Press freedom in Trafigura case a priority for UK's first Green MP

Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party and the UK's first Green MP, used her maiden speech in parliament yesterday to question ongoing media restrictions surrounding oil giant Trafigura.

The company and its lawyers Carter-Ruck were at the centre of last year's super-injunction debate. In October the law firm abandoned an attempt to prevent the Guardian from reporting a parliamentary question referencing the injuncted Minton Report, a scientific study commissioned by Trafigura, which described the chemical components of waste dumped in the Ivory Coast in 2006 and their potentially toxic effects.

In December the oil trader also ended a legal dispute with BBC Newsnight over a feature published in May 2009. The programme agreed to: apologise for allegations made about waste dumping in the Ivory Coast on air and pay £25,000 to a charity of Trafigura's choice, as well as legal costs.

Lucas praised the actions of cross-party MPs last year who "helped shine a light" on Trafigura's actions.

"There was particular concern that the media in this country were being prevented from reporting the issues fully and fairly," said the Green Party leader.

"This remains the case, for new legal actions concerning Trafigura have been launched in the Dutch courts, and are being reported widely in other countries, but not here."

Lucas stressed that her position as the only representative of the Green Party in parliament would not affect her ability to "contribute to debates, legislation and scrutiny".

"A single MP can raise issues that cannot be aired elsewhere," she said in reference to the Trafigura issue.

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