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Blair and his helicopter - Charlie Bolton, 13 February

Dear Sir

Well, every now and again, I look at other political parties and think maybe they aren't so bad after all. Normally, when this happens they prove me wrong.

Take the story about Tony Blair who decided to 'criss-cross' the UK by helicopter, to launch his election pledges.

Is this the same Tony Blair who said that 'climate change is the biggest long-term crisis facing us'?

Because if it is, it shows that he just doesn't get it. He is suffering from what I choose to call 'Newbury bypass syndrome'. 'Newbury bypass syndrome' afflicts politicians who don't let principles get in the way of grabbing as many votes as possible by any means possible. (It is named after the Liberal Democrats of Newbury who supported the building of the Newbury bypass, while at the same time belonging to a party which proclaims its environmental principles).

Well, if our Tone was serious about climate change, did he really have to take a gas-guzzling flight to several parts of Britain as part of some publicity stunt (presumeably with staff, security, and press all forced to tag along). Of course not.

If he was serious, he would take personal responsibility for his own pollution, and find ways of cutting it. (In this case, if he really needed to launch all those pledges, he could have done it all from London).

It makes me start to think that all his talk about climate change is just that - talk.

I hope I am wrong.

Charlie Bolton
Parliamentary candidate
Bristol South Green Party