I remember a time, in the early 2000s, when it felt like every discussion on the future of the Liberal Democrats or of political parties in general mentioned the fact the RSPB had 2 million members whereas political parties were reduced to a few hundred-thousands between them.
This massive organisation has now spoken out in the referendum debate. It has not taken a side but demanded that each campaign answer how the environment will be effected.
My view, taking part in public IN/OUT debates every week, is that the environment itself will not swing a huge number of votes but there are some it will and it is a good example to illustrates the wider argument about co-operation versus isolationism when we face new, modern goals. The bottom line is, it is a point well worth making.
The RSPB say:
Today´s report concludes that “EU membership has been a crucial factor in shaping UK environmental policy on air and water pollution, and biodiversity”. The report acknowledges this has been a two-way street, with EU legislation leading to improved environmental standards in the UK, but also giving the UK a platform to pursue its environmental objectives internationally. The Committee report also concludes that businesses like the certainty and opportunities for longer-term planning that EU policy allows.
Despite this, we have yet to have a serious response to these reports from either side in the debate. The health of the environment matters to millions of people in this country and we deserve to know from leading figures on both sides of the debate how their respective positions will help address the many challenges we face.
That’s why, this week, the RSPB will be writing to the two official campaign groups – “Britain Stronger in Europe” and “Vote Leave” – asking them to set out clearly what their proposition will mean for the natural world and environment.
We will be asking them to explain how remaining in, or withdrawing from, the EU will address the crucial issues of nature protection, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and climate change, and we will present their proposition to our members here in coming weeks.
* Antony Hook was #2 on the South East European list in 2014, is the English Party's representative on the Federal Executive and produces this sites EU Referendum Roundup.
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4 Comments
Well, go tell it to the birds.
My tweet of the day is this :
Conservationists appalled at illegal killing of 25m birds a year
http://www.theguardian.com › Environment › Birds
26 Aug 2015 – Glued, poisoned, trapped, shot – a shocking report reveals … In Italy, where about 5.6m birds are killed each year, over 150 species are killed …
A Tory MP asked at PMQ on 20/4/2016 about ancient woodlands in the PM’s constituency, which “cannot be recreated” (actually they can in 400 years). The PM’s answer was about replacing trees, ignoring the environment in which the trees live, and all else that live there. MP not happy.
Ancient woodland. Technically, maybe 400 years meets the definition. However, true ancient woodland has never been anything else. Managed by humans (hence “semi-natural”) , but otherwise kept as woodland. I own an area of woodland. 2 ha are ASNW; another 1 is made up of 2 triangles that were once farmland, but became woodland when the railway cut the area off 150 years ago. You can see the difference, especially this time of year. Hardly any bluebells in the new bit. Maybe there will be more in 200 years…
Although the environment may not swing large numbers of votes, on a low poll it could easily be a decider if environmentalists are motivated to vote.
The RSPB’s huge membership includes many people who wouldn’t describe themselves as environmentalists, but who do care about things like shooting of migrant birds and preservation of sites of exceptional wildlife value. It’s good they’ve asked these questions and I think Leave will have a tougher job answering than Remain.
With reference to Antony’s opening comment, the RSPB is an organisation run by a board elected by an AGM in London with no postal voting and that has a network of local groups but makes almost no effort to consult them on issues of concern within the organisation, so I don’t think it can be a model for our kind of political party. Maybe for a “supporter” rather than “member” category.