Nature conservation charity the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) has apologised for calling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and ministers Michael Gove and Thérèse Coffey liars on social media.
RSPB England said that frustration over the government’s “reneging” on environmental promises led it to “attack the people not the policy”.
“This falls below the standard we set ourselves and for that we apologise,” it said.
“We will continue to campaign vigorously on behalf of nature but we will always do so in a polite and considered manner.”
‘Liars’
RSPB England posted a photo of the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove, and Secretary of State Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey on Twitter yesterday (Wednesday, August 30) with “liars” written across it in red.
This was followed by multiple tweets echoing the same sentiment and addressing the politicians specifically, which the charity called a “record” of some of their lies.
“You said you wouldn’t weaken environmental protections,” RSPB England said, addressing the three politicians.
“And yet that’s just what you are doing. You lie, and you lie, and you lie again.
“We need the lies to stop, and the work to save nature in this country to start,” it said.
The charity was reacting to the government’s announcement on Tuesday (August 29) that it is planning to reform EU nutrient neutrality laws to allow for an increase in new homes being built.
“Yesterday your government announced the first reversal in environmental legislation for decades,” RSPB England said on twitter.
EU nutrient neutrality laws prevented new builds if it was deemed that the construction would add additional nutrients to the habitat.
Reforming these “defective” EU laws, the government said in its announcement, could allow for 100,000 new homes to be built.
“Currently, legacy EU laws on nutrient neutrality are blocking the delivery of new homes, including cases where planning permission has already been granted,” the government said.
“Nutrients entering our rivers are a real problem, but the contribution made by new homes is very small.
“These laws which originate from Brussels put a block on new homes in certain areas – taking away control over what is built, and when, from local people. “
Government said this move however comes alongside “new environmental measures that will tackle pollution at source and restore habitats” which include more funding for the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme run by Natural England.
“Natural England will work with local authorities, the private sector and others to tackle nutrient pollution and work towards the long-term health and resilience of the river systems,” it said.
The tabled amendments to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill are currently making way through the House of Lords.
