Lib Dems slam Labour Mayor's new, carbon-unfriendly BMW

2.58.11pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Dec 2006

Haringey Lib Dems have slammed the Labour Mayor's choice of a BMW 7 series as the replacement of the official mayoral car. The luxury purchase comes as the council struggles to cut £2m from its budget - and merely a fortnight after Labour leaders signed the Nottingham Declaration, where they publicly committed to encourage Haringey residents to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.

The Lib Dems are pointing out that the cheapest 'book' price of a Series 7 BMW is £50,875 with a minimum 3 litre engine size, with the largest model having a 6 litre engine. Under urban driving even the most environmentally friendly of the Series 7 range does only 44 mpg.

Councillor Bob Hare, Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson comments:

"The replacement of the mayor's vehicle would have been the ideal opportunity for Labour in Haringey to demonstrate its commitment to tackling the causes of climate change.

"It is disappointing that the Labour has chosen to put their own personal comfort and status before the environment. It shows their commitment is largely just warm words."

Councillor Ed Butcher, Deputy Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson adds:

"This is hardly leading by example. It is difficult to see how our community partners will take the council's pleas to be less polluting seriously when at the first opportunity they buy something just a few steps down from a Sherman tank on the pollution scale.

"It is a real worry how hollow Labour's commitment is to the environment: a case of do as I say not as I do."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Link to text of the Nottingham Declaration

http://www.energysavingtrust.co.uk/housingbuildings/localauthorities/NottinghamDeclaration/EST_NDec_cert_HR.pdf

Technical Specification on BMW 730d SE (the least polluting of the series 7 range)

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications_technical_specs/0,4639,1156_149348629__bs-Nw%253D%253D%2540bb-N0xJ%2540bm-Wkc0MQ%253D%253D%2540sit-bmwuk,00.html