Green Party mailing
THE “BLOOM OR BUST” REPORT  

The Environmental Audit Committee, of which I'm a member, published an
important report on the steps that need to be taken urgently to halt the
catastrophic loss of biodiversity in Britain. Called Bloom or Bust, it
makes a number of important recommendations including removing subsidies
for activities which harm nature, aligning all public spending with
biodiversity targets and, most importantly, ending the focus on GDP growth
which treats nature as expendable.

I raised the report with the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Questions
[1], asking him to change one word in a Government amendment to the
Environment Bill to make halting biodiversity loss by 2030 a
legally-binding objective. As has become the norm at PMQs, I didn't get an
answer.

One of many recommendations in the EAC's report was the introduction of a
GCSE in Natural History, which I have campaigned on for many years. I was
very pleased that this proposal had support from all parties on the
committee.

COVID AND EDUCATION 

It has been shocking to see the number of children being sent home from
school because someone in their bubble has tested positive for Covid. They
have already had a severely disrupted education over the past year and
continue to miss lessons and end-of-year rituals. The Government should be
doing everything possible to keep children safe in school, but it isn't. I
questioned the Education Secretary [2] on why nothing has been done to
improve ventilation in schools which the HSE and Royal Society of Medicine
both say would reduce the risk of Covid spreading. Again, no proper answer.


CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE PROGRESS REPORT 

Every year, the Government's independent advisers on climate issue a report
to Parliament on what progress is being made to addressing the climate
emergency. This year's made grim reading: plenty of targets but no plan to
achieve them, too many government departments which seem to think they can
leave climate action to someone else, and time rapidly running out. My
response to the CCC's report was published in Prospect magazine [3].

RUSSIA REPORT COURT CASE 

Alongside five other MPs and peers, I have been part of a legal action
against the Government for its failure to order an inquiry into Russian
meddling in UK elections, which was revealed in a report by Parliament's
Intelligence and Security Committee last year. The Prime Minister has taken
the attitude that there is nothing to investigate, an extraordinarily
complacent response to a very disturbing report. Unfortunately, the High
Court judge hearing the case ruled against us, and said the Prime Minister
doesn't have to investigate possible Russian interference in our democracy.
But we won't let this drop - it's too important.

A NEW HEALTH SECRETARY 

It was absolutely right that Matt Hancock's career as health secretary
should end following the disclosure about him and his close aide - for his
hypocrisy in setting rules which he then didn't follow, but also for his
possible breaking of the ministerial code. But he should have been sacked
the day the news broke. It was quite clear that the Prime Minister planned
to take no action until it became obvious that the public, and Tory MPs,
would not accept Matt Hancock remaining in office.

It was also worrying to hear the new Health Secretary, in his first
statement to Parliament, talk of the irreversibility of lockdown lifting on
July 19th - he seems to have made up his mind about the response to Covid,
regardless of the science. He also had nothing to say about test, trace &
isolate and the need to support people so they can afford to self-isolate.
It is a major weakness in the Government's Covid strategy and Sajid Javid
needs to address it as a matter of urgency.

BUILDING SAFETY 

I spoke in a parliamentary debate about the Government's spending plans in
relation to building safety - my speech is here [4]. I have been contacted
by many in the constituency who are living in unsafe buildings with
inadequate fire protection measures. The blocks are mostly less than 18
metres high which means they are not covered by the fund to replace unsafe
cladding and, in any case, it's not cladding which is the problem. Many
leaseholders are also facing huge costs paying for waking watches. The
Government needs to re-think its response to building safety and ensure
leaseholders who aren't responsible for the problem, are not lumbered with
the cost of sorting it out.

BBC QUESTION TIME

I was a panellist on Question Time on BBC1, alongside the Justice
Secretary, the shadow Health Secretary, Kate Andrews of the Spectator and
Victor Adebowale of the NHS Confederation. The questions covered Covid
travel restrictions and the exemption for UEFA officials; the collapse in
rape convictions and junk food advertising. The programme's still available
here [5].

BRIGHTON SMALL BUSINESSES 

I've worked closely with the Federation of Small Businesses throughout the
pandemic on business support, so it was good to meet virtually with some
local FSB representatives and businesses to talk about the challenges
they've faced, the ongoing support they need and their expectations as we
emerge from lockdown restrictions. Just as the restrictions have been
extended for 4 weeks, so the support to business should have been too. Part
of the meeting was spent looking at initiatives to promote apprenticeships
locally, and other opportunities for young people in the local economy.

END PERIOD PLASTIC  

It was great to meet up with award-winning local activist and
environmentalist Ella Daish who has been campaigning since 2018 to
eliminate all plastic from menstrual products. Period products contain up
to 90% plastic and take over 500 years to break down. As Ella points out,
that's over 7 times the average lifetime of the person using them, meaning
if Jane Austen had used them, they would still be decomposing today! Her
incredibly creative campaigning is already having some successes, and we
discussed ways we could work together, as well as her plans to expand her
activities into the rest of Europe.

SOLAR PANELS ON MY CONSTITUENCY OFFICE 

I'm delighted that my constituency office in the centre of Brighton now has
solar panels on the roof, installed by the community energy provider
BHESCo. I was invited on to the roof of the building (on a rather wet day!)
for community energy fortnight to see the panels - and the great view of
Brighton and Hove.



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Contacting Me

If you are a local resident and need help with case work or to find out more about my activities locally please do contact me at the office of: Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Media Centre 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL.
Tel: 01273 201 130. Email: [email protected]

I hold regular surgeries across the constituency. If you would like to book an appointment at a forthcoming surgery please call Liz Collis on 01273 201130.
She coordinates my constituency office and is able to help with most local enquiries.

If you would like to know about my parliamentary work please get in touch at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
Tel: 020 7219 7025. Email: [email protected]

You can also keep up to date with my news on:

Twitter: @carolinelucas

Facebook: /carolinelucas.page

My Website: www.carolinelucas.com

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