By Martin Banks - 3rd December 2009
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney says the memory of his late wife Linda has inspired his environmental campaigning.
He spoke exclusively to TheParliament.com after appearing at a hearing in parliament on climate change.
Sir Paul was asked how much an influence Linda, who was a member of his Wings band before she died from cancer, had been on his environmental activities.
"Yes, there is no doubt that she played and continues to play a big part in it all," he said.
"We were in it together from the start and I have continued the work.
"She was - and remains - a great inspiration in the work I am trying to do now in promoting my campaign to encourage people to eat less meat."
In a 35-minute speech to parliament earlier the pop icon hit back at those who challenge the validity of his claim that eating less meat can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.
He likened his campaign to when he was growing up in his native Liverpool.
"Back then, I was raised in a smoking environment and I used to smoke for years. But over the years the attitude towards smoking has changed and I notice that smoking is banned in this chamber where we are meeting today.
"The same approach can be made towards the issue of meat consumption.
"The parliament and national governments need to encourage, inform, help and guide people about the benefits of reducing their meat consumption.
"We need it with the anti-smoking campaign and we can do it with this."
Earlier, Sir Paul faced criticism from some speakers at the conference, including Ukip member Paul Nuttall, who dispute his assertion that eating less meat will help address global warming.
Speaking at the opening of the hearing, which comes on the eve of the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen on 7 December, parliament's president Jerzy Buzek said, "Time is against us.
"We need a global binding agreement in Copenhagen, and Europe has taken the lead.
"We call on developed countries to significantly reduce their emissions collectively - at the high end of the 25-40 per cent range by 2020.
"The 'meat free Monday' campaign is a good idea, may be not for everyone and the change has to be step by step, the impact on the climate of overproduction of meat is becoming clear.
"To paraphrase the famous song: 'Here comes the sun, and we must make sure it's all right.'"
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