Voters want stronger protections for the countryside but fear Labour is not up to the task
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is failing to protect nature, say voters (Image: Getty)
Most voters believe Labour is getting policy on protecting nature and the countryside wrong, a poll has found. The survey of 2,000 people found that 52% think the Government is failing to protect green space, nature and wildlife.
Meanwhile, just 17% think Labour is getting it right, the survey for ecological consultancy Arbtech showed. Robert Oates, chief executive and founder of Arbtech, said: “The public clearly wants stronger protections for nature and the countryside, but many voters believe Labour is getting this balance wrong.
“When voters feel environmental protections are being weakened, it can have a real impact on political support.”
Among voters who believe Labour is getting nature policy wrong, 59% say this makes them less likely to vote for the party.
Meanwhile, among people who voted for Labour in the 2024 General Election, 71% believe the environment needs stronger protections than it currently has.
The Government has stripped back environmental protections under the Planning and Infrastructure Act, allowing nature to be offset through a central Nature Restoration Fund.
This means the destruction of nature could be offset miles away from the site of development.
More than half of voters (52%) say they distrust Sir Keir to protect Britain’s nature and countryside, compared with just 22% who say they trust him, making him the least trusted political leader on environmental protection among those tested.
The Prime Minister performs worse on this measure than every other political party’s leader, Arbtech said.
Mr Oates added: “There is overwhelming backing across the country for stronger protection of Britain’s landscapes and wildlife. Any government that fails to recognise this risks losing public trust on one of the issues voters increasingly care about most.”
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A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “Nature isn’t a luxury – it’s life itself. It gives us the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. It underpins our health, wellbeing, and economy.
“That’s why this Government, is taking bold action to reverse decades of decline. From cleaning up our rivers, to banning bee-killing pesticides, planting new national forests, and investing over £1billion this parliament in tree planting and support to the forestry sector as part of our Plan for Change.”
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