General Election 2017 Candidate Survey

Friends of the Earth have undertaken a full detailed breakdown of all general Election political manifestos and  pledges and how the parties scored against FoE’s manifesto demands, Read in full

Huddersfield Friends of the Earth has contacted all the candidates (with readily available email addresses) in the Colne Valley, Huddersfield and Dewsbury constituencies whether, if elected, they would support the following environmental pledges/ commitments.

  1. Support for Divest Parliament Pledge
  2. Support for Cross Party Frack Free Pledge ‘I will work towards and support a ban on fracking in the UK’
  3. Back a permanent ban on neonicotinoid pesticides that harm bees
  4. Commit to urgently end the illegal air pollution crisis and phase out diesel vehicles by 2025?
  5. Call upon the Government to urgently publish a UK climate strategy to play our part in delivering the Paris Climate Agreement goal to keep global temperature rises below 1.5 degrees?
  6. Support the Greener UK pledge to secure the benefits of existing environmental laws as the UK leaves the European Union, and pass an ambitious new Environment Act

The responses from the candidates (to date) are below. If you are a candidate and would like to send your own response, please email huddersfieldfoe@yahoo.co.uk and we will update this page as soon as possible.

COLNE VALLEY CONSTITUENCY

Cahal Burke – Liberal Democrat

  1. Yes
  2. Yes. I have already signed the Cross Party Frack Free Pledge
  3. Yes (our manifesto commits to suspending use until proven that they do not harm bees or other pollinators.)
  4. Yes (it’s in our manifesto)
  5. Yes
  6. Yes

Sonia King – Green Party

  1. Yes
  2. Yes
  3. Yes
  4. Yes
  5. Yes
  6. Yes

Jason McCartney – Conservative

  1. Yes I’ve signed it.
  2. I’ve voted against Fracking. Communities should be able to decide whether it goes ahead in their area.
  3. Deeply worried about use of neonics and will continue to support our bee population, a ban must be based on scientific evidence.
  4. Support a diesel scrappage scheme.
  5. Support the Govt’s strategy.
  6. Asked this Question in Parliament: I am lucky to have part of the Peak District national park in my constituency. With that in mind, does the Secretary of State agree that the Bill is an important vehicle for helping to ensure the maintenance of environmental protections and the opportunity to enhance them, and that anyone who supports those aims should welcome it?

Patricia Sadio – Independent

We have been unable to contact the candidate

Thelma Walker – Labour

  1. Yes
  2. Yes
  3. Yes
  4. Yes
  5. Yes
  6. Yes

DEWSBURY CONSTITUENCY

Simon Cope – Green Party

  1. Yes, I have signed.
  2. Yes, I have signed.
  3. Yes I support a ban on neonicitinouds. Greens in the EU parliament have long worked on this sort of environmental protection and if electrd I would do likewise.
  4. Tackling the air pollution crisis is a priority I have highlighted locally. I agree with phasing out diesel vehicles by 2025 and want massive investment in clean public transport.
  5. A climate strategy is essential and I fully support urgent UK action on this.
  6. I fully suppirt the Greener Pledge and ensuring Brexit does not hinder action on climate change and environmental protection.

Ednan Hussain – Liberal Democrat

We are awaiting a response from the candidate

Ednan Hussain has signed the Divest Parliament Pledge

Beth Prescott – Conservative

Beth has not sent replies to the survey questions but did send us this response:

” I strongly support the moves we are making towards being a greener and more sustainable country. There has been a lot done, but there is more still to do. If I am elected, I would really appreciate the chance to meet with you to discuss further the matters raised in this email and see what I can do to help. I know that environmental issues are very wide-ranging so it would be great to get around the table and discuss further. I would particularly like to meet to discuss more about the divest pension fund and find out more from you about this campaign.

I am proud that the UK is taking a leading role as the world works towards a global deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit climate change to manageable levels. 2015 was an important year, and talks in Paris rightfully culminated in a global deal, with every country in the world now signed up to play its part in halting climate change. Britain has already been leading the way, and will work towards reducing emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. Britain is leading by example and the Energy Act works towards decarbonising the UK’s energy sector at the lowest possible cost to the consumer. It puts Britain firmly on track to meet the 2050 target to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases by 80 per cent. All coal-fired power stations where carbon emissions aren’t being captured and stored will be closed by 2025. A new, clean energy infrastructure that is fit for the 21st century will be built, based around gas, nuclear and renewables.

Over the past five years, the Government has committed over £2 billion to help bus operators upgrade their fleets, reduce pollution from a range of vehicle such as refuse trucks and fire engines through cutting edge technologies, and promote the development of clean alternative fuels. The most recent Autumn Statement included a further £290 million to support electric vehicles, low emission buses and taxis, and alternative fuels, showing the Conservative Party’s commitment to low emission vehicles.

As part of the preparation for exiting the EU, Ministers are considering future arrangements for a wide range of environmental issues, including pesticides. Their highest priority will continue to be the protection of people and the environment and, taking the advice of the independent Expert Committee on Pesticides, they will base these decisions on a careful scientific assessment of the risks

The right protections are in place to ensure that fracking can go ahead safely without risk to our most beautiful and important natural sites. People should have confidence in these protections and in this vital industry which could create over 60,000 jobs and be worth billions of pounds to our economy. For these reasons, the Government is providing further reassurance for our most valued areas.”

Paula Sheriff – Labour 

We are awaiting a response from the candidate

HUDDERSFIELD CONSTITUENCY

Zulfiqar Ali – Liberal Democrat

We are awaiting a response from the candidate

Scott Benton – Conservative

We are awaiting a response from the candidate

Andrew Cooper – Green Party

  1. Yes
  2. Yes
  3. Yes
  4. Yes
  5. Yes
  6. Yes

Bikatshi Katenga – The Yorkshire Party

We are awaiting a response from the candidate

Barry Sheerman – Labour/Cooperative

We are awaiting a response from the candidate

Barry Sheerman has signed the Divest Parliament Pledge 

Marteen Thokkudubiyyapu – Independent

We have been unable to contact the candidate

%d bloggers like this: