‘TONGUE IN CHEEK’ MANIFESTO WATCH 2024 – Liberal Democrats
Steve Wardlaw, June 2024
For a bit of fun, as it’s manifesto week, I thought I would look at the proposals from each party and score them, in a totally non-binding way, showing good and bad points.
Full disclosure, obviously this is viewed through a Labour party prism (ie me) and also I have not followed the evolution of the proposals of the non-Labour parties.
Today it is the Liberal Democrats. You can see their manifesto HERE but I’ve also added the energy section as an addendum on this one, as I will with all of these.
Summary of good points:
Focus on insulation, heat pumps and solar – the ‘boring but important’ stuff that doesn’t make headlines but can be a series of easy wins. Would I have made this item 1 though – arguably something more eye-catching would have fitted better here.
“Making it cheaper and easier to switch to electric vehicles” is a great aim, but there does not seem to be much thought on how this might happen, and the costs on (a) the government and (b) the grid of retooling
A return to an international development target is a great idea, but whether this falls under energy and climate change may be too restrictive of that expenditure.
Summary of bad points:
I am not a fan of national and local citizens’ assemblies. Lib Dem policy on planning is very confused, and often despite discussing house building nationally, often local councillors have a different view. Also one of the major issues in the UK relating to productivity is its terrible planning system where objections and reports effectively kill projects. Having a load of busybodies deciding energy policy (I assume on largely aesthetic reasons) would be a terrible idea. Now, there is an argument about empowering communities and giving them some say in development but not at the expense of the project itself. I’m not sure that this is the focus here.
There is no mention of nuclear (large scale or small modular reactors) although some of the targets cannot be met without a focus on new nuclear. Historically there has been sensitivity in the party to nuclear power, but even greens are now moving towards understanding the inevitability of a nuclear strategy.
Lastly it feels like energy is not really a focus for the Lib Dems. There are no big initiatives such as regulatory reform, grid restructuring, GB Energy.
Best lines
“Restore the UK’s role as a global leader on climate change”
Indeed, and this happens with a clear and stable energy policy. Something lacking from the Tories
Worst lines
Nothing very terrible except this:
“Establish national and local citizens’ assemblies to give people real involvement in the decisions needed to tackle climate change”
A lovely idea, like world peace and free sweets. The issue when reality hits is that citizens simply never vote for the decisions needs to tackle climate change in a practical way. They are all for it until it impacts the view from their garden, and then they want everything offshore or in a tunnel, neither of which are affordable (HS2 anyone?).
Steve’s score and his wrap-up to camera at the end
6/10
Hmm – I like the ideas in here, but I worry that these policies do not think big enough. Planting trees is lovely, but when there’s a six year delay to get renewables connected to the grid, then there is an issue pf priority.
These manifesto pledges are well-intentioned but a reflection of the ‘broad church’ of Lib Dem membership – from greens, to country NIMBY’s to urban liberals. Because it has not been a focus for Lib Dems, it is impossible for Ed Davey to stamp a coherent strategy into this document and past his members. So it feels like a missed opportunity.
APPENDIX – CHAPTER 5
Climate change is an existential threat. Soaring temperatures leading to wildfires, floods, droughts and rising sea levels are affecting millions of people directly, and billions more through falling food production and rising prices. Urgent action is needed – in the UK and around the world – to achieve net zero and avert catastrophe.
At the same time, sky-high energy bills are hurting families and businesses, fuelling the cost-of-living crisis. Russia’s assault on Ukraine has reinforced the need to significantly reduce the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels and invest in renewables – both to cut energy bills and to deliver energy security.
The Conservative Government has failed to act with anything close to the speed or ambition these challenges demand. The independent Climate Change Committee warns that the Government is not on track to meet its legally binding targets. Liberal Democrats are committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 at the latest.
We will take the bold, urgent action needed to tackle climate change, cut energy bills and create hundreds of thousands of secure, well-paid new jobs. Together with innovative British businesses, we will make the UK the world leader in the clean technologies of the future. We will help households meet the cost of the transition to net zero and make sure everyone benefits from it, leaving no one behind.
We will:
Make homes warmer and cheaper to heat with a ten-year emergency upgrade programme, starting with free insulation and heat pumps for those on low incomes, and ensure that all new homes are zero-carbon. Drive a rooftop solar revolution by expanding incentives for households to install solar panels, including a guaranteed fair price for electricity sold back into the grid. Invest in renewable power so that 90% of the UK’s electricity is generated from renewables by 2030. Appoint a Chief Secretary for Sustainability in the Treasury to ensure that the economy is sustainable, resource-efficient and zero-carbon, establish a new Net Zero Delivery Authority to coordinate action across government departments and work with devolved administrations, and hand more powers and resources to local councils for local net zero strategies. Establish national and local citizens’ assemblies to give people real involvement in the decisions needed to tackle climate change. Restore the UK’s role as a global leader on climate change, by returning international development spending to 0.7% of national income, with tackling climate change a key priority for development spending.
In addition, we will:
Meeting the UK’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions by at least 68% from 1990 levels by 2030.
Requiring the National Infrastructure Commission to take fully into account the environmental implications of all national infrastructure decisions.
Putting tackling climate change at the heart of a new industrial strategy, as set out in chapter 4.
Investing in education and training to equip people with the skills needed for the low-carbon economy of the future, as set out in chapters 4 and 8.
Ensuring that nature-based solutions, including tree planting, form a critical part of the UK’s strategy to tackle climate change, as set out in chapter 12.
Putting our farming and food system on an environmentally sustainable footing, as set out in chapter 13.
Making it cheaper and easier to switch to electric vehicles, restoring the requirement that every new car and small van sold from 2030 is zero-emission, investing in active travel and public transport, electrifying Britain’s railways, and reducing the climate impact of flying, as set out in chapter 16.
Coordinating action across the UK by creating a Joint Climate Council of the Nations, as set out in chapter 20.
Launching an emergency Home Energy Upgrade programme, with free insulation and heat pumps for low-income households and a central role for local authorities in delivering this programme.
Providing incentives for installing heat pumps that cover the real costs.
Immediately requiring all new homes and non-domestic buildings to be built to a zero-carbon standard, including being fitted with solar panels, and progressively increasing standards as technology improves.
Reintroducing requirements for landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties to EPC C or above by 2028.
Introducing a new subsidised Energy-Saving Homes scheme, with pilots to find the most effective combination of tax incentives, loans and grants, together with advice and support.
Introducing a social tariff for the most vulnerable to provide targeted energy discounts for vulnerable households.
Helping people with the cost of living and their energy bills by implementing a proper, one-off windfall tax on the super-profits of oil and gas producers and traders.
Decoupling electricity prices from the wholesale gas price.
Eliminating unfair regional differences in domestic energy bills.
Removing the Conservatives’ unnecessary restrictions on new solar and wind power, and supporting investment and innovation in tidal and wave power in particular.
Maintaining the ban on fracking and introducing a ban on new coal mines.
Building the grid infrastructure required, facilitated by a strategic Land and Sea Use Framework as set out in chapter 15.
Implementing the UK’s G7 pledge to end fossil fuel subsidies, while ensuring a just transition that values the skills and experience of people working in the oil and gas industry and provides good opportunities for them, and takes special care of the regions and communities most affected.
Investing in energy storage, including green hydrogen, pumped storage and battery capability.
Working together with our European neighbours to build a sustainable supply chain for renewable energy technology.
Building more electricity interconnectors between the UK and other countries to guarantee security of supply, located carefully to avoid disruption to local communities and minimise environmental damage.
Empowering local authorities to develop local renewable electricity generation and storage strategies.
Giving small low-carbon generators the right to export their electricity to an existing electricity supplier on fair terms.
Requiring large energy suppliers to work with community schemes to sell the power they generate to local customers.
Reducing access costs for grid connections.
Reforming the energy network to permit local energy grids.
Guaranteeing that community benefit funds receive a fair share of the wealth generated by local renewables infrastructure.
Restoring international development spending to 0.7% of national income, with tackling climate change a key priority for development spending.
Showing leadership on the Paris Agreement by meeting the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution and arguing for greater global ambition.
Working together with our European neighbours to tackle the climate emergency, including by associating the UK Emissions Trading System with the EU ETS.
Continuing the UK’s support for the UN Loss and Damage Fund for countries particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, to ensure a just transition for all.
Pressing for all OECD countries to agree to end subsidies for foreign fossil fuel projects.
Introducing a general duty of care for the environment, as set out in chapter 4.
Requiring all large companies listed on UK stock exchanges to set targets consistent with achieving the net zero goal, and to report on their progress.
Regulating financial services to encourage climate-friendly investments, including requiring pension funds and managers to show that their portfolio investments are consistent with the Paris Agreement, and
Creating new powers for regulators to act if banks and other investors are not managing climate risks properly.
Setting out a clear and stable roadmap to net zero, repairing the damage done by Conservative U-turns and giving businesses the confidence to invest.
Expanding the market for climate-friendly products and services with steadily higher criteria in public procurement policy.
Implementing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for high-emission products, protecting UK businesses from unfair competition.
Reducing emissions from industrial processes by supporting carbon capture and storage and new low-carbon processes for cement and steel production.
Providing more advice to companies on cutting emissions, supporting the development of regional industrial clusters for zero-carbon innovation and increasing the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
June 2024.
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