Key Messages for Mps from Smaller Parties

Key messages for MPs from smaller parties

Key messages

These are the key messages that we’d like your 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. Thank the MP for any support they’ve given so far– check see what they’ve done.

1. The Government’s new commitment to develop a Bee Action Plan (or National Pollinator Strategy, as they call it) to save bees is very welcome, but without the right content the Strategy will do little or nothing to help bees.

1. In June, leading scientists, businesses, farmers, beekeepers, conservation organisations and others met at a Bee Summit to discuss what an effective National Pollinator Strategy would look like.

1. Five key areas were identified as needing ambitious new measures if bee decline is to be halted or reversed. These are outlined in this briefing.

FYI, the five areas are as follows – you don’t need to remember them as you can read them from the briefing.

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. You’re concerned that instead of talking about ambitious new measures in these five areas, the Government is instead talking about how existing policies can help bees. You’re particularly concerned given that scientists say new policies are needed.

If you need an example of the above, then you can say the Government talks about how Biodiversity 2020 will help bees, despite the fact:

It does not include any specific measures to help threatened bee species or to protect and restore the most important bee habitats.

The Government doesn’t measure the impact of Biodiversity 2020 on bees. But indicators for butterflies, which are included, are either deteriorating or showing no improvement.

1. Please can the MP write to Defra Ministers Lord de Mauley and David Heath asking them to make sure the National Pollinator Strategy includes ambitious new measures in each of the five areas outlined in the briefing.

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 your 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 (2) would work well, along with the fact we welcome the Government’s commitment to develop a National Pollinator Strategy. 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.

• 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

Ask the MP to write to the Defra Ministers 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?

The briefing contains a number of suggestions about reducing pesticide use, both on local council-managed land and on farms.

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’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 how Biodiversity 2020 will help bees, despite the fact:

It does not include any specific measures to help threatened bee species or to protect and restore the most important bee habitats.

The Government doesn’t measure the impact of Biodiversity 2020 on bees. But indicators for butterflies, which are included, are either deteriorating or showing no improvement.

• 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.