#GE2015: Lib Dem Energy and Climate Change Secretary loses seat

A democratic night of the long knives saw Liberal Democrat Secretary of State Ed Davey lose his Commons seat. A 7,560 Lib Dem majority was smashed by a 2,834 Conservative majority.

Lib Dem Ed Davey took over from the disgraced Lib Dem Chris Huhne (whose seat was won in the by-election following his resignation, but lost last night to the Conservative party) in 2012 and did a credible job as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. He remains in his post until a new government is formed but lost his parliamentary seat to the Conservative party.

Lib Dem policies came second on the environment with Vote for Policies. Their policies were:

– In the next Parliament bring forward five green laws that will guarantee a permanently greener Britain.

– A Nature Act ­ to introduce legal targets for biodiversity, clean air, clean water and access to green space, establish the Natural Capital Committee in law, extend the ‘Right to Roam’ and establish new marine and coastal reserves.

– A Green Buildings Act ­ to boost renewable and district heating programmes, bring in tough new energy efficiency standards for homes, and step up action on fuel poverty ­ to cut energy bills. Including a national programme to insulate homes with a Council Tax cut if you take part.

– A Resource Efficiency and Zero Waste Britain Act ­ to set Britain on a path to a ‘circular economy’, establishing a ‘Stern Report’ on resource use, with binding targets and a clear action plan to reduce waste and end landfill.

– A Zero Carbon Britain Act ­ To Strengthen the Climate Change Act targets, introduce a decarbonisation target for the electricity sector and end the use of dirty coal power stations.

– A Green Transport Act ­ To help establish a full network of charging points for electric cars, incentivise greener travel choices and update planning law and ensure new developments are designed around walking, cycling and public transport.

If the exit poll is correct then the returning Prime Minister David Cameron will run a minority government or win an overall majority.

The Lib Dems will be out of government, unless Cameron decides he needs them.

Fare well Ed Davey.

Photo: Department of Energy and Climate Change via Flickr

Further reading:

#GE2015: share of votes, not seats, should confer a government’s #legitimacy

#GE2015: Vote for Policies ‘exit poll’