MSP flies in...to call for climate action!

She claims aircraft was cheaper than the sleeper

SCOTTISH Labour’s environment spokesman flew to Edinburgh from Brighton to take part in a debate on climate change yesterday – as the train was too expensive.

Earlier, Claudia Beamish told a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference she would be flying to Scotland despite her concerns for the environment.

She said she had been ‘delighted to come down on the train’, but explained she would be flying back as she had not been able to find a cheap fare on the Caledonian Sleeper, which would have cost £180.

She insisted she had to lead for her party in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill debate.

At the Brighton event on stopping the extension of Heathrow, Miss Beamish said: ‘Even with my Senior Railcard that would have cost me, in order to lie down, which I kind of need to do, because it is the climate change debate which I am leading for Scottish Labour at stage 3 this week, £180. Single. Quite honestly, it is disgusting.’

The Scottish Government is pledging a new green crusade to slash emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 from the level in 1990. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham was forced to set a more ambitious target, up from 70 per cent, after Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats threatened to vote against the Bill.

Miss Cunningham had earlier been at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to announce her new targets – and used a ministerial car to make the ten-minute journey back to Holyrood.

Speaking yesterday, only hours after landing on a flight from London, Miss Beamish said ‘the climate emergency is here’ as she welcomed Miss Cunningham’s decision to raise the 2030 target from 70 to 75 per cent. She also called on the Government to ‘show the world it is taking a moral approach’.

The Climate Change Bill – which aims to have all emissions offset by 2045 – was passed by 113 votes to nil at the parliament. The Scottish Green Party abstained after claiming the target for 2030 was not ambitious enough.

The legislation will also mean citizens assemblies are set up so the public can advise ministers on how they believe the climate emergency should be handled. Miss Cunningham said: ‘No one should be in any doubt of the Scottish Government’s commitment to use every policy lever at our disposal to rise to this challenge. Our end target is firmly based on what we are told is the limit of what can be achieved.

‘It is the maximum possible ambition, based upon the best available science and requires the UK to take action to meet their targets if Scotland is to meet ours.

‘In the interim... we believe it is right to be as ambitious as possible to drive the action required to make the changes we need.’