Cat Smith

Over the last year, I have been holding regular MP forums with constituents who have written to me about different themes and issues. One such forum is the local eco-forum that I co-ordinate. At that event, my constituents ensure that their voices are heard, and I have promised to represent them in this Chamber as their local Member of Parliament. I hope the House will indulge me for the next two minutes if I quote issues that my constituents have raised with Rosebank. First, Gerard from Lancaster said that this summer’s weather made it clear that “the scale of Rosebank is fundamentally incompatible with any credible pathway to the UK’s climate commitments.” Frances from Pilling told me: “We can already see climate breakdown unfolding all around us.” Barbara from Garstang highlighted: “We’re already seeing the consequences in repeated and record-breaking heatwaves, devastating floods, failing harvests and rising food and insurance costs.” Another constituent, Laura, said: “As a young mother and a researcher whose work focuses on the effects of climate change on disease, I am deeply concerned about the future my daughter will face if we fail to act now.” The impact on our climate leadership was another theme that emerged, with Michael highlighting that the UN “has now said the world has failed to hold the Paris agreement pledge of keeping global temperature rises to under 1.5 degrees and that we must cut global emissions by 18% over the next four years to find our way back.” Oscar from Barnacre told me: “COP31 provides a huge opportunity that could define this government—to stand on the world stage and announce the rejection of the Rosebank oil field on climate grounds.” Indeed, that is something I hope we see in the coming days. The impacts on energy security and energy profiteering were also made clear, with various constituents stressing that this would not lower their bills or offer them the energy security they seek. I urge the Government to listen to my constituents and to recognise how unpopular a decision it would be to go ahead with the Rosebank development.