5 January 2006 - New Tory leader David Cameron’s attempt to woo farmers and environmentalists at a reception organised by the Soil Association today was little more than ‘meaningless window dressing’, according to Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas.

Speaking at the event, which was hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby in London’s Barbican this evening, Mr Cameron made a warm speech almost entirely devoid of content, according to Dr Lucas, who is due to address the Soil Association’s 60^th annual conference tomorrow.

“He said it is up to politicians to listen to farmers and to act accordingly. But farmers have been shouting loud and clear for years about the crisis facing the industry and he hasn’t been listening at all,” said Dr Lucas, South-East England’s Green Party MEP.

“The only concrete step he proposed was to improve labelling of British food – important, yes, but hardly sufficient. He didn’t promise to even consider imposing mandatory restrictions on supermarkets’ behaviour, banning GM foods or reforming EU and WTO rules preventing public bodies adopting a ‘buy local’ policy.

“In short, it was a warm-sounding speech almost entirely devoid of content, and I don’t think he’ll have won many converts to the Tory cause tonight.”

ENDS