Wigan campaigners urge MPs and council to back environmental bill

Green activists showed their support in Wigan town centre for a bill in Parliament demanding a tough response to climate change.
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Extinction Rebellion (XR) Wigan and Stand Up To Racism unfurled banners backing the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE). They staged their protest on Market Place and outside the town hall and Wigan Life Centre.

The environmental campaigners also displayed signs about the bill outside the constituency office of Wigan MP Lisa Nandy as they urge local politicians and the council to give their support to it.

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XR Wigan and Stand Up To Racism backing the climate and ecology billXR Wigan and Stand Up To Racism backing the climate and ecology bill
XR Wigan and Stand Up To Racism backing the climate and ecology bill
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XR Wigan and Stand Up To Racism is looking to drum up more support for the bill in the borough.

None of the four MPs whose constituencies are located wholly or partly in Wigan or Leigh have signed up as a supporter of the bill, although West Lancashire parliamentarian Rosie Cooper is on the list.

Wigan Council is also absent from the 20 local authorities which have passed motions supporting it.

XR Wigan said it is vitally important that Ms Nandy, Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue and Conservative MP for Leigh James Grundy support the bill.

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Environmental campaigners say radical and rapid action is required and currently ministers’ words on climate change are not backed up by their actions.

An XR Wigan spokesperson said: “We share many people’s frustration at the lack of action both by local and national governments, who declare a climate emergency then do very little but talk and put out sound bites saying how good they are.

“Boris Johnson says we are world leaders on climate change but his government can’t even organise the very limited home insulation scheme which has failed to spend the money allocated to it.

“Wigan Council’s record is equally dismal.

“We need action now that is democratic by creating citizens assemblies.

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A Stand Up To Racism spokesperson said: “It’s important that ordinary people understand it’s not a choice between saving the planet for their children and having jobs now.

“It’s up to the government to fulfil their aims by making sure local towns like Wigan and Leigh are supported properly so that they can bring about clean transport, sustainable industry, and good quality local green jobs.”

Find out more at www.ceebill.uk

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