It is six months since three generations of the McLane family were left feeling deeply disappointed following a meeting with Malton & Thirsk Conservative MP, Kevin Hollinrake. “His responses to the challenges we raised – which affect both our area and the environment – simply lacked any fact or degree of compassion,” confirms Richard McLane, parliamentary candidate for Malton and Thirsk Green Party.
As the Conservative government once again faces embarrassing scrutiny – there’s no wonder a rural revolt is currently brewing against Truss. Leading party figures and charities have accused the new PM of “environmental vandalism” following their recent party conference. Truss has been brazen in her plans to prioritise economic growth at the expense of key environmental commitments; again like Kevin, completely disregarding the facts and state of emergency our climate is currently facing.
George Eustice reports his dismay – watching on as the policies he championed in his former role as Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are simply ‘being dismantled’. But as Truss seeks to confront and alienate rural communities and nature-led organisations, naming them collectively as an ‘anti-growth coalition’; it is these people who in fact have the critical knowledge and influence to drive forward nature recovery and enable sustainable food production on the ground.
Former Nature Minister Rebecca Pow comments in a recent article in the Guardian on the importance of these stakeholders, including farmers – and how she consulted with them regularly when developing agricultural and environmental policies in her role. Involving them was key to setting and achieving realistic targets.
With Tory polls presently being at rock bottom, this isn’t a great time to be contesting critical environmental commitments. In Truss’s growth plan, it states that environmental legislation could be slashed to make development in investment zones easier. Whilst the plans to banish EU red tape later this year will likely mean that rare plants and animals will lose their protection status.
Once again we’re seeing bottomless promises from the Conservative leadership:
- Raw sewage in our rivers and on our coasts
- Protection of our natural environment torn up for more growth
- Trade deals that allow cheap imports to undercut our farmers
- Continued support of fracking when renewable energy is both cleaner, safer and significantly less expensive.
“I’m greatly concerned by the nativity of this government in disregarding the environmental challenges we face; and am moreso bewildered by their confidence to do this at a time when they simply can’t afford to lose any further support from constituents,” Richard continues.
The RSPB, Rivers Trust, National Trust and Wildlife Trust alone represent in excess of 10 million voters in the UK – do these people’s votes not matter to the Conservative party? Our people must start and question who they are voting for and why. Whilst our country submerges into an economic crisis under such fragile leadership – the environment cannot wait any longer. It’s now or never if we are to secure the future of our next generations.
The Conservative party was elected having promised to prioritise climate change. This responsibility cannot be disregarded for the benefit of the economy – the two work hand in hand and we can only thrive in a world that is sustainable.
Small steps by many make a big change overall – let’s not continue just doing what we’ve always done – it’s time to make positive change.
