Hounslow's New Tory Mayor Blocks Debate on Nuclear Power

Published in Focus on Brentford on Tue 25th Jul 2006

Andrew Dakers

Hounslow's new Tory Mayor Councillor Barwood has blocked a Liberal Democrat motion calling on Hounslow Council to oppose expansion of Nuclear power. The Liberal Democrats tabled the motion for debate at tonight's council meeting.

The Mayor's excuse was that the Liberal Democrats had missed a deadline, but Liberal Democrat group leader Andrew Dakers has called this "anti-democratic" as the Council constitution is ambiguous in this area. Furthermore the council meeting agenda and reports were only released to councillors a whole four working days after the Liberal Democrats had tabled their motion.

Cllr Andrew Dakers commented:

"Clearly the Tories are terrified of a debate on this important issue of our times. A debate would expose how divided they are on this issue, and confused in their thinking.

"It is becoming increasingly obvious that the market - properly regulated to clean up the mess nuclear power creates and the insurance risk - will sensibly opt renewable energy. What is now needed is for all political parties to give their strongest possible support for an accelerated expansion of renewable energy R&D and implementation.

"The Council constitution says motions must be submitted 'seven working days' before a council meeting. We did that, submitting our motion on Friday 14 July. The current constitution contradicts itself with a footnote suggesting Thursday 5pm as a deadline.

"Given the Council released the agenda for the meeting three working days late, the interpretation of the constitution by the mayor is even more extraordinary and a direct challenge to our local democracy."