Neil O'Brien MP: Climate Timeline

• Timeline
• Votes
• Speeches
• Tweets
• Contact

Neil O'Brien's Climate-related Tweets, Speeches & Votes

We've found the following climate-related tweets, speeches & votes by Neil O'Brien

• 19 Nov 2024: Tweet

  I met with local farmers this morning. They're concerned not just about family farms being broken up by inheritance tax, but also other Budget measures including the hefty Carbon Tax on fertiliser - which their competitors in other countries won't have to pay. https://x.com/NeilDotObrien/status/1858883795820118379/photo/1 [Source]

• 19 Nov 2024: Tweet

  I met with worried several generations of local farmers this morning. They're concerned not just about family farms being broken up by inheritance tax, but also other Budget measures including the hefty Carbon Tax on fertiliser, which their competitors in other countries won't… https://x.com/i/web/status/1858883682066366796 https://x.com/NeilDotObrien/status/1858883682066366796/photo/1 [Source]

• 12 Nov 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  It was sad to see the scrapping of the dualling of the A1 through Northumberland. Land and houses had been bought up to allow for the work, which makes it even worse. I was astonished to see that in the Budget, although there was lots of capital for other things, including the different things that the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Ed Miliband) wants to do on net zero, there was an overall reduction in capital transport spending. I was really surprised by that. I do not really understand what the logic was.

  Full debate: School Transport: Northumberland

• 30 Oct 2024: Tweet

  People investing their own money = better for growth than Reeves "investing" Of £24.5bn capital spend increase 23/24-25/25: +£7bn on net zero schemes (mainly carbon capture) -£300m CUT to transport +£500m more capital in aid spend +£600m DEFRA (big thing=peatland resoration) https://x.com/NeilDotObrien/status/1851679519565885637/photo/1 [Source]

• 30 Oct 2024: Tweet

  People investing their own money is better for growth than Reeves "investing" Of capital spending increase 23/24-25/25: +£7 billion on net zero schemes (mainly carbon capture) -£300m CUT to transport +500m more capital in overseas aid +600m DEFRA (big thing=peatland resoration) [Source]

• 21 Oct 2024: Tweet

  If Ed Miliband does ever produce a costing of his Net Zero Grid by 2030 plan, we'll need to check against the reality on the ground - which is proving more expensive than assumed. https://twitter.com/aDissentient/status/1846488014203048063 [Source]

• 21 Oct 2024: Tweet

  If Ed Miliband does ever produce a costing of his Net Zero Grid by 2030 plan, we'll need to check agains the reality on the ground - which is proving more expensive than assumed. https://twitter.com/aDissentient/status/1846488014203048063 [Source]

• 18 Oct 2024: Tweet

  As a political wheeze to try and legitimise a massive debt-fuelled splurge they are going to set up an "Office for Value for Money". Yet Ed Miliband won't even publish a costing of his mad plan for a Net Zero grid by 2030. Irony is on life support. https://twitter.com/faisalislam/status/1847176855029244324 [Source]

• 13 Oct 2024: Tweet

  This week I asked Ed Miliband if he would publish a costing of his plans for a net zero grid (a costing was commisioned by @ClaireCoutinho). He said work on the costing was "ongoing" and made no commitment to publish it. https://x.com/NeilDotObrien/status/1845383454839447577/video/1 [Source]

• 13 Oct 2024: Tweet

  Superb longread on energy policy by @Jonathan__Leake and @mattotele. Quotes industry sources saying like extension for reactors will not be significant, making Ed Miliband dash for net zero grid by 2030 even more expensive. ???? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/10/13/why-age-of-energy-rationing-is-looming-for-britain/ https://x.com/NeilDotObrien/status/1845382149232292244/photo/1 [Source]

• 11 Oct 2024: Tweet

  And there are a variety of environmental reasons why you might think a net zero-obsessed government would want to do more in our cities: energy use and emissions are lower in cities because of denser housing (which use less heat) and lower usage of car transport. [Source]

• 8 Oct 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  The previous Secretary of State commissioned the Department to produce a full economic costing for getting to a fully decarbonised renewables-based grid by 2030, as the Secretary of State wants. That is obviously the sort of information that should be placed before the House so that we can have an informed discussion. It may be a good thing to do, but we should obviously know what the cost is. When will the Secretary of State publish that information?

  Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions

• 04 Oct 2024: Tweet

  We have loaded up our economy with many different demands. We want to spend on being a world leader in aid & defence & public services & to cut the cost of living. The demand to also be a world leader in paying to decarbonise is just one of many competing demands on our economy. [Source]

• 04 Oct 2024: Tweet

  Instead, we could have been & still could be more like France. If we build a big slug of nuclear that is likely to be a cheaper and less risky way to decarbonise than creating a grid that is incredibly dependent on intermittent wind and as-yet-non-existent storage technologies. [Source]

• 04 Oct 2024: Tweet

  The dash for a net zero grid by 2020 will mean the (already high) costs of energy in the UK will go even higher, as we have to start paying for VERY expensive storage, on top of the cost of rapid renewable rollout. [Source]

• 23 Feb 2024: Tweet

  RT @ahawksbee: This is a national crisis, as worthy of political attention as climate change or the risks from AI. We have to stop treati… [Source]

• 19 Jan 2024: Tweet

  RT @t848m0: We probably should intervene but it’s entirely pointless if we continue with the same high cost energy policy and carbon taxati… [Source]

• 08 Jan 2024: Tweet

  RT @FredSimonEU: French gvt just tabled a new law that basically scraps renewable energy targets in France and reinstates nuclear as the ma… [Source]

• 21 Sep 2023: Tweet

  RT @RishiSunak: This important thread shows we’re so far ahead of every other country in the world on Net Zero. So how can it be right tha… [Source]

• 2 Mar 2023: Parliamentary Speech

  The energy bills discount scheme will provide all eligible non-domestic energy users, such as hospices, with a discount on high energy bills until March 2024. It will apply to all UK domestic energy users in the voluntary and public sector, including hospices. We will invest up to £5.5 billion to support those non-domestic users. Furthermore, hospices may also be entitled to a reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% and exclusion from the main rates of the climate change levy on the energy they use for non-business purposes, as long as they meet the criteria in the scheme.

  Full debate: Hospice Sector: Fiscal Support and Cost of Living

• 26 Oct 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  The collaborative approach is intended to help each trust to get the most from its available funding, while avoiding repetition of works. For example, modern construction methods and net zero techniques will be embedded in the programme from the outset, as my hon. Friend called for. That will maximise the benefits of the programme and ensure that we get the best value for money for taxpayers in Kettering and across the country. The commitment to fund a programme of new hospitals is an exciting opportunity to build the next generation of intelligent healthcare facilities, as well as to embed a long-term capability to manage future capital investment into the NHS, which is much needed.

  Full debate: Kettering General Hospital Redevelopment

• 19 Oct 2022: Vote

  Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 29 Jun 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Scotland Office are delighted that the UK Government’s freeport programme is being extended to Scotland. UK Government funding of up to £52 million for two new green freeports will boost Scotland’s economy by regenerating communities, creating high-quality jobs and supporting the transition to a net zero economy.

  Full debate: Freeports: Economic Impact

• 28 Jun 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  I therefore urge the Minister to accept the amendment, not least because—going back to what Dr Benwell said—there is a very important omission in the legislation about our natural environment. Climate change is the biggest driver of global inequality, as well as a massive factor in national inequality, and the biggest challenge facing us all—something that one day the Treasury will have to address. It is essential that we enable Parliament to have a say over the direction of the levelling-up missions.

  Full debate: Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Sixth sitting)

• 18 Jan 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  We have talked about the different funding streams backing local opportunities. As a few people mentioned, the levelling-up fund is putting £87 million into a range of different local priorities, with transport upgrades in Bedfordshire, new science facilities in Peterborough, upgrades to the coastal attractions in Southend, and £20 million to help Great Yarmouth to recapitalise on its cultural heritage and the unique strength that it has in green energy. New money from the levelling-up fund could help to transform the fortunes of a town such as Luton, with new housing in the centre of town or the new community and business space. Those are important things to help turn around the fortunes of that town.

  Full debate: Levelling Up: East of England

• 13 Dec 2021: Vote

  Subsidy Control Bill — Schedule 1 - The subsidy control principles - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 8 Dec 2021: Parliamentary Speech

  I know that my hon. Friend is passionate about the role that East Anglia could play in the emerging green economy, about which he talked in his speech. I share his enthusiasm for developing our emerging industrial strengths in areas such as offshore wind, the use of nuclear and hydrogen fuels, and carbon capture technology. The transition to net zero presents a real opportunity to support communities that may be impacted by climate change and flooding, and also to drive levelling up across the country. The Government are working closely with local partners to ensure that we maximise the economic growth opportunities that emerge from the transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as support communities around the country to adapt to the impact of climate change. I know that there are several examples in my hon. Friend’s constituency of communities taking advantage of those opportunities: for example, the ambition to create a self-sustaining hub at power park in Lowestoft, or Associated British Ports’ £25 million investment in the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility to create more quayside space, create deeper water, and provide officers and additional facilities for crew transfer vehicles. All that drives local economic growth.

  We are proud to lead the world by ending our own contribution to climate change—not just because it is the right thing to do but because we are determined to seize this unprecedented opportunity to boost local economies. We want to build back better from the pandemic by building back greener and levelling up our country with high-skilled, high-wage, sustainable new jobs in every part of the UK. As part of that, “The ten point plan for a green industrial revolution” will mobilise £12 billion of Government investment, and potentially three times that from the private sector, to create and support up to 250,000 British jobs in clean energy, clean transport, nature recovery and innovative new technologies. Taken together, those programmes are helping to maximise the economic potential of my hon. Friend’s constituency.

  Full debate: Enterprise Zones: Waveney

• 3 Nov 2021: Parliamentary Speech

  This is levelling up in action—investing in projects across the whole of the UK that will make a real difference to people’s lives. Supporting those on low incomes to become budding entrepreneurs, investing in local businesses and councils at the forefront of our decarbonisation drive, and funding new education and training facilities that will help people go far but stay local. Through this fund we are also empowering local leaders to shape the places they live, guaranteeing that these investments have a lasting impact.

  Over £1 million to upskill people in retrofit and modern construction skills in Devon to support the decarbonisation drive in the property sector, helping people get construction jobs and ensuring businesses have the skills they need.

  Full debate: UK Community Renewal Fund

• 19 Oct 2021: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue today. To raise our sights a bit, the main purpose of the green belt is to ensure that our towns and cities grow in a sustainable way. In the lead-up to the UN climate change conference—COP26—the enormous potential of the green belt and other greenfield land is very visible, helping to support climate change resilience, as part of our green infrastructure, and as an aid to help the natural world to grow and recover. That makes it all the more important for communities to be able to engage with the planning process, making full use of the new digital tools available, to ensure that councillors and planning authorities make the right decisions when they come to balance homes and jobs with protecting our precious countryside for future generations to come.

  Full debate: Greenbelt: Local Plans

• 07 Jun 2021: Vote

  Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill — New Clause 1 - Human Rights Abuses - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 26 May 2021: Vote

  Environment Bill — New Clause 24 - Prohibition on burning of peat in upland areas - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 13 Jan 2021: Vote

  Financial Services Bill — Schedule 2 - Prudential regulation of FCA investment firms - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 08 Dec 2020: Vote

  Delegated Legislation — Financial Assistance to Industry - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye

• 16 Nov 2020: Vote

  Pension Schemes Bill [Lords] — Clause 124 - Climate change risk - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 12 Oct 2020: Vote

  Agriculture Bill — After Clause 42 - Contribution of agriculture and associated land use to climate change targets - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye

• 8 Oct 2020: Parliamentary Speech

  A sprawl-focused approach is bad for the environment and for the Prime Minister’s target of net zero. In cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester, the household emissions are 15% lower than the national average. The transport emissions are 35% lower—there is more walking, more cycling and more public transport—and yet they are being asked to deliver 37% fewer houses than they are delivering at the moment, so that is bad for the environment, exercise and health, because people who live in cities walk twice as much as those who live in villages, and there is more cycling. It is also bad for productivity because the places we are slashing the housing targets for are those that are seeing faster productivity growth. Successive Governments have been trying, whether with the northern powerhouse, the modern industrial strategy or now levelling up, to target urban growth to get the productivity of our great cities going again. That is what we were trying to do instead of just going back to a south-east-centric, shire model of growth and what we had in the 1980s.

  Full debate: Planning and House Building

• 29 Sep 2020: Vote

  United Kingdom Internal Market Bill — New Clause 6 - Economic development: climate and nature emergency impact statement - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 05 Feb 2020: Vote

  Transport - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No

• 25 Jun 2019: Vote

  Delegated Legislation — Value Added Tax - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye