Member of Parliament, Claudia Webbe MP, for Leicester East, has called for the government to ‘get serious’ and take real action on climate change, after the heaviest rain in many years led to floods and impassable roads across Leicester. As the country goes through this weather challenge, the MP, Claudia Webbe said: “In Leicester we’ve had more than a month’s worth of rain in just four days. Homes and businesses in Leicester East and across the city have been flooded and the River Soar is at its highest level.

“My team and I have been busy throughout, securing help for people trapped, stranded or flooded out and I am hugely thankful to all our Leicestershire and Leicester emergency services, local Environment Agency services, local councils, civic societies, mutual aid organisations, foodbanks, charity and voluntary organisations who have helped residents facing the awful impact of flooding. But local resources are overstretched, and we are being failed by central government.

“For years, the government has made noises about action to fight climate change, but the Conservatives keep delaying actual action, for example deferring the planned end to sales of petrol cars. Actions to build resilience and protect communities from flooding have seen similar disregard, with plans for flood defences cut by 40% and more than 500 defence schemes abandoned completely.

“The lack of seriousness about action and the lack of concern for people affected by the impacts of climate change are simply unacceptable. We have to end fossil fuel dependency urgently. Climate change is real and it’s time for the government to get serious about fighting it and protecting us from its effects.”