MP calls for focus on green issues in pre-election report

As the build-up to the election intensifies, one Labour MP has bemoaned the lack of interest from politicians and voters in green issues.

Speaking at the unveiling of a report on resource policy recommendations, Labour’s Barry Sheerman said: “We are only a few weeks before a general election and I wish I could say that the political parties were participating in this in a way I would like to see them. I don’t know what is the matter at the moment but in some ways we are not pulling the right levers.

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“We have got to reach the imagination of our electorate and we are not putting enough pressure on political parties. Social media is a way we could lift the whole campaign up.”

The Huddersfield MP was speaking at the unveiling of the report (compiled by the Society for Environment (SocEnv) in conjunction with Carbon Connect, the All Party Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG) and the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum), which lays out a list of policy recommendations for the next government.

The key resource policy recommendations are:

  • Establish an Office for Resource Management;
  • Expand the market for reused and recycled products
  • Stimulate private investment in new waste treatment, recycling and reprocessing facilities;
  • Reduce tax evasion by ensuring enforcement bodies are resourced to tackle waste crime.

The report highlights the need for government to adopt remanufacturing, and endorsed unilateral CIWM policy recommendations to press for a new circular economy package and help Defra address England’s flat lining recycling rates.

Michael Bennett of environmental PR Pelican?s specialist resource and environment communications team said: “I applaud Mr. Sheerman’s intentions, the environment should be a key election issue.

“It is now too late to make it a factor in May’s vote, however, everyone in the resource and environment sector should be looking to ensure it moves rapidly up the political agenda of the new administration.”

Pelican Communications are specialists in the environmentfood and drinkoutdoor and leisure and packaging sectors and offer a range of services such as media relations, brand management, event management and people developmentContact us for marketing and communications expertise.

 

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Barry Sheerman Sat With A Panel