Plymouth MP Luke Pollard’s campaign to protect the country’s bees has been a resounding success.
More than 22,000 people co-signed Luke’s letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in which he said:
“Sadly, since 1900 the UK has lost 13 out of 35 native bee species, and the domestic population is once again threatened by the Government’s decision to lift the ban on bee-killing pesticides.
“Bee-health is non-negotiable, and allowing bee-killing pesticides to be used again could have a catastrophic impact on our environment. We are in a climate and ecological emergency and bans to protect bees should not be lifted when they become inconvenient.”
With the weight of more than 22,000 people behind the campaign, the Government announced that bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides will not be used this year.
The Government cited weather conditions as the reason behind its decision and has not ruled out using these damaging bee-killing pesticides in the future. However, the success of the #SaveTheBees letter shows how controversial the decision to lift the ban on the pesticide has been.
Luke added:
“People in Plymouth love bees. We want to see our pollinators brought back to health and that means ensuring that these bee-killing pesticides are never used again.
“We must keep pushing the Government to ensure that neonicotinoids aren’t just not used this year, but are permanently banned again. It is vital to making sure our countryside flourishes.”
