Government support for nature-friendly farming pays off says Adrian Ramsay

Reacting to a new Natural England report that found nature-friendly farming schemes have boosted biodiversity, co-leader of the Green Party Adrian Ramsay MP said: 

“The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and we urgently need to address the enormous risk that habitat and biodiversity loss poses to our future.  

“Most farmers want to do the right thing for nature and this report clearly shows that Government support for nature-friendly farming pays off. Now we need to see more of it.

“Farmers have told me they need reassurance, certainty, and easier access to funding for nature-friendly farming, so it is very disappointing that the Labour Government has so far refused to commit to maintaining the current level of support payments. 

“I urge the Government to show leadership and not only commit to maintaining the current level of funding, but to listen to the many calls, including from the RSPB, National Trust and The Wildlife Trusts, for a massive increase in nature-friendly farming support. 

“We do not have to have an ‘either-or’ between nature restoration and food production; with more leadership from the Government, we can achieve both.” 


/ by Andrew Bell

Press Releases

Adblock test (Why?)



Statement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister

The First Minister and deputy First Minister have condemned a number of incidents over the weekend, including the racist attack on an Islamic centre in Newtownards on Saturday and last night’s violence in Derry~Londonderry.



Long condemns violence in Londonderry

Justice Minister, Naomi Long utterly condemns the violence in Derry yesterday and sends her best wishes to the injured officers.



Hatred will never divide us

The last ten days have been immensely difficult for our country.

First, the horrific attack in Southport that claimed the lives of three innocent young girls.

Then, the far right extremists who exploited this tragedy to incite and commit appalling acts of violence. Violence that targeted Muslims, asylum seekers and communities of colour.

These thugs do not speak for Britain or our values. But how we respond does.

Already, we have witnessed some of the best of British values in action. Communities coming together to clean up the damage. Standing in solidarity with their neighbours and friends who have been targeted.

Making it clear that hatred will never divide us, and unity will prevail. 

View video on Facebook

Racism and Islamophobia have no place in our society. We must work together to consign this hatred to the history books – and I’m proud of what Liberal Democrats are already doing to make this a reality.

Like calling on the government to adopt a formal definition of Islamophobia, and immediately appoint a new independent adviser on Islamophobia.

There is much to be done to ensure that everybody can feel safe in their communities. But there’s reason to be hopeful, too.

Last night, we witnessed thousands of people standing peacefully together in solidarity against racism, Islamophobia and violence.

It was proof that the UK is the open, tolerant and compassionate country we all know and love. That people from all backgrounds are welcome here. And that riots and racism will never triumph. 

In our own Lib Dem family, I am proud of how we work together as one team with much diversity.  So please check in with your friends, colleagues, neighbours. There are many in our communities right now who feel hugely vulnerable – and need to know that our party is standing with them in love and support. 

We must keep this spirit alive. So we will keep working together – to support our communities and stamp out hatred, in all its forms.

For anyone in need of mental health support, all Liberal Democrat party members have unlimited access to the Health Assured Support Helpline at 0800 028 0199. You can find out more here.

Go to Source
Author:



Violent disorder is fascism say Greens

Commenting on the street violence affecting communities across England, Green MP Siân Berry said: 

“What we are witnessing on our streets is fascist violence fueled by racism and Islamophobia. Only by naming it and understanding clearly what it is can we work to defeat it.  

“The rise of the far right and fascism has been fueled by toxic and divisive rhetoric from some in the previous government [1] We must demand better from our new government, and I hope that ministers will now step up and deliver.  

“It is also important to ask what the police and security services have been doing to monitor the far right over the past decade. We have to question if a focus on monitoring Muslim citizens and climate protesters has allowed the far more sinister menace of fascism to ferment.  

“We need to bring those responsible for instigating the violence to justice, but this won’t be enough to defeat an ideology which uses organised political violence to undermine our society, divide communities and compromise the state and its institutions, including the judiciary and the police.  

“The engine that drives fascism is racism, so ministers need to speak up now with one voice to celebrate and defend our Muslim citizens and their place in our diverse society. The Government also needs urgently to create real new investment in supporting community cohesion. 

“As Greens we stand in solidarity with our Muslim citizens, with people seeking asylum in the UK, and every community that’s been targeted, attacked or threatened by this racist violence. We commend those in the areas targeted who have united peacefully against this hate, and support community leaders and individuals who are working to bring communities together in the face of attempts to inflame divisions.”  

Notes 

[1] Dame Sara Khan, who worked as Rishi Sunak’s independent adviser for social cohesion, has accused politicians of using inflammatory language which has given a green light to those holding racist views: Conservatives left UK wide open to far-right violence, says former adviser | UK security and counter-terrorism | The Guardian 

Other examples of divisive rhetoric fueling the far right and racism:  

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman said ‘The truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge now.’ 

During the election Reform Party leader Nigel Farage said there are “a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values, in fact loathe much of what we stand for”, when asked about Conservative plans to bring in national service for 18-year-olds. Asked during that interview on Sky News if he was referring to Muslims, Farage said: “We are.” 

Former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth said migrants are ‘”put up in hotels and they can stay in these hotels for the rest of their lives” 

Adblock test (Why?)