Tory grassroots back green measures - and cheap flights

Tory leader David Cameron has been trying to create a green image for his party

Tuesday, 03, Oct 2006 12:00

The green candidate triumphed in the first round of the Conservatives' Dragon's Den-style policy forum yesterday.

More than a quarter of delegates (29 per cent) at the Tory conference in Bournemouth backed company director Wendy Morton's plans to make all new homes capable of generating some of their own electricity.

The vote came after six potential Conservative MPs faced up to a panel reminiscent of BBC Two's Dragon's Den, including Ann Widdecombe, Oliver Letwin, former Tory MP and journalist Michael Brown and real-life Dragon Rachel Elnaugh.

Ms Morton's victory will have come as a relief to Mr Cameron's efforts to boost the party's green credentials, coming just hours after delegates voted to back budget flights despite their impact on the environment.

Members rejected a conference motion suggesting cheap flights were a "false economy" by 57 per cent to 43 per cent, suggesting the Tory leader may find it difficult to push through his green agenda.

But Ms Morton was clear about her priorities during her grilling by the Dragons, telling her audience: "Climate change is happening. It's happening now. We know fossil fuels are in limited supply."

She warned: "Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option, unless we want to see the palace of Westminster underwater."

Her rivals included Cornish GP Fiona Kemp, who proposed turning more power over to frontline NHS staff, and lawyer Anna Soubry, who wanted to lower the age of drinking and voting to 16, and raise the driving age to 18.

Ms Soubry is on the A-list of preferred Tory parliamentary candidates and has already been selected to fight the seat of Broxtowe at the next general election.

But Ms Morton won over delegates by appealing to their sense of environmental responsibility with her plan to see all new-build homes capable of generating some of their energy through solar panels, wind turbines or hydro power.

"Many, many people want to do their bit…if you are buying a new home…in the long term you will actually be saving money [on energy]," she said.

Similar events will be held throughout the week at the conference, with more candidates pitching their policy ideas and hoping for the approval of the party faithful.

Candidates who find favour with the conference will see their proposals taken up and examined by the party's policy unit, and possibly adopted as official Conservative policy.