Liberal Democrats focus on environmental issues

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has pledged his party’s commitment to the environment by detailing his environmental election promies.

The Liberal Democrats pledges include: proposals to recycle 60% of all household waste by 2012; ensuring that 20% of all electricity will be generated by renewable sources by 2020; a ban on commercial GM crops, unless they are proven to be safe for people and the environment; a moratorium on new incinerators; and no new nuclear power stations.

Mr Kennedy said: “I, personally, am passionate about the environment. For me, politics is not just about helping people to improve their lives now: it is also about taking responsibility for future generations.”

“Time is not on our side. The reality of climate change is with us here and now. If Tony Blair had devoted even a tenth of the political energy, wealth and resources that have been expended over Iraq to convincing George Bush of the urgency of the environmental threat, imagine where we could be by now.”

Mr Kennedy claimed to have written to both Mr Blair and Conservative leader Michael Howard, requesting them to sign up to a statement of both principle and action on the environment, but he said he had received no reply.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson Norman Baker described the Conservatives' policies as “a disaster for the environment” and said that Mr Blair was “all talk and no action”. He said: “Britain needs a party that will put the environment centre stage and face up to the difficult decisions that are necessary to deal with climate change. Only the Liberal Democrats are committed to a green thread throughout the government.”

Labour plans to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage more household recycling.

The Conservatives environment policy includes the prevention of “urban sprawl” on green belts; banning GM crops; providing “bigger and better” energy efficiency incentives; and introducing a marine conservation bill.

(KMcA/GB)