Candidate calls on local Labour AMs and MPs to take action on food miles

12.00.00am GMT Tue 9th Jan 2007

Speaking after Tuesday's endorsement by the Prime Minister and David Miliband of the 'Just Ask' local food campaign, local Councillor and Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate for Gower Nick Tregoning said:

"Tony Blair is asking a lot of the British public when his government has done so little to tackle food miles. His Government has refused to put a duty on air freight so it cannot be too worried about the air miles of apples from South Africa. We've also seen Labour cut the budget of the organization responsible for promoting British food."

"Farmers can't trust ministers on local food after the debacle of the single farm payments and Government inaction to break what the Prime Minister described over six years ago as the 'arm lock' supermarkets have on farmers."

"Many people are aware of the damage caused to the environment by food miles and have changed their food purchasing as a consequence. However, more must be done to ensure customers are aware of the harm caused by food miles. Consumers will only be persuaded if they can see that our own leaders take the matter seriously. That is why Gower Liberal Democrats are calling for local Labour AMs and MPs to put pressure on their colleagues in Westminster to take these issues more seriously."