Archived press release

Labour's New Manifesto

4 July 1996

Commenting on Labour's new road to the manifesto' document, New Labour, New Life for Britain, released today, Charles Secrett, Director of Friends of the Earth, said:

"There are some good green pledges in Labour's new policy overview. Friends of the Earth welcomes these, and we'll give them two green cheers. [1]

We are particularly pleased with the strong support for the polluter pays principle, improved public transport, integrated environmental decision making across all Government Departments, and improved environmental performance by the World Trade Organisation.

We recognise that this is a summary policy statement. But, these environmental commitments are still too few and far between, and vaguely written.

Friends of the Earth urges New Labour to provide much more in its final election manifesto, so that the Party can realise the enormous economic and social opportunities of environmentally sustainable development - as Mr Blair promised in his February environment speech [2].

A minimum shortlist of stronger and additional policies in the manifesto should include commitments: to fully protect all Sites of Special Scientific Interest; to reduce traffic levels; to introduce pollution standards based on precautionary public health needs; to reform the tax system to penalise pollution and resource waste; to guarantee environmental rights for all citizens; and, to fully develop the potential of energy efficiency and renewable sources, while closing down the nuclear industry."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] New Labour, New Life For Britain makes the following environmental commitments: "we will create a publicly owned, publicly accountable railway system" . . (for). . "the customer, the country and the environment" (pg 13), and to promote "individual choice, business efficiency and environmental protection" (pg 24); creating jobs on "Labour's environment task force" (pg 17); recognising "a duty to protect and enhance the natural world" (pg 24); "the principle of polluter pays' is right" (pg 24); recognising that "the environment is . . . for all Departments of Government and should inform its decision making" (pg 24); to "encourage the saving of energy, more efficient environmental practices by Government and the promotion of green' business and technology" (pg 25); advocating "greater freedom for people to explore our countryside" (and) "greater respect for its wildlife" (pg 25); and, "strengthen cooperation the European Union on environmental issues, including climate change and ozone depletion" (and) "the international environment given greater weight in decisions of the World Trade Organisation" (pg 37).

[2] The Rt Hon Tony Blair delivered his major speech on Labour and the environment at The Royal Society on 27 February 1996, entitled "The New Environmental Agenda: Prospects for Sustainable Development".

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust