Conservatives face vote on “hypocritical” Environment Bill

The Conservatives long delayed Environment Bill will face amendments from the Liberal Democrats to protect green spaces and wildlife after falling short on local environment protections.

The Lib Dems have accused the Government of 'outright hypocrisy' after proposing a mass change to planning law which would allow developers to cause damage to nature habitats alongside the Environment Bill being debated today. The Bill would deny Councils the ability to block new developments for environmental reasons.

The Liberal Democrats will hold a vote in Parliament to give greater powers to Councils to save the environment from reckless developments.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney who tabled the amendment, said:

"It is outright hypocrisy if the Conservatives think their Environment Bill will protect the environment. Under their proposals and new Planning Law, reckless developers could pave over vast expanses of green land and cause untold damage to our environment.

"We should have expected nothing less from a party which has taken over £11 million in donations from developers. The Conservatives' plans would rip power away from communities and silence local environmental groups to allow developers to build as they please.

"My amendment will give real teeth to the currently toothless Environment Bill and arm Councils with the power to protect wildlife and green spaces. Liberal Democrats believe in protecting our environment, rather than bulldozing and concreting over it."