Some 330,000 more properties will be at serious risk of flooding in 2035 thanks to Government inaction over climate change, Labour will warn.
With the Environment Agency today warning of heightened flood risk in some parts of England, shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle is poised to declare the Coalition has shown ‘indifference, inaction and hostility’ towards climate change.
In a speech tomorrow, Eagle will say: ‘The choice facing the country at the next election is between a Conservative Party that has broken its promises to take climate change seriously and has no answers to the huge challenges we face and the Labour party, who offer a changed approach – one where we protect our climate for families, their homes and businesses’.
MPs recently warned flooding could return unless the Government ‘takes action’ to raise funding for defence maintenance.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: ‘There are actually fewer properties at future risk of flooding than when Labour were last in power. And don't just take our word for it - that's what their own figures show’.
‘Contrary to what Labour will tell you, Britain has seen real improvements in its flood defences these past four years. This hasn't happened by accident. Because this Government has taken difficult decisions on the deficit - and cut wasteful spending elsewhere – we’ve been able to spend more on flood defences, helping families plan for the future with confidence.’
