Party games

EVERY political party is at pains to demonstrate how green they are.

We can’t become the sort of ‘green and pleasant land’ the eco-fanatics want overnight without a serious impact on the wellbeing of the majority of people.

The mega-rich will be able to ride out the storm, but the rest of us will bear the brunt.

Nimbys don’t want us to allow fracking; have nuclear power plants; build tidal barriers because they’re too expensive and hurt fish; or keep coal-fired power stations because they pollute the atmosphere. But they seem happy for us to import oil, coal and gas as long as the damage is done in someone else’s backyard.

When will politicians take the bull by the horns and have a cross-party consensus on reliable future energy needs? They have to do something for the generations to come and not just pander to those who will back them at the next general election.

EDWARD KYNASTON, Lydney, Glos. The energy shortage has been like seeing a car crash in slow motion. By all means bring on renewables, but why didn’t we keep tried-and-tested coal-fired power stations in reserve for when the wind is non-existent, the sun isn’t shining and we all put on the kettle at once?

JOHN BARSTOW, Pulborough, W. Sussex.