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Crackdown call on waste packaging Lib Dems demand plastic bag tax
(about 3 hours later)
The Lib Dems have declared war on excess packaging in supermarkets as they continue to stake their claim as the greenest of the three main parties. Lib Dem activists have called on the leadership to consider introducing a "plastic bag tax" despite warnings that it could drive up carbon emissions.
The party says total waste produced in the UK has increased by 21% since 1997. Party leaders had wanted a deposit scheme, with customers charged for disposable shopping bags and refunded when they are returned.
Delegates at the party's conference are expected to back plans for greater fines and incentives to tackle it. But members backed an amendment calling for consideration of a levy on plastic bags, as used in Ireland since 2002.
It comes as a Guardian/ICM opinion poll suggests Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell is now more popular than Conservative leader David Cameron. Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson said packaging cost the average family £470 a year.
She claimed research showed that using bags made from materials other than plastic could lead to more carbon emissions.
'Over-packaging'
A container which could transport 1.5 million plastic bags, could only carry just over 50,000 paper bags, which would push up road haulage emissions.
However, a deposit scheme, rather than penalising shoppers for using plastic bags, would encourage their reuse, she said.
In many cases, the same products are sold with less packaging in other countries Martin TodLib Dem parliamentary candidate
The party also voted for large supermarkets to provide waste points for customers to dump unwanted packaging.
Lib Dems say total waste produced in the UK has increased by 21% since 1997, with householders sending five million tonnes of packaging to landfill sites every year.
A Lib Dem survey of UK supermarkets found more than 17 billion plastic bags are given away each year.
During a debate at the party's annual conference in Brighton, Martin Tod, a former marketing director for a packaged goods company, said the UK over-wraps a wide range of products.
Mr Tod, also the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Winchester, gave the example of toothpaste he used from a tube he had designed in his previous job.
Poll popularity
"It came in a carton and I and my colleagues had actually designed that tube so that it didn't need one..." he said.
"In many cases, the same products are sold with less packaging in other countries."
The conference also backed a motion calling for a new national body with prosecution powers to tackle "large scale producers of excess packaging".
The debate comes as a Guardian/ICM opinion poll suggests Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell is now more popular than Conservative leader David Cameron.
The poll will come as a major shot in the arm for Sir Menzies, who has faced continued questions about his leadership during this week's conference.The poll will come as a major shot in the arm for Sir Menzies, who has faced continued questions about his leadership during this week's conference.
'Two fingers''Two fingers'
The man most often tipped to succeed him, home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg, told a fringe meeting he would "probably" bid for the leadership in the future.The man most often tipped to succeed him, home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg, told a fringe meeting he would "probably" bid for the leadership in the future.
But he ruled out a challenge to Sir Menzies, urging the party to support him and "put two fingers up" at its critics.But he ruled out a challenge to Sir Menzies, urging the party to support him and "put two fingers up" at its critics.
"At a time when Sir Ming is being attacked with barely disguised ageism... the only response is to pull together, put up two fingers and say, don't you dare push us around," said Mr Clegg."At a time when Sir Ming is being attacked with barely disguised ageism... the only response is to pull together, put up two fingers and say, don't you dare push us around," said Mr Clegg.
The Lib Dems are hoping the policies debated this week - which have focused around the environment and "fairer" taxation - will give them a distinctive platform on which to fight the next general election - and avoid the traditional third party "squeeze".The Lib Dems are hoping the policies debated this week - which have focused around the environment and "fairer" taxation - will give them a distinctive platform on which to fight the next general election - and avoid the traditional third party "squeeze".
The party's youngest MP Jo Swinson, will later set out a series of proposals on cutting waste packaging - including compulsory waste points in supermarkets, where customers can deposit unwanted packaging.
A Lib Dem survey of UK supermarkets found more than 17 billion plastic bags are given away each year.
Brown lead
She will also attack the government's waste strategy for England, which she will say does not do enough to tackle waste packaging.
And she will call for financial incentives to encourage firms to reduce excess packaging and disposable products.
The party will also debate constitutional reform - including lowering the voting age to 16, a bill of rights, a referendum on a written constitution, greater use of citizens' juries and the introduction of proportional representation for Westminster elections.The party will also debate constitutional reform - including lowering the voting age to 16, a bill of rights, a referendum on a written constitution, greater use of citizens' juries and the introduction of proportional representation for Westminster elections.
There will also be emergency motions on guns and gangs - and provision for Britain's armed forces.There will also be emergency motions on guns and gangs - and provision for Britain's armed forces.
The ICM poll gives Sir Menzies had a narrow advantage over Mr Cameron. Some 36% of those taking part said they were satisfied with him and 41% dissatisfied - a net rating of minus-five.
By contrast, Mr Brown enjoyed a comfortable satisfaction rating of plus-32, with 55% of all voters saying they are happy with the way he has performed since his arrival in 10 Downing Street in June, against 23% who say they are not.
The poll put Labour support in a possible general election at 40% - up one point on a similar survey last month - with the Conservatives down two on 32% and the Lib Dems up two on 20%.
ICM questioned 1,005 adults by telephone between September 13 and 16.