Yesterday, Monday 11th July 2022, a briefing on the climate breakdown was given to MPs by the Government’s own Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.
It had been arranged by the All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group.
Johnson’s “Road to Damascus” moment
Sir Patrick presented the data that converted the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to the climate cause before COP26, that was sufficiently powerful that he described it as his “road to Damascus” moment on climate breakdown.
News OnTheWight asked Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, if he’d attended the briefing. He said he hadn’t and provided the following statement,
Seely: “Climate change is something I take very seriously”
Bob Seely told News OnTheWight,
“I was unable to attend the event due to other commitments, however, climate change, and the effects it is having on our world, is something I – and many other MPs – take very seriously.
“Tackling climate change and protecting the environment for future generations is a top priority for the government and excellent progress has been made to strengthen global cooperation in the fight against climate change.”
Voting record differs
The statement from Seely is somewhat at odds with his past voting record. The TheyWorkForYou Website, which records and classifies the votes that MPs make, summarises his voting record as, “Bob Seely consistently voted against measures to prevent climate change”.
The Public Whip service says, “Bob Seely MP, Isle of Wight voted strongly against the policy [to} Stop climate change,” on their page detailing his voting record.
The last vote connected to Climate Change that Bob Seely took part in shows on TheyWorkForYou as 2020, so it may be that his approach to climate change has changed in the last two years.
Seely: UK leading by committing to net zero emissions
Seely went on to say,
“Following COP26 last year in the UK, 90 per cent of the world’s economy is now following the UK’s lead by committing to net zero emissions, ending their contribution to climate change.
“The UK was the first major economy to commit in law to reaching net zero by 2050.
“The landmark Net Zero Strategy sets out how the UK will secure 440,000 well-paid jobs and unlock £90 billion in investment in 2030 on its path to ending its contribution to climate change by 2050.
“As part of this strategy, new investment of £124 million to the Nature for Climate Fund will help the UK to meet our commitments to restore approximately 280,000 hectares of peat by 2050 and treble woodland creation in England.”
