THE Conservative Party are being urged to explain why they dropped a manifesto commitment on glass recycling from Westminster’s proposed Deposit Return Scheme before accepting a £20,000 donation from a major drinks lobbyist.
In 2019, the Conservatives’ manifesto vowed to introduce a deposit return scheme “to incentivise people to recycle plastic and glass.”
However, this was dropped in March 2022.
According to the Electoral Commission’s register of donations and loans, on May 12 2022 the Tory Party received a £20,000 donation from The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, not reported until July 28 2022.
A Commons debate followed on May 28, where senior Tory figures defended the decision to axe glass from the scheme.
Scottish Greens climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has asked whether it was appropriate for the party to accept the donation.
He said: “It simply makes no sense that any government seeking to introduce a deposit return scheme would choose to drop glass from its operation – it flies in the face of what it is designed to achieve.
“The fact this was also a Tory manifesto commitment makes it even more peculiar. I really think they have to properly explain – perhaps at their party conference this weekend – why they dropped this commitment and the timing around it, partIcularly given the hostile reaction from some of their own MPs.
“While the £20,000 from drinks lobbyists was properly recorded around the time of renewed DRS activity, I think it would also be very helpful to more fully understand if it was really appropriate for them as the party of government to accept it.
“There can be no suggestion of any wrongdoing, but considering their decision making powers, it is only right that the public has a full picture of what engagements the Tory party has had – including contacts here in Scotland, given their new position on glass.”
It comes after Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme was delayed until next year following criticism from small businesses and the UK Government’s failure to grant an exemption to the Internal Market Act.
The Conservative Party have been contacted for comment.
“There can be no suggestion of any wrongdoing” says the person complaining about this. So why am I reading an article about it then? I doubt the Tories are so cash-strapped that £20k can change their policy…
They offered us money, we like money, we took the money…
“We like money and we thought you would never find out about this.”
It’s odd to use the word “urged.” Even though “lobbying” is wrong, it is legal, so there may not be any official wrongdoing.
No need to explain we know why they paid you … sell their sole for pieces of silver
> Well, if we don’t take the campaign donations of big corporations, we can’t serve them while in office, and then we don’t get a cushy job on their board afterwards.
DRS for glass could’ve been abandoned because it’s new implementation has apparently been a farcical mess, and £20K seems incredibly low for a bribe for something this big – but then I’d imagine Boris would flog his nan for a packet of Wotsits, so who knows.
It’s always shocking how little Tory MPs can be bought for.
Tories are cheap, this sub could probably buy the party.
20k seems low. Since these scum would happily con their own mothers, it’s possible a larger sum was paid directly into someone’s Swiss bank account. Probably very difficult to question them in this, as they don’t know which con you’re talking about.
Is their explanation that they were too tired and emotional to follow everything?
Oh the irony of a Scottish Green criticising anyone for failing to deliver a Deposit Return Scheme or manifesto promises.
“Money is what this tory game is all about, we like money. Whats that, what about the nurses? Fuck em.” Tory party probs.
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[Link without paywall](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F23488273.tories-urged-explain-20-000-donation-drinks-lobbyists%2F)
THE Conservative Party are being urged to explain why they dropped a manifesto commitment on glass recycling from Westminster’s proposed Deposit Return Scheme before accepting a £20,000 donation from a major drinks lobbyist.
In 2019, the Conservatives’ manifesto vowed to introduce a deposit return scheme “to incentivise people to recycle plastic and glass.”
However, this was dropped in March 2022.
According to the Electoral Commission’s register of donations and loans, on May 12 2022 the Tory Party received a £20,000 donation from The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, not reported until July 28 2022.
A Commons debate followed on May 28, where senior Tory figures defended the decision to axe glass from the scheme.
Scottish Greens climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has asked whether it was appropriate for the party to accept the donation.
He said: “It simply makes no sense that any government seeking to introduce a deposit return scheme would choose to drop glass from its operation – it flies in the face of what it is designed to achieve.
“The fact this was also a Tory manifesto commitment makes it even more peculiar. I really think they have to properly explain – perhaps at their party conference this weekend – why they dropped this commitment and the timing around it, partIcularly given the hostile reaction from some of their own MPs.
“While the £20,000 from drinks lobbyists was properly recorded around the time of renewed DRS activity, I think it would also be very helpful to more fully understand if it was really appropriate for them as the party of government to accept it.
“There can be no suggestion of any wrongdoing, but considering their decision making powers, it is only right that the public has a full picture of what engagements the Tory party has had – including contacts here in Scotland, given their new position on glass.”
It comes after Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme was delayed until next year following criticism from small businesses and the UK Government’s failure to grant an exemption to the Internal Market Act.
The Conservative Party have been contacted for comment.
“There can be no suggestion of any wrongdoing” says the person complaining about this. So why am I reading an article about it then? I doubt the Tories are so cash-strapped that £20k can change their policy…
They offered us money, we like money, we took the money…
“We like money and we thought you would never find out about this.”
It’s odd to use the word “urged.” Even though “lobbying” is wrong, it is legal, so there may not be any official wrongdoing.
No need to explain we know why they paid you … sell their sole for pieces of silver
> Well, if we don’t take the campaign donations of big corporations, we can’t serve them while in office, and then we don’t get a cushy job on their board afterwards.
DRS for glass could’ve been abandoned because it’s new implementation has apparently been a farcical mess, and £20K seems incredibly low for a bribe for something this big – but then I’d imagine Boris would flog his nan for a packet of Wotsits, so who knows.
It’s always shocking how little Tory MPs can be bought for.
Tories are cheap, this sub could probably buy the party.
20k seems low. Since these scum would happily con their own mothers, it’s possible a larger sum was paid directly into someone’s Swiss bank account. Probably very difficult to question them in this, as they don’t know which con you’re talking about.
Is their explanation that they were too tired and emotional to follow everything?
Oh the irony of a Scottish Green criticising anyone for failing to deliver a Deposit Return Scheme or manifesto promises.
“Money is what this tory game is all about, we like money. Whats that, what about the nurses? Fuck em.” Tory party probs.