In 1995 I was working as an organiser for the Young Labour movement, helping to put Tony Blair as opposition leader in front of young audiences to engage with them on the importance of politics to their future lives.
I recall a gathering at a school in Wimbledon where Blair made a very polished presentation to hundreds of sixth formers who would eligible to vote for the first time at the next election on his vision for a Labour taking power in 1997. The young audience listened politely, but showed little in the way of engagement or excitement until it came to questions.
At this point the polished and confident new leader of the Labour party was suddenly faced with an avalanche of concerns on issues ranging from fox hunting to fur farming to animal testing and the need to stop whaling.
The subdued audience suddenly came alive and put the new Labour leader under real pressure to show he understood their concerns and was willing to address them if he became prime minister. Following the event it became clear to Blair and all involved that animal welfare and wildlife protection issues were of key importance to young voters and would need to be addressed as part of the Labour party election manifesto.
This resulted in the Labour party working closely with wildlife protection and animal welfare groups to develop a groundbreaking manifesto for animals with clear commitments for an incoming Labour government to shut down fur farms in the United Kingdom, to introduce legislation to end fox hunting and to bring an end to the testing of cosmetics on animals.
Seventeen years later as Ed Miliband looks towards the next general election, he would be wise to follow Blair’s path, by recognising that wildlife protection and animal welfare issues are of key importance to first-time voters and the wider electorate.
Despite David Cameron’s pledge to be the ‘greenest government ever’ the coalition has been disastrous for wildlife protection and animal welfare. From badgers, buzzards to beavers the government has aligned itself with farming, landowning shooting and fishing interests to put the future protection of our wildlife at risk.
This has resulted in huge public anger with hundreds of thousands of people signing petitions, debates in parliament, high court legal challenges and thousands of people protesting in the streets of our towns and cities.
In response Miliband should produce a wildlife protection manifesto for the 2015 election. Labour should back up its commitment to stop the badger cull with pledges to introduce a closed season for hares to stop them being shot during their breeding season. They should also introduce a complete ban on the use of snares together with a broader commitment to put more police resources into fighting wildlife crime on a UK and international basis.
On the international level, Labour should allocate some of the UK’s foreign aid budget to reduce human wildlife conflict in Africa to stop the huge surge in elephant and rhino poaching. They should also seek to work with the international community to stop all whaling by Japan and other nations and to provide greater protection for dolphins and porpoises to end the senseless slaughter of these animals in places such as the Faroe Islands and Taiji Cove in Japan.
By making these commitments the Labour party will strike a chord with millions of caring compassionate people who wish to see greater protection for wildlife. In some marginal seats this could even decide the outcome of the election. Animals have friends and those friends vote – Labour cannot afford to ignore this reality.
———————————
Dominic Dyer is a spokesperson for Fox in Parliament. He is the chief executive of the Badger Trust and policy adviser for Care for the Wild International
———————————
Labour need to step up on wildlife conservation issues, and not get dragged to the centre by the disturbing paranoid lurch to the right of the Tories
How can you say that, Pete? If you think Labour is no different from the Tories, try this from Kitty Jones http://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/political-parties-they-are-not-all-as-bad-as-each-other-at-all/
Their record on animal welfare is also second to none. We have some really good and caring MPs in the Labour party today.
I agree with Dominic on this . In fact I suggest that Labour takes animal welfare and environmental issues such as the import of foods containing GM materials very seriously .Also we have to make clear that we are the only major party committed to never legalise fox hunting . In fact Labour should tighten the law to stop very dodgy goings on such as the Fitzwilliam hunt and Cottesmore Hunts claimed use of birds of prey . We also need to tighten up on animal laboratory testing .These experiments cost the tax payer a fortune ,many are just routine repeats of previous tests ;even medical testing and experimentation , more often than not gives inaccurate results of the effect on human beings . There are often better ways .
Totally agree -it’s time for changes at DEFRA and Natural England and for other departments to take responsibility. We need a blueprint to take forward in June 2015
I also agree with Dominic on this and totally concur with john Knowles comment here.
Spot on as always Dominic, always firm about what needs to be done yet very realistic and non-discriminatory in fighting for our wildlife, not just in Britain but around the world. These campaigns rely on people like you and I hope to hear more from you in the future.
Sadly, there are not enough people like Dominic in politics. As things stand, there is no party that can be trusted.
There is Helen and it is only Labour. Their track record is strong and deserves support. Nothing positive will happen for wildlife if the Tories stay in office. Our wildlife needs Labour and the commitment of Labour MPs is very clear. You can find out more on just how Labour cares by going to the Fox in Parliament website. http://www.foxinparliament.com Which Dominic is a spokesman for. Fox in Parliament is a pro Labour political animal lobby.
Dominic Dyer is the best thing that has happened to our wildlife for a long time. Animals adapt to sharing space with us. They have no choice as loss of their habitat means they have nowhere else to go.Yet our government seems unable to extend any tolerance to them. In the end, it’s all about the money Our wildlife needs a voice in Parliament. The British people have shown their support of our wildlife during the recent badger culls. People won’t stand by and watch our wildlife being slaughtered. Lets hope Labour are listening and are ready to back us up. After all, we live in a democracy.
I had the pleasure of spending an evening and half the night in the company of Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party, as TBVAC showed her around the Somerset badger cull zone in 2013. She was thoroughly engaged with the issues, a very good listener, (a rare attribute in any politician), and interested to see for herself the damage the badger culls have done to the local community as well as to the local wildlife.To my knowledge she is the ONLY political leader to have come and seen a badger cull for herself, and even the shadow minister for animal welfare, (Labour), couldn’t be bothered to go to the Gloucestershire badger cull zone this year when invited stating this ‘was a farming issue and not an animal welfare issue’. Natalie Bennett won massive respect that night, by being prepared to roll up her sleeves and really engage with the issues the people of Britain care about. Needless to say the Membership of the Green party has been souring ever since, particularly among people opposing the badger culls.
I wish I felt the same about labour, I really do, but having lived rurally for most of my adult life, I have often not even had a labour candidate to vote for, and just been left to the right, the far right and the extreme right as my only voting ‘options’. Labour is only interested in power, it is not interested in policies. It is most especially not interested in rural voters or the countryside. One year in my local election ward, I had a choice of the local reigning Tory or a Lib Dem 50 miles away in another county! How we do democracy in this country sucks, and labour know this, but have no inclination to do anything about it, just as the Tories don’t either. I am bitterly disappointed in Labour.
Ama, I think you are totally wrong about the Labour Party. Historically they are the only party to have EVER done anything to help animals. All of the good animal welfare legislation has come from Labour. We live in an anthropocentric world where human need and greed is put before those non humans with whom we share the planet. Progress for animals is always slow because those who exploit animals are powerful and resist change. Its not a case of ‘being bothered’ its a case of having enough people in Parliament who can actually vote to bring in good legislation. Labour has gone on record to say if they are elected they will put a stop to the inhumane and unscientific cull. They will also put an end to the threat of repeal of the hunting Act, but they cant make any meaningful changes unless we vote them into office. The Greens are non starters I’m afraid, and if you intend voting Green, you may as well resign yourself to another five years of Tory rule.
Hi Pattie I agree with you in principle, but I was also speaking about my recent dealings with the labour party when I invited the Labour Shadow Minister on animal welfare to the Gloucestershire badger cull zone. The reply was that the badger culls were not an animal welfare issue!
I also speak as someone who lives rurally and who often has no option to vote for Labour at local elections because no one is standing. In the 15 years I have lived in my village I’ve only had the option to vote for a local labour candidate once. Labour frequently ignore the rural voter, focussing entirely on urban areas and big populations. Is it any wonder we have the choice of the right, the far right or the extreme right in rural areas?
I do hope labour get in next year, preferably in a labour/green coalition. The Greens reflect my views as an ecosocialist far better than labour does, and I’m pretty appalled that labour has well and truly turned its back on its socialist roots. Labour is in favour of fracking, will do nothing about renewables just as it ignored that issue when they were last in power, will not cancel Trident, will not re-nationalise the utilities, will continue the failed experiment in austerity, the list goes on. I don’t believe Labour will do the right thing regarding hunting and simply ban hunts, and I’m not confident they will tighten up the hunting with dogs ban without considerable pressure from the caring British public. Yes, labour are better than the Tories, but they are a very long way off from the Britain I’d like to live in.
The need for wildlife issues to be given a greater standing is key and it is right Labour takes that lead. The commitment of the majority of Labour MPs for wildlife has been shown again and again. What is lacking is not support from Labour MPs but an understanding that for the leadership then need to have greater focus and a more joined up approach to these issues.
It is only Labour that can stop the Badger Cull and Labour repeatedly made it crystal clear that what will happen if Labour are elected in 2015. There are other issues I hear of that if action is taken would be major steps forward for animal welfare. Issues that should become clear being the election. Yet it is right that there is leadership on more wildlife issues as a whole and Labour is the party to take them forward.
It is not about the Greens, while they say some good things on wildlife, they are not in contention and it is votes of MPs that matter. To win important votes in the Commons it takes a majority. Labour already has that majority of Labour MPs who will stand up for wildlife.
Labour is supported and has two active organisations campaign and speaking up for domestic animals and wildlife. it has Fox in Parliament http://www.foxinparliament.com which is a political animal lobby that supports Labour MPs and candidates who support animal issues. Dominic is the Spokesperson of for the lobby. And then there is LAWS, Labour Animal Welfare Society who raise the importance of animal welfare across the Labour movement.
So there is solid support within Labour for ensuring animals have a strong voice and there are many MPs and Shadow Ministers who share that commitment. All that is missing is some joined up thinking so the wider public know the support animals have.
We do need to see commitments in the manifesto and it’s important that a debate takes place to address these issues wider. We should have commitments on Ending Snares and in given some protection to the Hare who is suffering due to the shooting lobby. They are also international issues such as the threat to Rhinos and Elephants and the illegal trade in animals that Labour should step up to the plate on.
However what all these issues have in common including insuring the hunting ban remains in place is an election of Labour in 2015. If not then the future of animals will be very bleak under another term of the Tories. The Greens cannot stop the harm to our wildlife and its important people take that message on board. Warm words are good but it takes votes and only that will happen if Labour is in office.
Dominic Dyer is the best advocate EVER for animals. I have never heard any one speak with more sincerity and passion.
As expected the Tories do not give a damn about animal welfare. Labour does and will represent the voters with that in mind.
To all of you who think voting Green is the solution, lets not forget that they have climate change way down on their agenda. Their policy for tackling climate change is a non starter. They may be called The Green Party, but don’t be fooled into thinking it stands for a whole and healthy earth. In fact Brighton Council which is the only Council controlled by the Greens, has the worst recycling record in the UK. Over the next 50 years or so, global warming is going to become even more of a massive problem than it is now. Labour is and was the only party to take this fact on board. As far back as the 1990s, it was Labour in the form of John Prescott who recognised the importance of nations coming together to tackle global warming in a meaningful way. Labour is far Greener than the Greens and always has been. The trouble today is the Tory gutter press aided and abetted by their spiteful propaganda machine are trying desperately to negate the labour message. They know only too well the threat Ed and his team pose to their re-election hopes. For goodness sake don’t be panicked into voting Green because you think its the only viable option. Labour not only has the experience in Government, but they have the policies that are right for people and UK wildlife.
This is so important, though I acknowledge that there are elements within the Conservative party notably ‘The Blue Fox’ group who stand up for animals there are significant number close to the PM who hope for a return to it. I was also shocked that the League Against Cruel Sports were actually BANNED from the Conservative Party Conference, an incident which as reached the media abroad http://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/05/uk-league-against-cruel-sports-banned-from-attending-conservative-government-party-conference/ that this respected group who also campaign against bullfighting, the badger cull, and canned trophy hunting could be distanced from central politics in this manner.
The pro hunting/shooting group the Countryside Alliance who criticise the RSPB, RSPCA and other animal welfare groups http://www.countryside-alliance.org/ca/campaigns-press-releases/illogical-rspb-motivated-by-dislike-of-grouse-shooting had ties with the former Environment Secretary and share similar views with Liz Truss as to bringing back hunting with dogs and the badger cull http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10974532/Liz-Truss-and-Owen-Paterson-try-to-avoid-each-other-at-the-Game-Fair.html .
There is also the fact that promises on animal testing to reduce and replace animal tests have not been met, shockingly even those research groups who are anti animal testing have been forced to claim their support http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/charity-group-accused-of-pressuring-members-to-back-animal-testing-9850222.html and despite the failure of animal tests to work in human trials the numbers rise , new GM tests liable to add to the number http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26058058
I wish Ed Miliband well and hope that he will take heed from the growing number of scientists and the public who wish for a more humane future, remember not only mice are used but dogs, cats, primates.
In addition to these important animal welfare issues, especially the drive by vested interests to scapegoat Badgers, can Labour please examine its policies towards biodiversity and wildlife from a conservation point of view? For example, in London it is often Labour councils allowing development of important pockets of green space. And in the Rochester by-election, it seems Labour wants the SSSI with ancient woodland, grassland, breeding Nightingales and rare Duke of Burgundy butterflies (plus other wonderful wildlife) to be built on instead of finding a more appropriate solution. Nightingales, for example, are in serious decline and it’s shameful that our “modern” country is even threatening to remove one of their last few refuges -we should know better than that by now. This building work could easily go elsewhere. Can we not even allow a few pockets of wildlife to remain? You cannot justify absolutely anything with the jobs and home argument – we need both, of course, but not just anywhere at any cost! We urgently need sensible, long-term thinking, not cutting corners and easy cash. These sites will be important for human well-being in the future too. Even the other parties are against destroying this SSSI – is it not time to protect the few remaining fragments of wildlife and countryside and find more sustainable solutions for building? Perhaps starting with not so many luxury flats being built and sold to rich international investors, rather than people who actually need them (although this is a cross-party fault). Also there are issues with the loss of biodiversity in our countryside, the decline in insects, the collapse in numbers of farmland birds (Turtle Dove down by 90%, Skylark and Lapwing declining) and the health of our environment which I rarely hear addressed by Labour. It’s a golden opportunity for Labour to show it cares about our wildlife, which belongs to us all. It’s easy to simply say you’re against bloodsports, which are high profile and affect a few charismatic species, but all our wildlife needs help. There’s also the issue of game shooting with 35 million Pheasants bred and released for “sport” annually and Hen Harriers wiped out on the moors for Grouse shooting… what’s Labour’s view? This is not meant as an attack on Labour (at least they are against the ridiculous Badger cull) but there is a lot of room for improvement from the point of view of a conservationist. Thank you for reading my thoughts.
I agree with the points made. In addition to these important animal welfare issues, especially the
drive by vested interests to scapegoat Badgers, can Labour please
examine its policies towards biodiversity and wildlife from a
conservation point of view? For example, in London it is often Labour
councils allowing development of important pockets of green space. And
in the Rochester by-election, it seems Labour wants the SSSI with
ancient woodland, grassland, breeding Nightingales and rare Duke of
Burgundy butterflies (plus other wonderful wildlife) to be built on
instead of finding a more appropriate solution. Nightingales, for
example, are in serious decline and it’s shameful that our “modern”
country is even threatening to remove one of their last few refuges -we
should know better than that by now. This building work could easily go
elsewhere. Can we not even allow a few pockets of wildlife to remain?
You cannot justify absolutely anything with the jobs and home argument –
we need both, of course, but not just anywhere at any cost! We urgently
need sensible, long-term thinking, not cutting corners and easy cash.
These sites will be important for human well-being in the future too.
Even the other parties are against destroying this SSSI – is it not time
to protect the few remaining fragments of wildlife and countryside and
find more sustainable solutions for building? One more general issue is many luxury flats being built and sold to rich international
investors, rather than people who actually need them (although this is a
cross-party fault) which pressures land yet doesn’t address the hosing shortage. Also there are grave issues with the loss of biodiversity
in our countryside, the decline in insects, the collapse in numbers of
farmland birds (Turtle Dove down by 90%, Skylark and Lapwing declining)
and the health of our environment which I rarely hear addressed by
Labour. It’s a golden opportunity for Labour to show it cares about our
wildlife from a conservation angle, AS WELL AS animal welfare. It’s easy to simply say you’re
against bloodsports, which are high profile and affect a few charismatic
species, but all our wildlife needs help. There’s also the issue of
game shooting with 35 million Pheasants bred and released for “sport”
annually and Hen Harriers wiped out on the moors for Grouse shooting which I hope will be addressed seriously by Labour. This is not meant as an attack on Labour (at least
they are against the ridiculous Badger cull) but there is a lot of room
for improvement from the point of view of a conservationist. Thank you
for reading my thoughts.
Apologies for posting twice – d’oh!
Crucially, Dominic, you’ve missed off the critical need to strengthen the Hunting Act so that it can actually stop organised Hunts from simply using the current Act’s loopholes to ride roughshod over the spirit and letter of the law as they can and do at present. See http://campaigntostrengthenthehuntingact.com/ and http://www.powa.org.uk/
You can hear Dominic Dyer speak at The Birmngham Wildlife Festival and Badger March this coming Saturday, 21st Feb. https://www.facebook.com/birminghamwildlifefestival2015?ref=hl
This is the biggest animal campaigning forum in the Uk, with up to 3000 visitors expected.