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.
