Great British Energy Bill

I’m delighted at a huge legislative win for Lib Dems, campaigners and community groups last week when the government amended its Great British Energy Bill to give a strong steer that community energy and community benefits from renewable energy projects will now be included in the intentions of the Bill. This success illustrates how the LibDems may bring about small but significant changes in Parliament, even though Labour has such a large majority of MPs, through persistence, and wise use of Parliamentary opportunities, but often this involves taking risks and compromise. It also reminds us of how long change may sometimes take because we would have loved to have had this legislation in place when the Wedmore Community Power Co-operative developed its solar farm in the constituency more than ten years ago. 

I’m so pleased for everyone who has campaigned and spoken up over many years using the full range of Parliamentary tactics including speeches and interjections in the Commons and Lords, short focussed debates in Westminster Hall, and in Committee sessions discussing the details of the Bill. 

Even the final process of achieving the amendment took some smart tactics and involved calculated risks.  Firstly, LibDem MPs agreed not to pursue an amendment in the House of Commons, following a private meeting with the Minister of Energy where he committed the government to change the Bill in the Lords. The LibDems decided that trusting him to do this was the best chance to get real change. It wasn't easy either in the Lords because the government voted down some initial amendments. However, following cross-party support, the Minister for Energy in the Lords approached the LibDem Spokesperson and asked him to co-sponsor the government's own amendment. We would have liked the amendment to go a bit further but agreed to compromise because the amendment that we achieved gives a strong steer in the Bill for what we have fought for for so long. 

It is great to see that through playing such a role, the LibDems, with their record numbers of MPs, may be a constructive opposition to Labour, pushing Labour to make changes to its legislation. Thank you again to all those who trusted me last July with their vote so that I could play a part in this. 

Huge legislative win for Lib Dems, campaigners and community groups this week 💛💪🏻🤩🤗 through a joint and coordinated effort in both Houses. 

Congratulations to everyone who has campaigned and spoken up for community energy and community benefits from renewable energy projects in the Chamber, WH Debates and in Bill Committee sessions over many years. 

As you know, following a one on one with the Minister for Energy following the Bill Committee, we decided not to push to a vote in the Chamber our amendment on community energy which had cross-party support - and agreed that we would trust the Minister who said the government would bring about change to the Bill in the Lords. The campaign groups were suspicious and lacked trust (understandably) but we decided that this was the best chance to get real change.  It wasn't easy either in the Lords because the government voted down the initial amendments. However, following cross-party support, the Minister for Energy in the Lords approached our Spokes Earl Russell and asked him to co-sponsor the government's own amendment (see attached)

We would have liked the amendment to go a bit further but, in reality, it gives a strong statutory steer and means that community energy and community benefits will now included in the front face of the Bill!!   

The role of Lib Dems in achieving this has been recognised publicly by government in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords - and by campaign groups.

Kind regards, 

Tessa