Labour should give greater prominence to its environmental programme in a third term, Margaret Beckett has said.

Writing in Renewal, the leftwing journal, the environment secretary says: "There is a growing public appetite for political leadership on the environment. No party has yet established itself as the natural home for those who care passionately about the environment."

She also suggests such a move would attract back previous supporters.

"Our manifesto for the third term must inspire the people of Britain if we are to successfully renew ourselves in government, for the first time in our history, and to deliver change on a scale that will inspire trust and support among some who have become cynical about our motives and capacity to achieve change of this kind."