Lib Dems plan could hit JLA expansion

Sep 21 2007 By Rob Merrick

PROTESTERS would find it easier to block the expansion of John Lennon Airport under surprise Liberal Democrat plans for an “environmental bill of rights” unveiled yesterday.

Sir Menzies Campbell closed his party’s conference in Brighton by pledging to enshrine environ- mental protection – like human rights – at the heart of the British constitution.

Aides quickly dubbed it the “Erin Brockovich amendment”, after the American lawyer who won the legal right to compensation for industrial poisoning. The story was turned into a Hollywood film.

Chris Huhne, the Lib-Dem environment spokesman, made clear the new rights would force judges to take into account the environmental impact of airport expansion.

That would mean a stronger hand for campaigners who argue against higher emissions of greenhouse gases, blamed for global warming, and those who object to noise.

Mr Huhne told the Daily Post: “I would expect it to apply to airports. It would make people think about the environmental implications before making any decision.”

Asked whether the environment would override other factors, he replied: “It will up to test cases to establish the extent to which judges are willing to apply the law.”

However, Tory environment spokesman Peter Ainsworth insisted legal protection already existed, adding: “What we don’t need is a bureaucratic rehash of existing laws.”

Under JLA’s masterplan, its runway would be extended by 500 metres to take wider long-haul planes including Boeing 767s and Airbus 330s, capable of flying as far as Shanghai.

The aim is to treble passenger numbers by 2030, by opening up more passenger routes to US hubs and freight links to India, China and, possibly, the Middle East.

The bill of rights pledge – to “guarantee the right of every citizen to clean water, pure air and unpolluted land” – was the centrepiece of Sir Menzies’s make- or-break speech.

It came at the end of a conference when sniping about the 66-year-old’s leadership threatened to overshadow radical policy changes on tax and the environment.

Immediate reaction from the conference floor was positive, delegates delighting in Sir Menzies breaking free of his shackles to deliver a passionate attack on Gordon Brown.

The leader insisted the Liberal Democrats were now the party brave enough to tax the rich, help the disadvantaged, protect the environment and “stand up to George Bush”.

In contrast, he said, Mr Brown “wants to be like Maggie”, denouncing the Prime Minister for rising home repossessions and personal debt, and for failing to prevent the “illegal” invasion of Iraq.

Sir Menzies said: “In spite of your claims of change, Mr Brown, not much really has changed. New Labour remains blue Labour.”

David Cameron’s Conservatives were attacked for their “identity crisis”, with Sir Menzies adding: “When they meet a hoodie, they don’t know whether to hug ‘em – or hang ‘em.”

He said, to applause: “We Liberal Democrats can confront the difficult issues, take tough decisions and – yes – say controversial things, too.

“That’s what real leadership is about. That’s what my leadership is about.”

Far from ducking the issue of age, Sir Menzies pledged to make it an issue at the next election, because “with age comes experience and with experience comes judgment”.

Amid renewed Westminster hints that Mr Brown is still considering an October election, he vowed: “Whenever he calls the election – whether it’s next week or next year – we’ll be ready.”