"EU election manifestos 2019: what do they say about corporate accountability?", 20 May 2019

We examined the manifestos of UK political parties' contesting the European elections, to be held in the UK on 23 May 2019. What do they say about the protection of human rights and the environment with regard to the global operations of UK companies?

Conservative Party

No manifesto.

Labour Party

Labour's manifesto lists among their achievements in Europe "leading the fight against the excesses of the few...".

...They pledge to "continue to lead efforts for a new comprehensive plan to deliver rights and protections" for workers in European law...

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats' manifesto states that "the EU can clamp down on abuses by global corporations in a way that Britain cannot do on its own..."

...Importantly, they pledge to "introduce a general duty of care for the environment and human rights for companies and public sector agencies."...

Green Party

The Green Party's manifesto includes commitments to work towards "an effective and independent EU authority to supervise, control and limit the market power of big corporations."...

They list as achievements that "firms involved in the extraction and trade of conflict minerals will be obliged to check whether their supply chain has links to armed conflicts and human rights abuses," and that "the Parliament will negotiate for compulsory criteria on labour and environmental standards in EU Trade Agreements, paving the way for a UN binding instrument on business and human rights."...

Other parties/manifestos included in the analysis: Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru, Change UK, UK Independence Party (UKIP), Brexit Party