Key messages for Labour MPs

Key messages

These are the key messages that we’d like Labour MPs to hear this autumn.

  1. There are a lot of people in the MP’s constituency who care about bees and want the politicians to take steps to reverse bee decline.

Give examples if you can, e.g.:

Number of people locally who’ve signed bees petition – see

Number of people who’ve attended events you’ve organised during the bees campaign – e.g. Bee World plantings, Bee Walks etc, and the level of interest at any stalls you’ve run.

  1. Labour nationally supported the call for a Bee Action Plan with ambitious content – this was very welcome and important. Also thank the MP for any support they gave – check see what they’ve done so far.
  1. The Government has now agreed to develop a Bee Action Plan (or ‘National Pollinator Strategy’, as they call it). We expect the draft to be published in December, with the finalised Strategy announced in April 2014.
  1. In June, leading scientists, businesses, farmers, beekeepers, conservation organisations and others met at a Bee Summit to discuss what Government should put in its National Pollinator Strategy.
  1. From the discussions at the Summit, Friends of the Earth has put together this briefing about what the National Pollinator Strategy needs to contain to do what the science says is necessary to save bees.

(You don’t need to remember the next bit – keep a briefing with you, then you can literally point at it or read from it.) It identifies five key areas needing ambitious new action if bees are to be saved. These are:

  1. Extensive creation, protection and linking up of good habitat for bees
  2. A proper monitoring scheme for wild bees
  3. Improvements in safeguarding bee health
  4. A reduction in chemical use and research into alternatives
  5. Government as leader, facilitator and driver
  1. If bees are to be saved, Labour need to show they’re on the side of the science and of business, beekeepers, conservation organisations and the public; they must put real pressure on the Government to deliver the ambitious National Pollinator Strategy needed.
  1. Please can the MP write to Shadow Defra Minister Barry Gardiner asking him to (1) publicly support an NPS including ambitious new measures in each of the five areas outlined in the briefing; (2) put pressure on the Government to include these measures in its National Pollinator Strategy.

Introduction – how to use the key messages

You can choose how to get these messages across to your MP in whatever way suits your event or meeting. For example, if a Labour MP is coming to an event you’ve organised, consider breaking things up as follows:

  • Say a short welcome/thank you for coming to everyone at the beginning of the event or when the MP arrives (if this isn’t the same). You can do this reading from notes, so try and fit a few of the key messages in here. Key messages (1) and (3) below would work well.It would also be good to say you want the MP’s help in making sure the Government’s National Pollinator Strategy is ambitious enough to save bees - with a thank you to the MP for their support so far (if relevant).
  • When you talk to the MP in person,you can then:

Give them the briefing,

Explain that the ideas in it came out of the Bee Summit

Say that Labour’s support has been important so far and needs to continue.

Ask the MP to write to the ShadowDefraMinisters as outlined below.

You don’t need to worry about the exact wording of the key messages or every nuance they contain. Instead concentrate on getting across the main thrust of what they say in a way you find comfortable. If you have any questions, then contact .

FAQs

It’s possible your MP might ask some questions. The following are the ones we think are most likely, so it’s worth having a read through the suggested answers.

But if you get asked something you don’t know, or can’t remember the answer to, then really don’t worry. Be honest – say you don’t know, but that you’ll find out. Then email after the event and we’ll give you an answer you can email to your MP.

  • What about pesticides / what does the briefing say about pesticides?What’s the Labour frontbench’s position on pesticides?

The briefing contains a number of suggestions about reducing pesticide use, both on local council-managed land and on farms. The Labour Shadow Defra team supports a National Pollinator Strategy that aims to reduce pesticide use.

If you’re pressed on neonicotinoids: The briefing doesn’t mention neonicotinoids specifically, but does talk about the need to phase out pesticides where there is clear scientific evidence of a high risk to bees. The three neonicotinoids currently subject to a two-year ban fall into this category and if the science looks the same in two-years’ time we would support a continued ban.

  • What the Labour frontbench’s position on the contents of the briefing?

The Labour frontbench has said that the NPS should:

Dramatically increase suitable habitat for bees in cities, towns and countryside

Safeguard existingimportant habitat for bees

Reduce pesticide use

Monitor all our bee species

  • What’s the Government’s position on the contents of the briefing? How likely is it that the Government will do what’s in the briefing?

The Government hasn’t yet responded to the contents of the briefing. But we’re worried by Government suggestions that existing policies can deliver much of what is needed. Instead scientists are clear that bold additional measures are required in each of the five areas identified in the briefing. For example, the Government talks about bees’ habitat creation needs being met through the existing Biodiversity 2020 strategy, even though it contains no specific measures to help bees.

  • What do farmers / the NFU think about the contents of the briefing?

We’ve talked to lots of farmers and farming organisations who are already working to help bees, or who would like to if provided with better advice – and who support the contents of the briefing. The NFU came to the Bee Summit and were fully involved in discussions. They have disagreed with us on some issues in the past. We’re currently waiting for their response to our latest proposals.