Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election
Commenting on Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election, Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns, Rosie Downes, said:
“Local people clearly want hope and justice. They want a fairer, greener community that rejects division and climate denial.
“The people of Makerfield have chosen a candidate with a proven commitment to climate action.
"As Mayor, Andy Burnham has helped put Greater Manchester at the forefront of the green transition, with an ambitious target to become carbon neutral by 2038.
“He has made the region a magnet for green investment - helping to create thousands of new jobs - expanded active travel networks and transformed public transport. By bringing buses back under public control, he has improved services, kept fares affordable and accelerated the rollout of zero-emission vehicles.
“As the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next Prime Minister, he now has the chance to show national leadership and ensure people across the UK share in the benefits of a cleaner, fairer future.
“Last year, Andy Burnham said there must be ‘no turning away from net zero’. If he becomes Prime Minister he must turn those words into action: ditching costly, polluting fossil fuels and accelerating a just transition powered by cheap British renewables, warmer homes and good green jobs.”
Raquel Castro Rodriguez, Manchester Friends of the Earth coordinator, said:
"We’re calling on Andy Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield to make all our lives better by backing positive action for warmer homes, improved green spaces and reducing flood risk, more green skills and training, better public transport and stronger communities.
“These are real solutions that will help cut our energy bills, reduce pollution, strengthen our communities and protect our green spaces and nature.
“We look forward to working with the new Member of Parliament to help deliver these actions to improve people's lives in Makerfield and beyond.”
Andy Burnham has said that he will seek to challenge to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Friends of the Earth’s wants the next Prime Minister to:
• Be honest about the scale and urgency of the climate, nature and inequality crises, and take the bold action needed to address them collectively. This includes honouring Labour’s manifesto commitment not to issue any new oil and gas licences. The UK should speed up efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by investing in publicly-owned renewable energy, home insulation, public transport and energy storage. This will help address the cost of living crisis by cutting energy bills, strengthening energy security and creating thousands of good green jobs.
• Accelerate action to ensure everyone can enjoy clean air, safe and affordable housing, access to nature, and protection from climate-related risks such as flooding and extreme heat. This must also include ending the dumping of sewage into rivers and seas.
• Hold businesses accountable for environmental damage and human rights abuses. This should include introducing a UK Business, Human Rights and Environment Act requiring companies to identify, prevent and address harm throughout their supply chains.
• Commit to an ethical foreign policy that upholds human rights and international law. The next Prime Minister should make clear that the UK will not support, enable or be complicit in human rights abuses or violations of international law.
• Strengthen and modernise democracy, including by introducing proportional representation so that Parliament better reflects how people vote.
ENDS