LibDem candidate wants cleaner air for Southport’s residents

Polluted air is a risk to residents, John Wright has warned. The LibDem candidate says he will lobby for a new Clean Air Act if he becomes the town’s MP.

Air pollution is linked to thousands of early deaths each year and costs the country billions of pounds in its effects on people’s health. Given local pollution levels are sometimes higher than in London, Mr Wright believes that urgent action is needed to protect residents in Southport.

“Our town is especially vulnerable to air pollution. Those most at risk from its effects are children and older people, and the damage that it does puts a strain on our NHS.

“Southport’s Tory MP has a non-existent record on protecting our environment — and I don’t believe that the Labour council have done enough to clean up the air we breathe here.

“If elected, I would work with my colleagues to pass a new Clean Air Act, and make it a basic right for people in this town to breathe clean air.”

The Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, has also called on businesses to avoid suppliers who have benefited from the catastrophic rainforest fires in Brazil. “We want a general duty of care for the environment, to ensure that companies are avoiding behaviour in their operation and supply chains that is damaging to the environment.”