Blair must not allow US to deflect him from tough new climate change targets - Baker

Commenting on Tony Blair's meeting with environmental and business groups today, Norman Baker MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, has challenged the Prime Minister to commit himself to a new set of emissions targets in the post-Kyoto period. Mr Baker said:

"The Prime Minister is showing a dangerous naivety if he thinks that the US will meet him half way. In the so called 'special relationship'

it is all give from one side and all take from the other.

"Tony Blair must commit himself to tough new targets in the post-Kyoto period, otherwise we are just left with a 'Chamberlain' type paper promise.

"President Bush will not agree to any substantial targets in the foreseeable future, and it would be folly to weaken the UK's position trying to persuade him.

"It would be ironic if the US, having failed to wreck Kyoto before it came into effect, were now able to get Tony Blair to do it for them. Rather than softening his position, the Prime Minister should be taking the lead at the forthcoming G8 and EU meetings and pressing for tougher targets.

"Now is the time to set new goals rather than back away from the ones we have already agreed."