Friend or FoE?

Friends of the Earth have seized on remarks made by the DUP MP William McCrea during last night's Parliamentary debate on the Climate Change bill. Dr McCrea told the Commons that his party supported the bill and the need to cut carbon emissions. As he made the comment, Dr McCrea referred to a "very sceptical colleague" sitting beside him.

FoE's Northern Ireland director John Woods suggested this was an "obvious reference to Sammy Wilson" (The DUP is presently checking this with Dr McCrea).

Welcoming the DUP support for the bill, FoE suggested this was evidence that Mr Wilson, the Stormont Environment minister, was out of step with his own party colleagues.

Of course, perhaps by way of making his "sceptical colleague" feel better, Mr McCrea did add:: "However I do not accept that we can say with authority that man is the sole contributor to the situation (climate change.)There are those who have overegged the case."

Foe's press release - largely dedicated to condemning Mr Wilson - didn't mention that bit.

It did however quote MP Rob Marris: "I am saddened that the Minister for the Environment of the Northern Ireland assembly should be 35 years behind in his thinking."

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