A campaign called Lighter Later, led by the 10:10 group has claimed changing our clocks will mean the country using less electricity in the evening and therefore reducing emissions.

The second reading which went through the House of Commons on Friday (December 3) aims to put clocks forward by one hour throughout the year.

So instead of setting clocks to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and GMT + one hour in summer, they would be set to GMT + one in winter and GMT + two in summer.

According to the campaign it would cut at least 447,000 tonnes of CO2 pollution – equivalent to more than 50,000 cars driving all the way around the world – each year.

At 2.10pm on Friday the Daylight Saving Bill passed its crucial second reading in the House of Commons.

The motion itself was passed with a majority of 82 votes with 92 MPs in favour and 10 voting against.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “The day started with huge uncertainty, amid reports of MPs leaving London early because of the snow.

“With the vote fast approaching and a poor turnout looking increasingly likely, it was all hands to the phones as hundreds of people sent last-minute emails and called to get MPs into the chamber.

“At 10:10 HQ we were frantically doing the same. In the end, MPs turned up in their droves, including one who came back from paternity leave especially.”

The Bill will now move to the ministerial committee stage for further debate.

Luke Walsh

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe