News Article
Solar Lobby Descends On Parliament
Over 700 people from across the solar power industry joined Caroline Lucas, Leader of the Green Party and Caroline Flint, Shadow Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, to call for a rethink on the Government's solar plans.
The protests, organised by a coalition of solar companies and green groups under the 'Cut Don't Kill' campaign, was designed to highlight the 25,000 jobs under threat from the Government's proposals. Caroline Flint, the recently appointed shadow energy secretary, and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas also slammed the proposals at a lunchtime rally.
"There has to be a change. I think they've got it wrong. I think they've handled it very badly and I think its up to all of us to keep the pressure up because this is about how we grow an industry for the future and there's never been a more important time to get that right."
Commenting on the lobbying efforts, Friends of the Earth's executive director Andy Atkins said the proposals in their current form "will pull the plug" on thousands of jobs.
"The solar industry has been one of the UK's brightest success stories in the last two years, helping homes and communities across the country free themselves from expensive fossil fuels," he said. "We believe these plans are illegal as well as ill-advised - so we are taking action to bring ministers to court."
