Sheffield Greens suggest holiday makers are 'shameful'

9.53.21am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 5th Oct 2006

Sheffield's Green Party have risked alienating local people by implying that those who take flights for holidays aboard are shameful. Lib Dems have responded by defending the rights of local people and challenging local Greens to list how many flights they have taken in the last five years. Sheffield's local Liberal Democrats support the party's recently adopted national policy on aviation tax, which will bring about higher taxes for the aviation industry. They believe in the basic principle that those who pollute more should pay more.

The Green Party's national website they list a 'Hall of Shame' regarding Liberal Democrats around the country. They list Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of Sheffield's Liberal Democrats, because he runs a holiday business selling trips to Vietnam.

Liberal Democrats have responded to the personal attack by challenging Green Party candidates who stood in the last local elections to list how many flights they have been on in the last five years. The challenge comes just days after a Green Party MEP was exposed for making a trip to India by plane after she gave the impression she doesn't fly.

Lib Dems believe that whilst carbon emissions from aviation needs to be tackled, those who work in the industry and other associated businesses should still be allowed to operate without being branded as shameful. Also people travelling abroad should be able to do so.

Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for the Environment, said: -

"This astonishing personal attack from the Green Party shows that underneath their fluffy public image there is a more menacing side to what they stand for. Which is not sensible green policies, but a desire to force people into their fundamental way of life"

"Branding those who work within the holiday and aviation industry as shameful is deeply disturbing. By doing this they imply that anyone who chooses to travel abroad by aeroplane have got something to be ashamed about, which is completely bonkers"

"Lib Dems believe in putting forward sensible policies, like reforming our tax system so that those who pollute more pay more. People should have the choice of flying abroad for their annual holiday"

"I challenge every Green Party candidate in the last local elections to make public how many flights they have been on in the last fives years. Perhaps once this information comes to light the Greens will not be so quick to launch these sanctimonious attacks on the honest holidaymaker"