The UK General Election confirmed a change of government with the Labour Party winning a significant majority in Parliament. Many organisations related to marine and coastal management gave their reaction to the news, including marine conservation NGOs and trade bodies.
The RSPB quickly published their asks of the new government, including: ‘Improve and expand the protected space for nature: The UK Government is committed to protecting 30% of our land and seas for nature by 2030. At the moment we’re way off this target. We must see urgent action to restore and better manage our current protected sites, while increasing their size and number. These protected lands and seas can then become real havens for wildlife to recover and thrive.’
The RSPB focused on the need to ‘Take urgent action to save our struggling seabirds: Our seabirds are really struggling because of the impacts of a changing climate, industrial fishing and large-scale development along our coasts and at sea. They’ve declined 62% within the UK in the last 20 years. The new UK Government must urgently take action to fill the gaps in our network of marine protected areas and make sure they are well managed. A good start would be to designate the waters surrounding Lundy Island in the Bristol channel as a Special Protected Area to protect our seabirds, including the Balearic Shearwater, the UK’s only globally Critically Endangered bird. The new government must also defend the closure of sandeel fisheries to protect our seabirds, in particular Kittiwakes and Puffins in the North Sea.’
Renewable UK said that ‘Labour’s election victory gives them a clear mandate to deliver their clean energy mission’. Commenting on the result of the general election, RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: “Labour’s resounding election victory gives them a clear mandate to deliver their clean energy mission, and we look forward to working closely with the new government to speed up the pace of renewable energy development, with a focus on maximising the industrial and job opportunities the sector offers the UK.
Responding to the announcement by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, that the Government will reform the National Planning Policy Framework before the end of July to end the de-facto ban on onshore wind in England, Dan McGrail said: “Lifting the onshore wind ban in England was long overdue and we’re delighted that Labour has made this one of its first priorities in office. This shows that the new Government is determined to act fast to tackle some of the longstanding barriers which have held the UK back on developing vital new clean energy infrastructure.”
After announcing the lifting of the onshore wind ‘ban’, the new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, said that “The onshore wind ban in England has been in place for more than nine years. We’ve been in government 72 hours, we’ve lifted it. That’s the pace we’re going to move at!”
The Marine Conservation Society published five quick wins for the new government and produced a short video:
- Optimise the marine planning system to deliver offshore wind while restoring and enhancing our marine environment
- Tackle the growing issue of forever chemicals, beginning with the immediate ban of PFAS from fire-fighting foams
- In delivering our 30×30 commitments, unlock the true potential of our blue economy, publishing a strategy for sustainable blue jobs and economic growth
- Lead global efforts on climate change by continuing, and increasing, vital financial support to the UK Overseas Territories marine conservation programmes, including the globally renowned Blue Belt Programme and Darwin Plus.
- Accelerate target delivery of the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, to protect our vulnerable Marine Protected Areas, bathing waters and shellfish waters.
The Marine Conservation Society has also reflected on the organisation’s next steps for ocean advocacy following the election.
The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation set out their asks for the new government before the election. A news report from the BBC said there was ‘Gloom in Looe as fishermen reflect on Labour win’ and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation say they are looking forward to engaging with the new UK government.
Surfers Against Sewage produced a ‘Dear Prime Minister’ post to show the new government what was needed from their perspective, stating ‘you have the backing of the public to End Sewage Pollution. Now it’s time to deliver.’
The Blue Marine Foundation called for a ban on bottom trawling in MPAs, keeping fishing quota in line with scientific advice and a commitment to reforming social inequality in UK fishing. Oceana UK called the result a ‘a huge opportunity for the future of our ocean’ while also calling for an end to trawling in MPAs and focussing on Labour’s commitment to end new oil and gas licensing.
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on the General Election result. OEUK said it is committed to working with the new government on the next steps to a homegrown energy transition, to safeguard energy security, jobs and skills.
However, OEUK warned many of the industry’s skilled people and investors remain deeply concerned about Labour proposals for a further windfall tax on homegrown oil and gas production and to end new oil and gas licences in UK waters. OEUK says such measures would not create the investment conditions the UK needs to deliver the homegrown energy transition needed to kickstart economic growth.
New Ministers and Defra’s core priorities
The new Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, has announced his five core priorities for the department, namely:
- Clean up rivers, lakes and seas
- Zero waste economy
- Boost food security
- Nature recovery
- Protecting communities from flooding
Defra
- Steve Reed OBE MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Daniel Zeichner MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DESNZ
The new government has now confirmed most of the Ministerial appointments:
- Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Sarah Jones MP as a Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade
Devolved nations
- Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Ian Murray MP as Secretary of State for Scotland
- Jo Stevens MP as Secretary of State for Wales
Department for Transport
- Louise Haigh MP as Secretary of State for Transport
Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
- Peter Kyle MP as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Sir Patrick Vallance KCB as a Minister of State (Minister for Science) in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology