Archived press release

Blair sacks meacher

13 June 2003

Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to sack Environment Minister Michael Meacher is yet another sign that the Government is failing to take green issues seriously, Friends of the Earth said today.

Mr Meacher had a high reputation among environmental campaigners, and had frequently been seen as a "lone voice" in taking a greener line than the general government view, for example over genetically modified food and crops.

His greatest achievement in office was the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which secured greater protection for Britain's wildlife areas. He also played an important role in international negotiations over the Kyoto Treaty, the first international agreement designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and fight man-made climate change. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Mr Blair's pre-Election pledge to "put the environment at the heart of Government".

But, he was the only Labour Shadow Cabinet member not made a Cabinet Minister after the 1997 General Election, and he was required to work as a Minister of State in successive super-Ministries, first at the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions under John Prescott and then at the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs under Margaret Beckett.

Although the creation of DEFRA has brought environmental concerns to food and farming policy for perhaps the first time, it has also effectively sidelined the environment as a factor in many other crucial political areas, for example transport, trade, business and planning. Partly as a result, the Government is now committed to a revived road building programme and to large-scale housebuilding on greenfield sites across the country.

Last year, No 10 attempted to remove Mr Meacher from the UK delegation to the UN Earth Summit in Johannesburg, and he was only reinstated after Friends of the Earth offered to pay his costs. Green groups had become increasingly concerned that he was being used by Mr Blair as a shield against environmental critics, without being allowed a real say in key policy areas.

Commenting, Friends of the Earth Executive Director Tony Juniper said:

"Everyone who cares about the environment will be sad to see Mr Meacher leave the Government. He was a true enthusiast for green issues, and developed a real expertise that enabled him to challenge the greyer parts of Whitehall. His successor will have to work hard to gain the reputation Michael enjoys with green campaigners.

"The critical question is not so much the qualities of Mr Meacher's successor, but whether the Government will pursue policies that genuinely put the environment at the heart of Government. No 10 has being trying to marginalise Michael for some time now. But Mr Blair may find that the removal of Mr Meacher as a green fig-leaf just leaves this Government's poor green record embarrassingly apparent for all to see."

Earlier this week, the Sunday Telegraph suggested that Mr Meacher's job was under threat following pressure from the biotech industry because of his cautious attitude toward GM crops. Earlier this month the Government launched a nationwide GM public debate and is expected to make a decision on whether GM crops should be commercialised towards the end of the year.

Tony Juniper said:

"With the Government's GM public debate barely 10 days old, the one minister urging caution on this issue has been sacked. This move increases fears that the Government won't listen to public opinion and is preparing to allow GM crops to be commercially grown in the UK."

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust