Watching the World U.K. Labour Party's pollution pledge

"Our evidence shows that Tory government indifference and incompetence has helped create a major pollution crisis in the North Sea, with serious biological damage already obvious.

"Far more oil has been dumped in the U.K. sector than in the Norwegian sector. But the government has shown no real concern for the problem whatever.

"There are too few inspections. Proper records are not kept. Companies are never prosecuted. Information is kept secret. And licenses are let without proper consideration of the environmental consequences. Future generations may pay a heavy price for this shameful record of failure."

This quote suggests someone is determined to do something about U.K.'s pollution record. Until you note that these are the words of a Labour member of parliament, and you recall that in U.K., election fever is rampant.

The words came from Michael Meacher, Shadow Environmental Protection Secretary. As a Labour politician, Meacher is pushing to end almost 20 years of rule by Conservative Party-the Tories.

Soundbite crossfire

U.K.'s election must take place by mid-May this year.

Since Christmas, every time one party has sounded off, the other side has responded with an equally thunderous quote.

With environment identified as a sensitive issue-and therefore a potential vote winner-it was inevitable the oil industry would get caught in the crossfire.

Meacher claimed that 1.5 million metric tons of oily waste have been dumped in the U.K. North Sea and that an area of 500 m radius around each waste site is now a "biological desert."

Meacher alleges that government has failed to honor promises to the European Commission (EC) to increase environmental assessment requirements for offshore industry.

He said that in 1990-94 there was only one part-time Department of Trade and Industry inspector visiting and monitoring oil installations, that the six people employed today "combine their work with other activities," and that visits are announced in advance and proper records of findings are not kept.

Labour's demands

Labour said Meacher is demanding that government should:

Review staffing of the offshore oil industry inspectorate and ensure within existing budgets that inspectors regularly visit oil rigs unannounced.
Review and tighten prosecution policy on major pollution incidents.
Publish the environmental policy statements produced by licensees in the North Sea; and
Ensure that environmental impact assessments are carried out as part of the 18th bidding round for licenses, to comply with EC law.
With election campaign managers apparently putting image before content, the election debate so far has the atmosphere of a phony war.

Labour's statement that "Meacher is demanding that the government should..." is typical of the soundbite salvos coming from both sides: impressive sounding but noncommittal.

An official in Meacher's office, asked if this meant Labour would actually do any of these things if elected, said: "Yes," and after a pause, "I think that would be a fair interpretation."