Tuesday, 14th April 2009

The Green Party Leader who claimed flying abroad for a holiday was as bad as stabbing someone in the street has been condemned by UKIP Deputy Leader David Campbell Bannerman.

UKIP's Eastern Region lead candidate in the Euro elections, Mr Campbell Bannerman, clashed with the Greens' Caroline Lucas on ITV's Leaders of Europe programme to be shown in the East of England.

The Green Party is targeting the Eastern region for an MEP seat.
 
Challenging Ms Lucas about her views on climate change on the TV programme Mr Campbell Bannerman asked her whether she thought flying to Spain, for example, was as bad as stabbing someone in the street, and Ms Lucas said: “Yes!… Because climate change kills."
 
After the show, Mr Campbell Bannerman said: “I was shocked at her response. This is the Leader of a supposedly respectable political party, now showing fascist tendencies.

"There can be no excuse for adopting such extremist language to describe ordinary people flying abroad for a well earned holiday. The Green Party has shown its true anti-libertarian, heavily interventionist colours. It is translating its misplaced fervour over unproven man-made global warming into direct attacks on personal freedom.
 
"She also used expressions like 'binge flying' which are absurd.  Air travel is generally a necessary part of a journey not a wicked extravagance, as the Greens think"

Mr Campbell Bannerman added: "Half the British population fly at least once a year. Yes, they should pay the true costs of that travel, including the environmental costs, but they should not be barred or vilified for doing so.“
 
“The Green Party is becoming reminiscent of a mad cult which maligns anyone who doesn't follow their faith. They are like 21st century Luddites trying to hold back progress, and they regard holidaymakers as environmental criminals.

"UKIP shows common sense on the environment, the Greens are just plane crazy!"

UKIP's common sense policy on the environment can be accessed here.

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