Climate change debate hots up

In many respects, the response to the recent heatwave has been indicative of the polarised debate on global warming – have the summer-like temperatures been a freak occurrence or do they represent conclusive evidence that the climate is changing because of human activity?

With the influential Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change only 95 per cent certain that the global warming can be attributed to an expanding global population rather than natural occurrences, the debate will continue to simmer as the United Nations presses Britain and others to take even more affirmative action to reduce carbon emissions – including a greater willingness to embrace renewable energy.

Yet, while this report is likely to further empower Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey, who is a committed supporter of wind technology, in spite of experts from the Adam Smith Institute highlighting the limited effectiveness of onshore turbines in a major report, the Cabinet minister needs to consider the issue from the perspective of UK householders.

In light of last week’s dire warning by the National Grid about looming power shortages this winter, they want assurances from the Minister that he will not to rely on gimmicks to tackle this energy crisis. And they also want to know why they should continue to make financial sacrifices when Britain’s emissions are very small in comparison to the likes of America and China – two superpowers who appear very reluctant to take any notice of the pronouncements of the UN. Both points need to be addressed in the Government’s response.

Words of wisdom: Alan Johnson and a love of books

UNLIKE so many of those prototype politicians who have very little experience of life outside university – or Westminster, the charge cannot be levelled against the widely-respected West Hull and Hessle MP Alan Johnson. As his bestselling memoirs have chronicled, this is a politician who could not have endured a more troubled start to his life. Born into extreme poverty and abandoned by his father, he was brought up by his heroic sister Linda after their mother’s death at a tragically young age.

It is why Mr Johnson has always approached politics from a different perspective. He, and his family, always embraced work– and they appreciated the importance of education in spite of their harrowing personal circumstances. This is reflected by the former Minister’s recollections on the opposite page about how he would be dragged to the local library by his mother because she believed that “books were a good thing”.

As such, the Booktrust charity could not have a better qualified advocate as it looks to encourage more youngsters from under-privileged backgrounds to embrace the written word. Without a sound grasp of the English language, they will struggle academically and it is a source of great concern that Yorkshire’s literacy levels are the lowest in Britain.

Yet, while schools and organisations like Booktrust are working tirelessly to reverse this trend, more parents need to take responsibility for the education of their children.

As Mr Johnson says: “The best, most important thing you can give to a child is not toys or electronic gadgets but words. It’s also the cheapest.” It can only be hoped that more families, and all politicians who find themselves in a position of power or influence, take time to heed these very wise words of wisdom. They could not be more profound – or pertinent.

Miliband wobbles: Leader praised as Labour grumble

IF ED Miliband is doing such “a good job”, the surprising verdict of Yvette Cooper, why have the Labour leader’s wobbling poll ratings reached an all-time low and slumped below those of Nick Clegg?

Perhaps the Shadow Home Secretary and West Yorkshire MP should have taken heed of the Sutton Trust education charity which advises teachers not to lavish praise on pupils for minor achievements because this suggests that expectations were low in the first place. The same applies to politics – grumbling Labour activists want to know how Ms Cooper defines a “bad job” as the party’s support implodes in Scotland as their leader is widely mocked after joining others in wearing a T-shirt championing feminism when the garment was reportedly mass produced in a sweat-shop by workers on poverty pay.