Responding to today’s news of a hung U.K parliament and that the Conservative Party may govern with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), James Orr, Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland Director, said:
“Under the DUP leadership Northern Ireland has become a wild west for the environment. Northern Ireland is the dirty corner of the UK with some of the biggest illegal waste sites and mines in Europe. The pro-fracking DUP is a climate pariah.
“When we need clear leadership they are muddled over Brexit. They want to have their cake and eat it. On the one hand they are active Brexiteers but on the other they are desperate to preserve the economic benefits of ties with Europe.
“Their manifesto had hardly a positive word on the environment and nothing at all on climate change. Theresa May must not allow the DUP to further weaken her already inadequate manifesto commitments to maintain environmental protections and preserve nature.”
ENDS
For more information contact Maria Castellina on 0207 566 1657 or contact the Friends of the Earth press office on 020 7566 1649/07718 394786 (out of hours), media@foe.co.uk.
Editor’s notes:
1. About Friends of the Earth: For more than 40 years we’ve seen that the wellbeing of people and planet go hand in hand – and it’s been the inspiration for our campaigns. Together with thousands of people like you we’ve secured safer food and water, defended wildlife and natural habitats, championed the move to clean energy and acted to keep our climate stable. Be a Friend of the Earth – see things differently. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk, follow us at @wwwfoecouk, or like our Facebook page.
For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland on 028 9023 3488.
Published by Friends of the Earth Ltd
