Prescott 'proud' of green record

Prescott: Still more to do on environment issues

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has defended the government's record on the environment, insisting Labour can be proud of its achievements.

This government is giving leadership on the environment internationally

John Prescott

His comments follow apparent criticism from Environment Minister Michael Meacher, published in a Sunday newspaper.

Mr Meacher had suggested the government was not prepared to take difficult decisions on green issues.

But Mr Prescott told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he believes his colleague's comments were taken out of context.

'Good record'

"I think the Sunday Times article is a terrible distortion of the truth," Mr Prescott said.

When Mr Meacher said he felt like a "lone voice" on the environment, he did not necessarily mean within government, but when talking to other countries, Mr Prescott insisted.

"He (Mr Meacher) makes the allegation about the government perhaps not going as far as he wants it to, but that is not to say it is not a good record.

"A lot done, a lot more to do - that is what we are both saying."

'Giving leadership'

Mr Prescott went on: "This government is giving leadership on the environment internationally and nationally.

"And, I tell you what, we'll compare that record with any other government, we are the only ones that have implemented a programme that will achieve the targets set out at Kyoto."

Mr Prescott, who is standing in for Tony Blair while the prime minister is on holiday, said he had published a transcript of Mr Meacher's newspaper interview on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Mr Meacher is understood to be on holiday and not available for comment.

Summit plans

But writing in Wednesday's Guardian, Mr Prescott said both he and Mr Meacher would use the forthcoming international summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg to encourage other countries to do more for the environment.

He continued: "We want the world leaders assembled there to commit themselves to take action in a way which integrates environmental, social and development needs...

"No country can save the planet on its own. A collective threat requires a collective solution."

Mr Prescott said it was only under Labour that Britain had shrugged off the title of "dirty man of Europe".

"Our domestic record is something to be proud of... The air, rivers, beaches and drinking water are now cleaner," he said.

Mr Meacher last week won back his place on the government delegation for Johannesburg after reports he had been dropped provoked an outcry from environmental groups.

In his newspaper interview, he said he did not believe the government as a whole was "ready to take the magnitude of the decisions I think are necessary".