Conservative manifesto – Friends of the Earth reaction

Commenting on the content of the Conservative Party Manifesto launched today (18 May), Dave Timms, Friends of the Earth campaigner, said:

“The mantra of ‘take back control’ will ring hollow for communities who face having fracking forced down their throats and their rights stripped away.

“The lack of policies to deal with the dirty air crisis is astounding. Polluting car manufacturers will sleep easy knowing that they have been let off the hook, while children with asthma will continue to choke. This is a national disgrace which can’t be hidden behind planting a few trees.

“The Conservatives have comprehensively rejected the siren voices calling for the UK to walk away from its international and domestic commitments to tackle climate change. This sends a strong message to both Donald Trump and opponents of action in the UK. However, far too many of the policies to deliver on this welcome pledge are inadequate or absent.

“We welcome the commitment to leave the environment better than we found it, and fully transfer EU environmental protections to UK law, but we must ensure that these laws can’t be rewritten later without full parliamentary scrutiny.”

ENDS

Notes:

Read Friends of the Earth’s manifesto asks.

Friends of the Earth is party politically impartial. Our aim in the election is to ensure all parties have the strongest possible policies to protect the environment.

For press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust