National MP Watch to launch in Norfolk over climate action

National MP Watch is made up of constituents who aim to "wake up" politicians on the ongoing ecological crises, growing from one group in 2021 to sixty today. 

It has since announced the upcoming launch of its new group in the county which will bring voters together from seven out of the nine Norfolk constituencies.

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The group claims to ensure that MPs base climate-related promises on "proper scientific evidence and not on influence from fossil fuel interests".  

National MP Watch founders, Jessica Townsend, author, and Tom Hardy, former government adviser, will address the first meeting later this month, along with climate scientist Charlie Gardner, who walked 180 miles around the Norfolk coastline last month to highlight the vulnerability of communities from rising sea levels. 

Norfolk MPs will have their feet held to the fire over climate action by a new activist network (Image: Newsquest)

Dr Gardner said: "I spoke with many residents who expressed anxiety about climate change, their feelings of powerlessness about the future and politicians' failure to act with any haste.

"Norfolk MP Watch will put pressure on our MPs to make climate change their priority and enable people to get their voices heard."

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Lesley Grahame, the organiser of Norfolk MP Watch said: "We hope that MPs will welcome extra contact with voters, as part of democracy. 

"Every MP needs to recognise that their constituents know and care what they do, and how they are influenced, for better or for worse."

A pre-launch demonstration will take place at noon on November 14 outside Saint Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich which will see activists flying banners and demanding that all national and local politicians "face up to the reality of escalating climate change".