Archived press release

Labour manifesto: hardly enough green for a fig leaf

16 May 2001

Labour's manifesto has been attacked by pressure group Friends of the Earth as “notably feeble” on the environmental issues.

• On climate change, Labour has slightly weakened its 1997 promise of a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions over 1990 levels by 2010 (although FOE welcomes its agreement with the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution that carbon dioxide levels should be reduced by 60% by 2050)
  
  
• On farming, Labour has not promised a White Paper on Sustainable Farming, nor to ensure a major expansion in organic farming
  
  
• On GM food, Labour has not promised to make biotech companies liable for any damage caused by their products
  
  
• On transport, Labour has not promised a national road traffic reduction target, nor to recreate a publicly controlled and accountable railway network and operations, nor to avoid build no new roads or road developments that threaten nationally important protected wildlife areas and National Parks - indeed it boasts of its plans to build 100 new bypasses!
  
  
• On waste, Labour is stuck with its disastrous plans for new incinerators around Britain,because of its low target for recycling of only 35% (both the Tories and Liberals have set a target of 50%) and because it promises only a kerbside recycling scheme “where appropriate” rather than providing each household with a high quality, doorstep recycling service
  
  
• On pollution, Labour has said nothing about reducing the high levels of pollution in Britain's poorest communities (mostly Labour heartlands), nor about phasing out dangerous chemicals in household products.

Commenting, FOE Director Charles Secrett said:

“Labour's manifesto is notably feeble on the environment. In some ways it is even weaker than the Party's policy in 1997. Some key environmental issues, such as cutting pollution in our poorest communities, are ignored altogether. Others are glossed over with a few warm but superficial words.

Mr Blair is very lucky that so far in this Election campaign, much of the media has forgotten the political importance of environmental issues. He's also lucky that bad as Labour's record is on the environment, the Tories are now threatening to do even worse.”

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust