Blair seeks green credentials

Blair has promised a £100m green package

By BBC News Online's political correspondent Nick Assinder

Tony Blair has given his second green speech in six months in a clear bid to paint Labour as the environmental party.

He put the issue at the centre of the 1997 general election manifesto but recently came under attack for having failed to translate his words into action.

His announcement of a £100m fund to kickstart the development of alternative sources of energy is designed to prove he is committed to taking action over green issues.

The fact that the Budget was delayed for a day to allow him to make the speech is an indication of how seriously he takes the issue.

And voters are certain to hear much more about it in the looming general election campaign.

Thatcher started the green ball rolling

This is an area which all three major parties are eager to claim as their own, but there are indications that none of them are widely trusted by voters or green activists.

Margaret Thatcher was the first to make the environment a major issue with a speech in 1989 that saw her greeted with headlines along the lines of "prime minister to save the world."

The sudden upsurge in green consciousness even saw Britain's fledgling Green Party suddenly winning mass support and seriously contesting seats in local councils and the European parliament.

Global warming

The major parties immediately recognised there was a huge untapped well of support for anyone who could be seen to be taking the environment seriously and all started battling with each other to prove they are the most green.

Recent weather patterns have also added to a widespread feeling - rightly or wrongly - that global warming is a real problem that is already affecting people's daily lives.

But despite meetings like the Rio Earth Summit critics claim there has been little real improvement since Baroness Thatcher's speech.

Friends of the Earth have given a cautious welcome to Mr Blair's announcement but said they will wait to see if it translates into genuine change.

Green protestors greeted Blair

And, in an embarrassing piece of timing for the prime minister, his speech came as the Commons' environmental audit committee accused him of sending out contradictory messages.

Committee chairman, Tory MP John Horam, said the recent cuts in fuel tax duty, after last summer's protests, suggested the government was not as committed to the environment as it was suggesting.

And Tory spokesmen suggested his speech was simply a pre-election stunt.

Mr Blair certainly has a problem in trying to tackle environmental problems while at the same time appeasing motorists and fuel protestors.

But this is an area all the political parties have trouble with and it remains to be seen if any of them can convince the public they are the best custodians of the environment.