This Friday’s edition of the Brexit Briefing in the second of three articles, which cover the recent release of the manifesto from a number of the major political parties ahead of the General Election 2017.
Following the first article on release of the manifesto from the Conservatives, Labour & Liberal Democrats (see Brexit Briefing: Weekly Summary 19 May 2017), this article covers further Political Parties have released their 2017 Manifesto this week. Any remaining manifesto released will be covered in the third of this series of our Brexit Briefing next Tuesday (6 June 2017).
Each manifesto is presented in the specific order of importance of their representation in the UK Parliament, Devolved Parliaments and Assemblies & the EU Parliament prior to dissolution of the UK Parliament on 3 May 2017 (25 working days prior to the General Election on 8 June 2017).
I have highlighted the relevant sections dealing specifically with environmental and Brexit issues for ease of reference.
The available manifesto with links to download your copy together with a commentary of their environmental and sustainability follow:
Scottish National Party Manifesto 2017
The main Environmental section: Protecting our Environment and tackling Climate Change can be found on pages 44 – 45 with other references to environmental issues as follows:
- Support for EU regulation over animal and plant health and environmental
and food safety (Page 23) - Establishment of an Independent Aviation Noise Authority (26)
- Build a regulatory environment which supports investment in new energy storage schemes, including pumped hydro and batteries (44)
- Prevent the threat of Brexit being used by the UK to reduce commitments to tackle climate change or to undermine the European Union’s efforts to fight climate change and protect the environment (45)
- Defend the interests of environmental scientists from across the EU who contribute to Scotland’s research institutes (45)
Democratic Unionist Party Manifesto 2017
There is no specific Environmental section within the Manifesto. References to environmental issues can be found as follows:
- A comprehensive new Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland (Page 12 / PDF Page 7)
- Local input into new UK agriculture and fisheries policies to offer sustainability and new growth opportunities (19 / 10)
There is no specific Environmental section within the Manifesto. References to environmental issues can be found as follows:
- Continued access to EU-wide research opportunities (Page 9)
The main Environmental section: Defending Wales – Putting energy into our environment can be found on pages 41 – 43 with other references to environmental issues as follows:
- Establish a national electric vehicle charging network (Page 42)
- Creation of a Welsh energy company (42)
- Roll-out a nationwide scheme to make housing stock more energy-efficient (43)
- Update and consolidate Welsh wildlife legislation creating a Wildlife for Wales Act (43)
- Introduce a new Climate Change Act adopting greenhouse gas and pollution reduction targets for 2030 & 2050 (43)
- A deposit return system for plastic waste (43)
Brexit can be found on pages 10, 11, 12 & 15.
Social Democratic and Labour Party Manifesto 2017
The main Environmental section: Environmental Standards (Page 8) covering the current recognition of the biogeographic nature of the island of Ireland with other references to environmental issues as follows:
- Proposal for a Devolution Rights and Environmental Standards Bill (Page 9)
Ulster Unionist Party Manifesto 2017
The main Environmental section: Protecting nature and tackling environmental threats (page 25) with other references to environmental issues as follows:
- Define the devolved policies to apply in the post-Brexit era (15)
- Promote more sustainable travel and realise the vision set out in the 25-year bicycle
strategy (25) - Scoping study on benefits for Northern Ireland Climate Change Act (26)
- A new enforcement model for environmental crime especially for waste crime (26)
- Reform of the Northern Ireland waste sector (26)
- A new coastal erosion strategy (26)
- A statutory duty on tackling invasive species & to adopt a target to halt biodiversity loss by the end of 2021 (26)
- Maintaining and expanding woodland cover to increase it by 2,000 hectares by 2021 & the creation of a National Register of Trees of Special Interest (26)
United Kingdom Independence Party Manifesto 2017
The main Environmental section: Protecting our Environmental (page 52 – 53) with other references to environmental issues as follows:
- Promote evidence-based environmental schemes and safeguards for the environment in a new Environmental Protection Act (Page 52)
- Protect ancient woodlands through “wholly exceptional” status under the National Planning Policy Framework (52)
- Continue 2015 manifesto pledges to prioritise brownfield development, support farming and wildlife through grant schemes, match funding for local authority project to enhance the environment, protect dolphins by banning pair trawling for sea bass & local referenda for unpopular developments (53)