Caroline Lucas calls for action on climate change

Britain's first Green MP has marked her maiden Commons speech with a passionate call to meet the "historic task" of fighting irreversible climate change.

During continued debate on the Queen's Speech on 27 May 2010, Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, called for emission cuts of 10% every year until the UK had a zero carbon economy.

Such radical action would improve people's lives by providing better transport, insulated homes, ending fuel poverty and building stronger communities, she claimed.

The Brighton Pavilion MP said her historic election was the culmination of a "long journey" and she praised the city's residents for their "latest radical move".

Ms Lucas said politics had to "renew itself" and unless there was a "genuinely proportional electoral system" the opportunity for new political movements to be represented in the Commons could be squandered.

The Conservatives' Zac Goldsmith has also made his maiden speech, telling of his surprise at becoming the MP for Richmond Park.

"In the run-up to the campaign I can't pretend I was brimming with confidence and nor was my entire campaign team," he revealed.

You can watch the first part of the debate here.