Thank you to the many constituents who’ve recently been in touch with me regarding bee killing pesticides.  

I, alongside my Labour colleagues, am deeply concerned with the Government’s decision to lift the ban on bee-killing pesticides, known as neonicotinoids. Not only is this pesticide incredibly harmful to our already at-risk bee populations, but it will further damage biodiversity and the natural environment.  

The Conservative Government is once again failing to honour their promises. In 2017, then Environment Secretary Michael Gove MP, pledged to uphold the ban on neonicotinoids. He stated that “the weight of evidence shows the risks of neonicotinoids to our environment, particularly to bees and other pollinators.” 

This is a worrying example of the Government rolling back on hard-won environmental gains now Britain has left the European Union. Labour has warned that this Government cannot be trusted to keep their promises or manifesto commitments. They say they will not compromise on high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards, but this decision adds yet another worrying u-turn to the list of poor decisions made by the Government.   

Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Luke Pollard MP, has written to the Government urging it to reverse the lifting of the ban, and for this issue to be scrutinised by MPs with a vote in Parliament.  

We consider protecting bee populations and biodiversity to be a top priority. We have lost too many bees and if bee-killing chemicals are allowed to be used again there is a grave risk that we will lose even more. The Government’s plans to permit bee-killing chemicals to be used should be subject to a vote in Parliament.  

Thank you again to everyone who’s contacted me about this important issue. Please be assured that alongside my Labour colleagues I will do everything I can to oppose this decision and protect biodiversity.