Following our CLP’s successful motion on the Climate and Ecology Bill  submitted to Labour’s 2021 National Conference,  proposer Rebecca Mackenzie chased Ed Milliband down the the street for a chat.  At our All Members meeting in March we approved her motion below to write to Ed Milliband and remind him of their conversation.

This CLP notes:
That 121 MPs have publicly pledged their support to the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, the majority of which are Labour MPs.  Also that Ed Milliband MP stated to a member of our own CLP that he was “a big supporter of the Bill” . However, Ed Milliband MP, who is shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has not publicly pledged his support, nor have any other members of Labour’s Front Bench team.

This CLP believes:
The Climate Crisis is a real and present threat to all that we know and love, and therefore needs to be tackled with the utmost urgency. The CEE Bill is a serious attempt by scientists, experts and campaigners to draft legislation which will impel any British Government to take serious action to tackle the situation.

This CLP resolves:
To send a letter to Ed Milliband MP via email, asking him to explain to us why he has not publicly pledged his support to the Bill.

Text of the letter:

Dear Ed Milliband MP,

Re: CEE Bill

Further to a brief conversation a member of our CLP had with you on a street in Glasgow at COP26 we have a question for you regarding the CEE Bill.

During that interchange you said that you were a “big supporter of the CEE Bill”. In light of this our question is:

Why have you not signed up publicly as a supporter of the Bill?

We believe it would be a huge win for the Labour Party if you and other members of the front bench came out publicly in support of this Bill. It would give a strong message that Labour is serious about tackling the Climate Emergency, and this would contrast well with the failure of this government at COP26, and their more general failure to seriously address the Climate Emergency.

Currently 121 MPs have signed up, the majority of them Labour. Will you add your name?

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, we really look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours in friendship, SW Herts CLP

Proposed by Rebecca Mackenzie, Seconded by Steve Ritchie.  Approved with none against.