A Labour government would deliver a new Clean Air Act
The facts are clear on air pollution: our air is toxic.
It’s linked to 40,000 premature deaths each year. Nearly 60 per cent of the population is exposed to illegal levels of air pollution, and it is children and babies who are most at risk from the associated health impacts – with hundreds of schools and nurseries close to the most polluting roads.
From Southend to Leamington Spa, Glasgow to Scunthorpe, air pollution is a national public health emergency. And it is an issue that SERA, Labour’s environmental campaign, has been working on for a very long time. Earlier this year we launched the Breath of Fresh Air campaign, calling for the government to act strongly with a new Clean Air Act and whether we are talking to MPs, councillors, community groups or our members, it is clear that this is an issue that people are deeply worried about
And yet, even as the evidence grows each day, and more voices call for urgent action — from the Royal College of GPs to the British Lung Foundation — the Government has done nothing. Theresa May has repeatedly, and consistently, failed to intervene and it has been left to Labour politicians, including Sadiq Khan, and external groups to hold her to account.
As the ClientEarth court case proved, government inaction is not only immoral, but also illegal, with even the EU threatening to take the UK to court. But even after being ordered to produce a new plan by the Supreme Court – the Government are trying to hide behind excuses to delay action further.
Purdah — the reason the government is giving for their latest inaction — is not an excuse.
It kicked in just three days before the plan legally had to be published, so surely if the government had any intention of meeting the deadline, bringing forward the launch by a few days would have made no difference? This plan was ordered five months ago, and while the general election was a surprise, the local elections — and their purdah period — are not. Even so, the Purdah guidelines specifically contain an exemption for essential consultations, including safeguarding public health. Not acting now is either sheer incompetency or apathy.
While the Tories do nothing, Labour have promised immediate action to safeguard public health. As SERA has long campaigned for, a Labour government would, within just 30 days of office, introduce a new Clean Air Act — matching the commitment shown in the 1950s when tackling the country’s deadly smog.
As well as giving councils the powers to establish smoke control zones, the original Clean Air Act also championed firm action, including offering grants, so that householders could convert their coal-burning fires to smokeless fuel. Labour’s Clean Air Act could, via fair diesel scrappage scheme and incentives for alternatives, tackle our toxic air without punishing the public.
A national act, rather than piecemeal intervention could also set a clear plan for the transition to a cleaner, more efficient transport system, by providing funding for local authorities, clear infrastructure targets for the likes of electric vehicles and better integrated public transport. With a vision of transport fit for the 21st century, it could not only address an urgent crisis, but set out a roadmap for something better.
From Sadiq Khan’s work in London, to ambitious plans from Labour councils across the UK, Labour in power is already leading on air quality. A Labour government — with this commitment to a new Clean Air Act — would add weight to these actions, tackle the issues head on and help us save lives and improve health across the UK.
We simply can’t afford another five years of delays.
Adam Dyster is national organiser for SERA, Labour’s Environment Campaign
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10 Responses to “We can’t afford another five years of Tory inaction on air pollution”
Craig Mackay
We will not get people out of their polluting cars unless they are forced to use non-polluting vehicles. It’s all very well going on about cycling (provided you are not elderly, not disabled, not pregnant, don’t have small children, and don’t need to transport shopping or other goods) or bus services even if they are pollution free (they go from somewhere you’re not to somewhere you don’t want to go at a time that is not convenient). They just don’t cut the mustard. We need to encourage 100% electric vehicles and particularly small vehicles. Eventually only small vehicles should be allowed into city centres in order to cut congestion. Very often the biggest vehicles on the road are the buses. That is certainly true in Cambridge where they struggle in narrow streets often with a tiny number of passengers. Until councils take over running bus services in small low-pollution vehicles we haven’t a chance and even then only until we can get decent small commuter vehicles.
LordBlagger
Very simple. Ban diesel buses now. Sack the bus drivers.
Carey
Absolutely right about consistently ignoring the dangerous levels of air polution, including in some of the comments and ideas people have for resolving it. Unfortunately the EU wont be able to take us to court after Brexit we will have no saviour there. We have also now to deal with the Gvt pushing for a third runway at Heathrow – more pollution of both air and noise! I despise the car lobby, and wish we were mor like Copenhagen where 56% ride bikes every day and 14% drive cars http://www.copenhagenize.com/2016/11/the-car-empire-strikes-back-complete.html I have to say something about how many cyclists abuse safety on the roads – and I’m speaking as a pedestrian and regular bus user – I have never owned a car or considered getting a licence – its all far too expensive and pointless and frustrating to be sitting in traffic endlessly. Living in London we’ve seen a huge increase in cycling – a lot of that because public transport is so expensive and the tubes and trains are horrendous and dangerously overcrowded during the peak periods. How many people travelling from outside London into work in London ever get a seat for the huge price they pay to train companies and to the tube company. Even buses are expensive! But I have to say that it feels like cyclists have been thrown on to the roads without needing to learn and adhere to road safety rules. Mostly younger men in full lycra and their racer bikes get on my nerves! Pedestrians now have to deal with dangerous car drivers, van drivers and bullish big lorry drivers AND dangerous cyclists! The amount of times I’ve had to wait on a pedestrian crossing for cyclist that is not stopping at a red light for traffic and green light for pedestrians is countless. I have been almost run down on many occasions – by bikes! The amount of times they break speed limits – dangerous for all other road users particularly in congested areas. I just wish they would obey the rules! You cant even walk safely through parks and things like canal paths without risking being mown down! I would be a natural bike user if it were safer on the roads (even now as 60+ female) As cities like Copenhagen have realised when you get women of all ages including Grandmothers taking kids to school by bike that’s when you will have won the day. Apologies I know its off topic re our appalling air pollution – and my local high street is one of the most heavily polluted in London and breaks the rules by massive amounts every day, my partner has lung disease – and its all a mess, everyone needs to be more giving less selfish. I wouldn’t be a bus driver for anything on earth in big cities like London! Contrary to the comment above, I find it perfectly easy to get from one destination to the other by bus in London, but sitting in car traffic on a bus is not fun. Air pollution control is one of many things we cant wait 5 yrs for. But thanks to many in the media it looks as if we will have to – the so called opinion makers are hugely helping to whip up a Tory landslide not by analysing and objective reporting – just lets have ago at Jeremy Corbyn…again.
Michael Ryan
Sadiq Khan should look more closely at my letter to him dated 8 December 2016, which started as follows:
“Dear Mr Khan,
Air pollution in London – other than from traffic
I’ve written several times to the Greater London Council about the incinerator issue and the only useful outcome was receipt of the electoral ward map for all of Greater London that Ken Livingstone’s office kindly sent me following my FoI request.
The eleven-page May 2010 report about infant mortality rates that followed these questions should have had all incinerators marked on the ward map on page 8.
Incinerators
Question No: 41 / 2010
Darren Johnson
A constituent asks, is there any evidence to suggest that the SELCHP and Kings College Hospital incinerators which flank Southwark contributed to the Borough having the highest infant mortality rate in London in 2008?
Infant morality rates
Question No: 42 / 2010
Darren Johnson
Will you publish electoral ward-level data and a map showing the 2002-2008 infant mortality rates in London?
http://legacy.london.gov.uk/assembly/assemmtgs/2010/mqtjan27/minutes/written-answers.pdf
David Carr
Labour’s commitment to build a million new homes is tremendous. We need to make Eco Housing for All central to our commitments as well. Equipping all homes with solar panels and other green technologies could play a key role in tackling climate change, pollution, fuel poverty and help stimulate a green industrial revolution. We all want economic growth but unregulated growth will make climate change and pollution catastrophic. Read more here: https://swanleydistrictlabourparty.org/eco-council-housing-program/