Congleton parties react to Liz Truss as Prime Minister
By Alex Greensmith
7th Sep 2022 | Local News
Political parties in Congleton have been asked to respond to the news that Liz Truss has become Britain's next Prime Minister.
The four main political parties in Congleton which have recently stood for parliament, include Labour, Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party,
Congleton's MP Fiona Bruce did not respond to comment from Congleton Nub News regarding the reaction to the news, or on whether she wishes to continue her Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief role.
Congleton Conservatives have been contacted for comment.
Cheshire East Green Party's Richard McCarthy was the only Congleton resident to provide a statement, but the two other left-leaning parties did also reply.
"Over the last 50 years, first the super wealthy, then the obviously wealthy, and now just the wealthy in general, have been paying less and less taxation," said Richard.
"Undoubtedly the Truss Govt should reverse that trend, but to do so would go against all her election statements on the subject.
"As for her quick reference to improving energy supply to address the cost of living crisis – we can only hope that she is speaking about renewables.
"If it were to do with oil and gas, it would imply that accelerating British production could somehow have an effect on World prices – which it can't (most British oil, for example, is exported, and we usually import more than we produce). It will simply help international companies extracting resources from British jurisdiction to maximise this (last?) opportunity to make huge money – or Dirty Profits.
"The fact that the Conservatives have been electorally fossil fuel funded by more than a million pounds in the last couple of years might be seen by some as the reason for so far preventing a Dirty Profits or Windfall Tax.
"In Cheshire, we need to be aware of the fossil fuel industry's arguments for fracking for gas. These ignore the fact that the USA and Canada each had enormous increases in methane emissions when they began fracking. Methane is 30 times as potent a greenhouse gas as CO2 over a century, but more importantly, 88 times as powerful over twenty years.
"We should remember that if we are to save the planet, the next twenty years are the most important, and this unstoppable increase in methane emissions is not only detrimental to both wildlife and humanity in the affected areas, it also completely negates the arguments for gas being a cleaner fuel than oil and coal. Fracked gas is not natural gas. Fracked gas is very, very dirty.
"But, as interesting as the tiny policy snippets from Liz Truss are, so is what she has NOT said - anything about long term solutions. Unlike continental Europe, we really need to insulate our buildings, and at the same time to retrofit our heating equipment with demonstrated, proven and efficient technologies. We know that these are solutions; we just need a Government that will open the gates to change. It took us a decade to switch from town gas to natural gas (methane) in the '60s. We now need to change in a similar timeframe, but with about 40% more homes than we had then.
"Boris Johnson never actually instigated any kind of plan for care for the elderly. Has he bequeathed it to Truss? We are also still missing any Governmental, systematic response to mental health difficulties being faced right across Britain – something being accelerated by worries over energy and food price rises. Etc. etc.
"In general, Liz Truss appears to be in the Boris Johnson mould of bending or breaking regulations – her brother testifies that she would change the rules of games when they were kids, so that she would win. Johnson combined such an attitude with the use of a very right wing press to obfuscate what is being done. Fortunately, there is a rise in internet-based media, not owned by billionaires, which is therefore far more independent and more able and ready to question Govt.
"We can hope, as a nation, that Liz Truss has grown up since she was a child, like the average human being. Those of us who don't just rely on hope, and who noted the Truss statements about Union membership and strikes, and the closeness of Conservative Govt and big Business, need to be on our guard to prevent even further assaults on our civil liberties than those which have already occurred under Johnson."
Cheshire East Labour group used the opportunity to claim Truss' cost of living plans will leave four million families "out in the cold" this winter, including many in South Cheshire.
They cited Labour's Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP, who recently alleged that Liz Truss' cost of living plans will leave four million families without any additional support – while Labour's plans would save minimum wage earners more than £40 a week in Cheshire East, they claim.
Leader of Cheshire East Council. Councillor Sam Corcoran said climate change is the biggest challenge facing this generation but it was hardly featured in the leadership contest.
A spokesperson said: "In the wake of Ofgem's announcement that energy bills will go up by 80 per cent, Rachel Reeves accuses the Government of failing to meet the scale of the national emergency.
"Under Truss' plans a couple living outside London, both working full-time and earning the average wage with one child will not be eligible for any additional cost of living support. It means almost four million families would miss out.
"There are almost 100 areas where families on an average wage will lose out under Truss' plans - including South Cheshire."
Councillor Sam Corcoran, Labour Leader of Cheshire East Council, explained: "Labour's plans include insulating 19 million homes.
"This will reduce carbon emissions and help tackle climate change as well as reducing energy bills by up to £1,000 per home.
"Climate change is the greatest challenge facing our generation, but it has hardly been mentioned in the Conservative leadership contest."
The Liberal Democrats had their Chair and Alsager Town Councillor Phil Williams respond to Nub News.
Cllr Williams said: "The result of the Conservative Party leadership contest was not only 'the longest job interview in history' as acknowledged by the winner, Liz Truss, but also entirely predictable.
"Her majority may not have been as large as anticipated but demonstrates the success of her strategy, to court neo-Thatcherite elements within the 172,000 membership of a party already lurching to the right."
Cllr Williams added Liz Truss has consistently demonstrated that she has "her eye on the main chance" and sets her sails "to catch whatever wind blows to her advantage".
"She rapidly abandoned the left-wing traditions of her Scottish family and the liberalism of her youth to court support from the most reactionary elements of the Conservative Party," added Cllr Williams.
"She has even conveniently declared herself a 'born again Brexiter' despite her previous stance as a Remainer. 'Deliver, deliver, deliver,' is her mantra. Stand and deliver, more like.
"The Conservative Party's ability to maintain resilience and party unity is matched only by the consistency with which it fails to deliver on its bottomless promises.
"The Conservative leadership contest was ill-mannered and acidic, and acknowledged as such by many Party members and councillors.
"Yes, politicians are entitled to change their minds and shift position, but in this case it smacks too much of naked careerism and personal ambition.
"We will see whether Truss will 'deliver' on anything other than climbing the slippery pole of political advancement.
"Had I the choice, I would have gone for Sunak as the lesser of two evils."
"The only crumb of comfort I can see now is the boost Truss may give to the opposition parties. Delivering the end of Conservative misrule would be a welcome outcome."
There was no reference in Cllr Williams statement to Truss' Liberal Democrat affiliation in her youth.
Unlike Cllr Williams, it was not clear whether Congleton's MP was a Sunak or Truss supporter, as she chose to keep her views private. Truss, unlike Sunak, did not visit Congleton on the campaign trail.
Now it is your turn Congleton, what politics would you like to see the UK's new Prime Minister adopt?
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