Lib Dem 'green' manifesto doesn't match record

15th April 2005


On the day the Lib Dems launch their environmental manifesto, Greens have slammed the LibDems' record in office on local authorities and in Scotland, warning voters: "Lib Dems use Green rhetoric to get into office, then systematically exploit their position by supporting roadbuilding schemes,
incinerators, airport expansion and even backing GM crops."

Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, Green Party principal speaker and Green Euro-MP for the South East comments: "The Lib Dem record in office - locally and in Scottish Parliament - is a catalogue of broken promises and unravels their manifesto's 'green thread' from top to bottom."

She continues: "In the Scottish Parliament - which is controlled by a Liberal Democrat-Labour coalition - they have shown complete disregard for the environmental principles voters expected to underpin their decisions.

"They campaigned against GM crops, then approved their planting in Scotland (2). They opposed road-building schemes, then gave the go-ahead for the M74 Extension (3). They backed the introduction of congestion charging, then opposed the first such scheme in Edinburgh (4).

"In local Government they are no better. Lib Dem councillors strongly supported the infamous Newbury and Batheaston bypasses, and are currently supporting other roadbuilding schemes around the country (5).

"Their 4% recycling record in Liverpool is the worst in the country.

"Meanwhile, whilst repeatedly acknowledging that air travel is the most polluting form of transport, their slippery-worded aviation policy leaves the backdoor open for aviation expansion (6)."

Dr Lucas continues: "The bottom line is that the Liberal Dem's fundamental commitment to Big Business and unfettered free trade is completely incompatible with their environmental objectives (7). "

"Real environmental improvement requires a fundamental shift in the way we do business, backed by radical, principled politicians. The only party committed enough to ring these changes is the Green Party."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) The Libdems are in coalition with New Labour in Scotland, and hold the transport and the environment ministerial portfolios. But they backed GM crops and massive roadbuilding developments. Friends of the Earth Scotland noted, after the Lib Dems decided to push ahead with the M74 Extension:

There are now serious doubts about whether the Liberal Democrats can be trusted on environment issues ever again."

(2) In August 1999 Charles Kennedy backed the campaign to end open-air test releases of GM crops into the environment. Friends of the Earth said at the time: "We are delighted that Charles Kennedy and the Liberal Democrats have decided to oppose the current farm-scale trials because measures to protect the environment and neighbouring farmers are not strict enough." Subsequently Ross Finnie, Lib Dem Rural Development Minister, pressed ahead with farm-scale trials, one in Charles Kennedy's own constituency, even after being defeated in April 2002 at his own party conference on this issue.

(3) "Future roads should only proceed when necessary for safety reasons, to connect isolated communities or for environmental reasons when it is better to re-route traffic in the interests of cutting pollution." Lib Dem manifesto, 2003, two years before Nicol Stephen, Lib Dem Transport Minister,
ignored those principles and backed the M74 extension.

(4) "We will maintain the right of local authorities to use congestion charging as an option to pay for improved public transport." Lib Dem manifesto, 2003, two years before Lib Dems led the campaign against the first such scheme, which would have revolutionised public transport in Edinburgh.

(5) See "Too Yellow to be Green" report, available from the Green Party website
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/files/reports/2005/too_yellow_to_be_green_2.htm

(6) Their aviation policy supports the expansion of domestic airports, and leaves the way open for expanding South East international airports "After all existing capacity has been utilised. "

(7) "Liberal Democrats support a liberal economic approach to trade, investment and migration in the national interest. We want Britain to be at the centre of a liberalised, reformed European Union. " Liberal Democrat manifesto, 2005

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------