Labour Green? They Think You Are! (Lambeth Liberal Democrats)

Labour Green? They Think You Are!

April 27, 2010 3:24 PM

Julian Heather with and orange bag full of recyling

Labour have failed to make any real progress with recycling

So the Reds would like you to think they've gone all Green in time for May 6th?

The Labour manifesto proclaims "Make Lambeth London's Greenest Borough" which is an excellent aim right enough - but why so half-hearted? They seem to be marking out 2020 as a target date for recycling half of the borough's waste whereas the Lib Dems have set a much more ambitious target for this of 2014.

Mind you, you've every reason to be slightly sceptical of Labour's new-found Green credentials which, putting them at their best, are more green-tinged than truly Green.

Back in 2002 (ancient history for New Labour let it be said) Liberal Democrats inherited a recycling figure the wrong side of 8%. Within four years we'd got that up to a whopping 24% by introducing the popular and highly adaptable orange bag recycling scheme - and we also accepted a far wider range of recyclable materials than had ever existed under Labour.

Just for the record - and because the glossy Labour manifesto shows someone proudly with an orange sack - Labour vigorously opposed their introduction at the time. Maybe they just have an instinctive aversion to orange? Especially right now.

So, just to recap, then, that's Labour 2002 8%. Libs Dems 2006 24%.

Labour 2010? - pause for fanfare of trumpets - whoops - 25%. Note from Labour spin doctor: "Ahem. Gloss over that one chaps and just mention a well known neighbouring borough's slightly lower figure to make us look incredibly good."

Sorry to Labour the point brothers and sisters but that's a miserable, teeny and just ever-so-pathetic one per cent improvement in four whole years. Good job Labour's generous cabinet member allowances are not related to performance, eh?

Come to think of it, Labour's commitment to the greening of Lambeth is highly suspect in other areas too.

Whenever they spot a green space in the borough, for instance, they seem to want to build on it. They talk openly these days about the new, exciting and improved Herne Hill Road Junction, formerly known as Brockwell Park. Concrete now abounds at Brixton's new,exciting and improved Windswept Square and they've just announced they've got building ambitions on ancient Streatham Common as well.

Labour Question: How can we make boring old Streatham Common new,exciting and improved? Labour Answer: Build on it.

And we've not forgotten Labour's highly secretive review of the borough's waste strategy, either, that has mysteriously been kept firmly under wraps until after the election.

We wonder what environmental nasties may lurk within that they have to be kept from us until after the election? Incineration, perhaps, rather than recycling? A brand new refuse depot to open in marginal Thornton ward? Fortnightly rubbish collections? Extra rubbish collection charges on top of your Council Tax? Dimming of street lamps in crime-ridden streets?

Labour Green? They certainly like to think you are!

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