So-called Brexit Freedoms Bill is an air polluters charter
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, also known as Brexit Freedoms Bill, is a ‘polluters’ charter that could have a devastating impact on Scotland’s air quality, say the Scottish Greens.
This morning Scotland's environmental watchdog, Environmental Standards Scotland, warned that the Bill would leave Scotland without any national programme on long-term air quality targets.
The Scottish Greens environment spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, raised the issue during a Scottish Government Debate on the UK Bill.
In a question to the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution & External Affairs, Angus Robertson, Mr Ruskell branded the Tories the ‘polluters party’, asking:
“Does the Cabinet Secretary agree that the Tories are the polluters party and that having scuppered deposit return this week they are now cancelling action to protect our lungs?”
Speaking after the debate, Mr Ruskell said:
“The so-called Brexit freedoms bill is a polluters charter. It will remove protections that we have enjoyed for years and could have a devastating impact on our air quality.
“These are laws that the UK helped to write, and now the Tories are proposing to remove them in a pointless act of self-sabotage. Once again the UK government is showing contempt for our democracy and our environment.”