POP star Lily Allen helped MPs to deliver one of the biggest-ever rebellions against Gordon Brown when they defied the government on efforts to tackle climate change.
Thirty-three Labour MPs voted against their party and demanded the introduction of a system of rewards for people who install solar panels and wind turbines at home.
Ms Allen had written to all MPs in advance of a debate on the Energy Bill calling
for them to back an amendment that would have forced the government to devise a reward scheme within a year.
The move was defeated by 250 votes to 210, but only after the government – which opposed the move on cost grounds – was forced to call its supporters back from campaigning in the English and Welsh local elections.
At present, about 2 per cent of the UK's energy comes from renewable sources – a situation that Allen described as a "national disgrace".
Critics believe that the government's cautious approach will increase the amount of renewable energy to just 5 per cent by 2020 – missing the 15 per cent European Union target.
They want the UK to copy a scheme in Germany where homeowners, farmers, small businesses and owners of public buildings are paid a fixed amount for every unit of renewable energy they generate. Around 14 per cent of Germany's energy is from renewable sources.
The full article contains 232 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
