Forum Topic

Insulate Britain Get Windy

What this really means is despite all the big talk the morons don't want to go to prison after all.🙄 What a shame I was looking forward to it, especially for chief prat Liam Norton IB co-founder and former XR activist. Insulate Britain announces it's suspending its campaign of 'civil resistance' in letter to PM:http://news.sky.com/story/insulate-britain-announces-its-suspending-its-campaign-of-civil-resistance-in-letter-to-pm-12433530

Sue Hammond ● 1572d16 Comments

You can see why there is an emphasis on insulation now!We don't know what changes there will be to the National Grid and there has been a lot of talk about a carbon emissions tax.Heat Pumps were one of the subjects on You and Yours today:https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qps9

Philippa Bond ● 1566d

Michael if there was a progressive energy tax, i.e. the more gas you use the more expensive it is, then that would be an incentive for large houses to use heat pumps. Low interest loans could also be provided.As for renter's the state already requires landlords to conform to certain minimum requirements adding energy efficiency should be no different. Another case for low interest loans. At the moment we have a regressive tax and energy policy. The more gas you use the cheaper it is per unit. While those on pre pay etc pay more for less.Obviously the idea of progressive tax is a bit old fashioned (pre new Labour) and with both the main parties now only representing homeowners it is unlikely to get implemented. With opposition support dropping perhaps other parties/movements will pick the idea up.

Ed Robinson ● 1566d

Ed. Generalising when in a hurry is always a problem. London properties are certainly unaffordable compared to several decades ago - doubt we could afford a house in Putney now! I was just trying to emphasis that this is a multi dimensional problem. However, if you look at the thread on heat pumps it looks like some incentives might be necessary to get home owners to invest change (and I'd include landlords in that) as some seem keen to keep their current carbon producing machines. One could add more tax to gas but then the poor renting from landlords who refuse to change their properties' heating methods will suffer? Perhaps governments shouldn't have been too keen to promote home ownership and reduce public housing stocks that they'd invested in?

Michael Ixer ● 1566d

Ed. Generalising when in a hurry is always a problem. London properties are certainly unaffordable compared to several decades ago - doubt we could afford a house in Putney now! I was just trying to emphasis that this is a multi dimensional problem. However, if you look at the thread on heat pumps it looks like some incentives might be necessary to get home owners to invest change (and I'd include landlords in that) as some seem keen to keep their current carbon producing machines. One could add more tax to gas but then the poor renting from landlords who refuse to change their properties' heating methods will suffer? Perhaps governments shouldn't have been too keen to promote home ownership and reduce public housing stocks that they'd invested in?

Michael Ixer ● 1566d

Michael,Regarding not all property owners are rich:Of course: That isn't an argument for taxpayers money. In the case of property rich/ cash poor a low interest loan secured against the property could be achieved.Property owners who are not property rich or cash rich then that is a good case for grants depending on size value and appropriate occupancy of the property. I.e it would make no sense giving grants to an under occupied  property for example.With regard to rent and ownership I think we you may be on an entirely different planet! Accept/significant as if house prices are not way beyond average earning!

Ed Robinson ● 1567d

Ed. IB haven't thought that through. However, a number of points to note:The tax system is wrong - perhaps the starting limit for income tax is too low, a review of tax subsidies for carbon producing industries is also needed.Not all home owners are wealthy and not all those renting are poor. The model is more complex - some people make a choice to rent, others to purchase their homes; ok, I'd accept there are some - probably a significant number - who are too poor to ever consider purchasing a home.The whole tax and wealth system is complex - and wealth is relative. The issue is we need to implement changes to stop  the climate emergency; some home owners may not have the spare wealth to pay for it, others will need encouragement. Something more subtle than the IB demand is needed.

Michael Ixer ● 1567d

Simon, it is IB second demand (see below). Government to pay the costs not the homeowner - effectively redistributing wealth to homeowners.WE DEMAND 2) That the UK government immediately promises to produce within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit , with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy.https://www.insulatebritain.com/

Ed Robinson ● 1567d

Perhaps I'm being a bit dim but I can't find anything to do with wealth redistribution like you mention. Any links or further info?

Simon Sharp ● 1567d

Simon IB second demand is that we should give cash/property rich people tax payers money therefore increasing the wealth divide.The fact that many of the protesters fall into the category that will benefit at the expense of less well off tax payers appears to have escaped them.There are plenty of alternative ways to meet their aims that would actually be more effective.

Ed Robinson ● 1567d

Paid by who? If they had less disruptive means, would you otherwise support them?

Simon Sharp ● 1567d

It's because they are being paid for sitting around doing nothing, stopping people who want to go to work, also Emergency Vehicles as well.

Barbara Stevens ● 1567d

Why do people hate XR and Insulate so much? There seems to be a violent hatred for them. Their goals in life are so important and it's not like they are advocating any thing bad either. Their methods are quite dramatic but why are more people not more in support of the cause?

Simon Sharp ● 1567d

Nah, they're suspending their operations for Winter... Don't want to be caught doing their work when a storm rolls in and frankly, the drivers in front will be sat there warm in their cars.

Thomas Jones ● 1568d

We are all wrong. Its half term so they are flying off for a week in sunny spain or elsewhere with the grandkids.

Andy Pike ● 1572d

I agree, Andy.  
Meanwhile over at XR, topless XR activist, Laura Amherst, has gone on a hunger strike.  Have you met her, Matt?

Martine Guy ● 1572d

The power of a right hander from a lorry driver possibly.??

Andy Pike ● 1572d