Lembit taking to stage with rocker

A leading Mid Wales politician has formed an unlikely alliance with Razorlight frontman, Johnny Borrell, for a one-off gig.

Montgomeryshire MP, Lembit Opik will team up with rocker Borrell for a gig that aims to ensure emissions from flying are included in the Climate Change Bill.

Mr Opik will be part of Borrell’s support group, The Aviators, which will give a rendition of John Denver’s classic, Leaving on a Jet Plane, at the gig in the aviation room of the Science Museum, London, on June 3.

The performance is part of the Friends of the Earth’s Big Ask campaign, which is urging the Government to include greenhouse gas emissions from aviation in the new Bill, which is going through Parliament.

Green campaigners want the law toughened to ensure flying and shipping are included in measures to curb greenhouse gases.

Mr Opik said: “Hundreds of my constituents have contacted me about The Big Ask campaign and I think it would be a great travesty to repay them with a climate law that doesn’t even count all of the UK’s emissions.

“I’m a private pilot myself so no-one can accuse me of creating anti-aircraft fire, but aviation must pull its environmental weight like any other industry and that’s why I’m taking part in this gig. All the other sectors of the economy are covered by this new law, aviation should be no exception.”

Other members of The Aviators will include MPs Anne Milton, Emily Thornberry, Ian Cawsey and Peter Wishart.

Martyn Williams, Friends of the Earth’s climate campaigner, said: “It’s plain unfair for all other sectors of the economy to play their part while the UK’s share of aviation and shipping remain outside the law.

“Johnny and our five intrepid MPs are taking to the stage to ensure our world-first climate law includes all of our emissions.”