loud supporter of the Lib Dem policy that would ensure that more homes have better insulation to lower emissions and reduce energy bills, especially for those in lower-income families. He has been working with the party to push this to the front of the agenda.

It is also important to him that we are pushing to secure high-paying, long-term jobs in the renewable energy sector to ensure a just transition to net zero where no one is left behind. Creating new jobs in the green economy is vital to ensuring a fair deal for all.

Climate Change is the Biggest Issue

"Climate change is the biggest issue we face. I am determined that the government will take the big strategic decisions to fight it."

That requires a revolution in renewables & a push for energy self-sufficiency, which would protect our environment, boost our economy & give us energy security.

The Government have moved away from Renewable energy. - They have changed feed-in tariffs, so it is harder for businesses to invest in solar energy. The Guardian recently reported "outing" the Government for providing some of the biggest bursaries for large Oil and Gas businesses."

This is why the Party has put Climate Emergency so high on the Liberal Democrat Plan for the forthcoming general election.

Tim Farron has been at the forefront of pressing for more action on what he refers to as the "Climate Catastrophe" for a considerable time.

Fairer Farming, Better Environment

As Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Tim is particularly outspoken on getting a fair deal for farmers and food standards.

He has been fighting to protect Britain’s high food, farming and environmental standards from being undercut by the Government in trade deals with other countries. The Conservative government, despite promising to create a new environmental regulatory board (in the Office for Environmental Protection) post-Brexit, have continuously failed to do so.

Tim Farron's bill ensures environmental and food regulations from an independent body "with real teeth" assuring that low-quality and harmful practices cannot occur - such as chlorinating chicken or hormone-treated beef which would also hold the government to account. Without a regulator, we risk these products making their way into the markets in which we make trade deals. This would also undercut UK farmers who produce high-quality food and stick to safe environmental practices.

He says:

“Farmers produce the food we eat, protect our beautiful landscape, and are vital allies in the battle against the climate and nature crises, yet this government is leaving them in the lurch.

"My Bill’s regulator would ensure that environmental protections and animal welfare standards cannot be undermined - protecting British farmers so they can support work to enhance our natural environment and cut emissions."

Making Change Happen

Tim Farron is a key member of the Liberal Democrats team which can, together, make environmental change happen in Parliament, so we'll be doing all we can to help get him elected. Will you join us?