A leading Northern Euro MP has today (April 8th) hit back strongly at what he described as ‘mischievous and misleading’ claims from Friends of the Earth about the way MEPs vote on environmental issues.
Yorkshire and Humber MEP David Bowe, who is Labour’s European spokesperson on the Environment, accused the organisation of ‘turning serious environmental policy issues into little more than a cheap—and inaccurate—publicity stunt’ following Friends of the Earth’s ‘ratings list’ claiming to compare the voting records of Members of the European Parliament.
Said David Bowe “It really is a pity that Friends of the Earth prefer grabbing cheap headlines to looking properly at how Europe as a whole, and MEPs in particular, have given the lead time after time on some of the most important measures to protect and improve our environment.
“For my part I am more than happy to be judged on my record…for example playing a leading rule in introducing the toughest legislation in the world on the control of GMOs, on the landfilling of waste, on pollution control, on PCBs and the Seveso Directive which aims to prevent dangerous chemicals being released through explosions and other accidents.
“I am also proud that on my home territory, here in Yorkshire the impact of European legislation, backed by Labour MEPs like myself, has ensured that we now have amongst the best beaches in the country...proof positive that we really do make a difference.
“One has to seriously question the motives of Friends of the Earth in this exercise and one is bound to ask if there is not some political ‘spin’ to their ratings given that it would seem that, whilst they heap praise on the Liberal Democrats, the Party’s Industry spokesperson seems conspicuously absent from many of the votes they have analysed.”
|
