Rudi Vis, the former Finchley and Golders Green MP who died recently, was an outspoken parliamentarian on many issues. He signed a total of 14,910 Early Day Motions (EDMs) — the third highest number by any MP over the 13 years he served. By a variety of other initiatives he also supported causes relating variously to local services, human rights, animal welfare and the environment. He tabled a number of EDMs of his own, including several on the environmental and human impacts of large-scale biofuels.
Biofuels, which are now an obligatory component of UK forecourt fuel, are probably causing far more carbon emissions than they are saving — and that is according to the European Union’s own in-house scientists. Biofuels have also made millions more hungry again via higher food prices and are threatening a wealth of exotic wildlife through deforestation.
This, not the banks or MPs’ expenses, is the biggest breaking scandal of the last few years. Now, will the new MPs and Government take a principled stand on it?
Jim Roland, Golders Gardens, Golders Green
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