UK Conservatives Issued Strong Green Challenge From Within
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 09.15.07
The UK’s Conservative Party hasn’t always put green at the core of its agenda – even fairly recently it has been challenging proposals for pay-as-you-throw garbage disposal, despite evidence from mainland Europe that such schemes can dramatically increase recycling. Nevertheless, party leader David Cameron has been making increasingly green noises, and he has even been seen sporting a pair of Worn Agains. While these may be encouraging signs, the real proof will be in the party’s policies. Now Cameron has been faced with a significant challenge from within his own party, as The Guardian reports:
The quality of life policy review, which was widely leaked in advance, set out plans for a moratorium on airport expansion and higher taxes on short-haul flights and gas-guzzling cars - but the authors sought to reassure the party faithful that it did not represent a break with Tory tradition. The group's chairman, John Gummer, compared the changes it was proposing to past initiatives by "Shaftesbury, Disraeli and Wilberforce". "I see no contradictions between greenness and economic issues," said Mr Gummer, the former environment secretary. "It's basically Conservative. We are about giving to the next generation something better than we've received ourselves."
The report can be read in full here, and it has some pretty strong environmental credentials behind it - co-author Zac Goldsmith is editor of The Ecologist (and also a Conservative parliamentary candidate). Friends of the Earth have called on Cameron to adopt the report’s recommendations in full, but we will wait and see just how green the self-proclaimed ‘party of business’ really can become. We hope this is a sign that Conservatism really is embracing conservation once more. ::The Conservatives::via The Guardian::
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- E-Waste A Growing Problem in UK Landfills
- Bristol is the UK's Greenest City
- UK Looks for Storage for Piles of Worthless Recycling Waste
- 3 Green Pre-Conditions for a Big Three Bailout
There's plenty of room for conservatives in the conservation movement. After all, they share the same name!
Conservatives are averse to central planning and excess regulation, two things which will arise from more green initiatives. However, they're likely willing to agree to a doctrinal comprimise when they see the benefits.
More mass transit means less wear and tear on roads, which may mean lower taxes.
More sensible housing might mean less road building, which would mean fewer bond issues. Strong energy conservation would reduce our trade deficit and make us less reliant on the middle east, which would improve our nation's security.
And more stringent anti-pollution regulations would lead to lower health care costs, which would lower government expenditure.
So conservatives should definitely be welcomed to the table. Anyone who wants to come to the table should be welcome.
@rob:
Sadly I don't agree with your hope that the Conservatives are ready to accept a doctrinal compromise along the lines you suggest. The party is already being pulled apart between the Cameronites who are really the Labour party in disguise (just like Blair's Labour was really the Conservatives in disguise - such elegant symmetry) and the still-powerful rump which continues to be as reactionary as ever and is thoroughly wedded to the ideal of small government, economic prosperity above everything, and maximum personal freedom.
The rump HATES anything Green, and will just pointblank not accept anything in these current proposals. They are doctrinely unacceptable and if pushed further they will split the party apart.
They are much more likely to accept John Redwood's old-school proposals which include more runways, more roads - in fact anything which supports the "growth at any cost" approach.
The Cameronites are campaigning in vain if they think the old guard will change their views - these are fundamental principles that rule their every waking hour and they are just not open to question. I know - I've had many discussions with people like this and they would rather be able to go on blaming the Labour party for every single thing that is not completely right with the country than see the Conservatives stand for anything else.