Labour promises Clean Air Act in election manifesto

The Labour Party has committed to introducing a new Clean Air Act to tackle air pollution, the party has revealed in its 2017 General Election manifesto released today (16 May).

Launched in Bradford this morning, the manifesto, which promises to deliver policies ‘For the Many, Not the Few’, includes headline pledges including an increase in the top rate of tax for the highest earners and plans to scrap tuition fees for higher education.

Labour’s manifesto outlines policies on the environment

On air pollution, the manifesto states: “Labour will introduce a new Clean Air Act to deal with the Conservative legacy of illegal air quality.”

Repeal Bill

Elsewhere, the Party has committed to scrapping the government’s ‘Great Repeal Bill’ — and replacing it with an EU Rights and Protections Bill, which it claims will ensure that there is ‘no detrimental change’ to environmental protections.

This is likely to include emissions limits derived from EU environmental legislation including the Air Quality Directive.

Labour’s manifesto states: “Throughout the Brexit process, we will make sure that all EU-derived laws that are of benefit — including workplace laws, consumer rights and environmental protections — are fully protected without Qualifications, limitations or sunset clauses.”

It adds: “The EU has had a huge impact in securing workplace protections and environmental safeguards. But we all know that for many Brexiteers in the Tory Party, this was why they wanted to Leave — to tear up regulations and weaken hard-fought rights and protections.

“A Labour government will never consider these rights a burden or accept the weakening of workers’ rights, consumer rights or environmental protections.”