Hoon banned from Latitude for plane stoopid plan

Geoff Hoon MP, Secretary of State for Transport, has been banned from attending the 2009 Latitude festival after Melvin Benn, MD of organisers Festival Republic said that Hoon was banned because he believed the MP’s stance on the forthcoming new runway at Heathrow Airport clashed with the festival’s green ethos. Melvin told the Guardian ”every year since we started Latitude, Geoff Hoon has been seen striding across the fields in his shorts to the puzzled amazement of our slightly younger crowd” adding ”But as we get a reputation as one of the greenest festivals on the circuit, it would be a bit strange to sell a ticket to a chap who’s just authorised a climate-wrecking new runway at Heathrow and who apparently thinks climate change is ‘Tree-hugging hoolah’, whatever that is”. Melvin did say that Hoon could redeem himself. “Of course, if he reverses on the runway and starts implementing low carbon transport solutions he’ll get a ticket for life,” Melvin said.

Greenpeace UK has bought a piece of land right in the middle of the area now doomed by the expansion of Heathrow Airport near London. The now Government aproved runway poses a serious threat to the fight against global climate change. At full capacity, an expanded Heathrow Airport would become the biggest single source of carbon emissions in the UK. Greenpeace UK  bought the land with Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, comedian Alistair McGowan and prospective parliamentary candidate Zac Goldsmith. 

See http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/join-the-plot-to-stop-airport-14012009

UPDATE 

 Dang, the Government have got their plans through the House of Commons but with a vastly reduced majority of just 19  - by 297 to 278 votes. Two ministerial aides (Virendra Sharma and Andrew Slaughter) have resigned in protest over the issue and 28 labour MPs rebelled.

 Photo  Nick Cordes