The following content is extracted from the Friends of the Earth website page – General election 2024 manifestos: final scores. The original text can be read here:
The contents here do not reflect Caley Waters opinions or thoughts – we’re just reposting / resubmitting the views of Friends of the Earth, as per their website information.
Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace have partnered to evaluate the 2024 election manifestos of the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Green Parties against 40 key policies. Curious about which party excels? Let’s dive in.
The Results Are In
After detailed scrutiny, Labour’s manifesto scored four times higher than the Conservatives’. However, the Greens and Liberal Democrats lead the rankings, taking first and second places, respectively.
Leading the Pack
The Green Party tops the chart with an impressive 39 out of 40 points, followed by the Liberal Democrats with 31.5. Labour scores a decent 20.5, while the Conservatives lag far behind with just 5 points.
Labour’s Prospects
Current polls suggest Labour might win the upcoming general election. What does this mean for our climate and environment? Labour has set ambitious goals, such as reducing emissions by two-thirds by 2030. While this is promising, their strict fiscal policies could hinder their ability to invest adequately in our future. Labour’s focus on economic prudence could limit necessary investments in green jobs, economic revival, and preventing environmental harm.
The Conservative Challenge
The Conservative manifesto is underwhelming. Although there are some positive policies on incinerators and bus fares, the overall stance fails to indicate a significant shift towards better environmental policies.
Green and Liberal Democrat Ambitions
Both the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats stand out with bold promises on climate, nature, housing, and justice. They advocate for significant changes that promote fairness and environmental sustainability. We eagerly anticipate their continued advocacy in parliament.
Understanding Manifestos
Manifestos are critical pledges made by political parties to the electorate. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace have analyzed and scored these manifestos based on 40 policy recommendations across climate, energy, nature, homes, justice, and democracy.
Evaluation Method
Political parties were aware their manifestos would be scored and had opportunities to provide additional details to boost their scores. The final rankings reflect thorough evaluations and feedback from the parties, except for the Conservatives, who did not provide additional input.
Policy Scores
Climate and Energy
- Conservatives: Scored 1.5 out of 10 for insufficient ambition and commitment.
- Labour: Scored 6.5 out of 10 for solid policies but limited by fiscal constraints.
- Liberal Democrats: Also scored 6.5 out of 10, showing understanding of policy levers but missing key commitments.
- Green Party: Perfect score of 10 for comprehensive and financially backed plans.
Nature and Environment
- Conservatives: Scored 1.5 out of 10 for weak policies and insufficient commitments.
- Labour: Scored 5 out of 10 for mixed policies with some strong commitments but lacking in others.
- Liberal Democrats: Scored 7 out of 10 for strong policies on water reform and tree planting but missing on some fronts.
- Green Party: Perfect score of 10 for exceptional policies exceeding required commitments.
Homes and Transport
- Conservatives: Scored 1.5 out of 10 for inadequate policies that fail to address key issues.
- Labour: Scored 4.5 out of 10 for promising policies but limited by fiscal constraints.
- Liberal Democrats: Scored 8.5 out of 10 for strong commitments to retrofitting homes and supporting low-income households.
- Green Party: Scored 9 out of 10 for strong policies with minor gaps.
Justice and Democracy
- Conservatives: Scored 0.5 out of 10 for poor policies and doubling down on harmful legislation.
- Labour: Scored 4.5 out of 10 for defending democracy but lacking in some areas.
- Liberal Democrats: Scored 9.5 out of 10 for comprehensive and forward-thinking policies.
- Green Party: Perfect score of 10 for strong commitments to workers’ rights and democratic reforms.
Final Thoughts
Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace’s thorough assessment reveals clear differences among the parties. While Labour shows promise but is hindered by fiscal constraints, the Conservatives fall short in most areas. The Green Party and Liberal Democrats offer the bold, comprehensive policies needed to address our environmental challenges and build a fairer future. As we approach polling day, these insights will be crucial for voters committed to a sustainable and just world.