Labour MEP for the South East, Peter Skinner, has spoken out against the introduction of Tar Sands oil to Europe.

Tar Sands deposits in Canada are situated beneath boreal forest and are extracted using devastating industrial processes which are estimated to be three to five times more carbon intensive than those for more traditional forms of oil.  Extracting the oil will mean destroying a wilderness area larger than the state of Florida. Despite this the EU has come under pressure to label the fuel in the same category as conventional oil.

Supporting a campaign led by Lush cosmetics Peter Skinner said:

“In a carbon constrained world and at a time when we are trying to cut our greenhouse gas emissions across the board, it would be irresponsible to encourage the exploitation of a fuel source which is significantly more polluting than conventional oil.

“The introduction of oil from Canadian Tar Sands into the EU would mark a significant step back from EU targets for climate reduction, not to mention the potential damage it would do to the Canadian forests. We need keep our carbon foot print as low as possible to ensure a future for us all and for generations to come.”

Oil from Tar Sands does not only have devastating effects on the environment but also huge social and political costs.  Mr. Skinner is amongst a number of Labour MEPs who are campaigning for Tar Sands oil to be recognized as a CO2 intensive fuel source under the EU Fuel Quality Directive (FQD). This will discourage suppliers from using Tar Sands oil as it will make it harder to meet their climate change targets.

If you would like further information on this campaign please contact southeast {at} peterskinnermep(.)eu

Labour’s campaign for the General Election is in full swing across the South-East. Labour’s pledges are to :

• Secure the recovery
• Raise family living standards
• Build a high tech economy
• Protect frontline services
• Strengthen fairness in communities

So far I have been pleased to join members on the campaign trail:

* in Reading West where Naz Sarkar is standing (photo top left), Anneliese Dodds PPC for Reading East (photo top right)and Matt Rodda PPC for East Surrey (photo bottom left) were also there

* in Gillingham and Rainham where Paul Clark is seeking re-election

* in Chatham and Aylesford where Jonathan Shaw is seeking re-election

* and in Portsmouth North where Sarah Buckley-Ryan is seeking re-election

This is a crucial election - the Tories isolationist and backwards approach to Europe alone underlines the importance of the choice at stake.

I am looking forward to joining the campaign trail in a constituency near you.