Science: Tony gets low marks

23 May 2002

Friends of the Earth has accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of "confusing science with the commercial development of technology". Speaking to the Royal Society, Mr Blair is expected to criticise GM and environmental protesters as "anti-science".

But Friends of the Earth Director Charles Secrett says that Mr Blair and New Labour are only pro-science when it suits them. It supports the commercial development of new technologies such as GM food, which it is trying to force onto the market despite public opposition and before proper scientific research into the risks and benefits of new crops has been completed. A recent leak to Friends of the Earth shows that the Government is planning to reduce the public's right to object to GM crop development through seed listing hearings, the only lawful opportunity the public now has to raise scientific and other concerns about GM crop safety. Friends of the Earth believes that the Government is rushing forward to license GM crops without applying the precautionary principle that should guide the introduction of new technologies.

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