Sue Hayman MP, Shadow Secretary of
State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, ahead of the High Court consideration
of the government’s request to further delay publication of their air quality
plan, said:
“If the government fails to
publish its plan to deal with the chronic levels of air pollution today then
Labour will, within the first 30 days of our administration.
“Labour will bring forward a new
Clean Air Act, setting out how we would tackle air pollution that NHS experts
say contributes to 40,000 premature deaths every year.
“With nearly 40 million people in
the UK living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution, it is simply not
acceptable for ministers to hide behind the general election to delay
publishing plans to improve air quality.
“Purdah rules exist to stop one party
using the machinery of government for their electoral advantage, not to
be used as an excuse to delay acting on vital public health matters. We trust
that the court will recognise this.
“While the Conservatives shirk responsibility,
Labour will deal with the dirty air damaging the lives of millions of British
people.”
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