Sarah Highlights Poor Air Quality in London

10.40.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Jun 2009

Sarah Ludford with Mike Tuffrey and Lynne Featherstone.

Sarah is working strongly with Lib Dem London Assembly Member Mike Tuffrey to improve the poor air quality in London. They are pictured campaigning with Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green.

Sarah said: "While pollution in the capital is recognised as a problem and there is plenty of talk and hand-wringing, successive administrations have failed to take the decisive action to solve it. Current levels of air pollution cause over 3,000 premature deaths a year in London due to respiratory and other ailments, and affect hundreds of thousands more - particularly the very young, the elderly and those with conditions such as asthma or cardiovascular disease, a truly shocking statistic."

"Local Lib Dem councils have implemented bold strategies for tackling the problem, but action at every level of government is needed. I've been working in the European Parliament to hold the Labour government to account for its failures on the environment - such as its pig-headed determination to ram through airport runway expansion - which are having such dire consequences for Londoners."