Why do our parliamentarians so seldom speak up for birds?


A JOINT initiative by the RSPB and other conservation organisations seems to have fallen into disrepair.

Six years ago, parliamentarians were invited to put themselves forward to become 'species champions' - in effect, to act as guardian angels for certain creatures deemed to be under threat.

A total of just 17 (out of 650) MPs nominated birds, and, since then, the project seems to have floundered.

The list has shortened rather than lengthened, and MPs seldom speak up for birds - a notable exception being Matt Warman (Con, Boston and Skegness) who recently described his constituency, which includes the RSPB reserve at Frampton Marsh, as "one of the best in the UK both for breeding and migrating birds".

Wetlands enthusiast Mr Warman, who 'champions' the redshank (pictured), was particularly chuffed that, this summer, black-winged stilts are nesting at Frampton - the first record for Lincolnshire.

The rest of the Class of 2017 comprises:

* Jake Berry: Curlew
* James Cartlidge: Turtle dove
* Therese Coffey: Bittern
* Mark Garnier: Lesser spotted woodpecker
* Nick Herbert (now in the House of Lords): Lapwing
* Kevin Hollinrake: Puffin
* Kerry McCarthy: Swift
* Jess Phillips: Dunnock
* Rebecca Pow: Snipe
* Angela Smith (no longer an MP): Hen harrier
* Dame Caroline Spelman (no longer an MP): Willow tit
* Derek Thomas: Manx shearwater
* Kelly Tolhurst: Nightingale
* Anna Turley (no longer an MP): Little tern
* Gavin Williamson: Barn owl
* Sarah Wollaston (no longer an MP): Cirl bunting


The RSPB has its own dedicated parliamentary officer, so perhaps the time has come for the 'champions' scheme to be refreshed and revitalised.

Perhaps one MP on  this list - or the RSPB - might even establish an All Party Parliamentary Group for birds just as there is one for trees and many other subjects (including philately, women's football and professional wrestling).

  • Many MPs are also members of All Party Parliamentary Groups for individual countries. Some members sit on five more such groups.

    Without wishing to be overly cynical, there's no better way for them to secure all-expenses-paid invitations for overseas trips - the other country's government footing the bill.

    The potential risk is that the MPs who accept such hospitality might find later themselves compromised if the favour is called in.

    Among countries on the list below are Belarus, North Korea and Russia:


    Afghanistan
    Africa
    Albania
    Algeria
    Antigua and Barbuda
    Argentina
    Armenia
    Australia and New Zealand
    Austria
    Azerbaijan
    Bahrain
    Bangladesh
    Belarus
    Belgium
    Belize
    Bermuda
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Brazil
    British Overseas Territories
    British Virgin Islands
    Burma
    Cameroon
    Canada
    Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK (CANZUK)
    Catalonia
    Cayman Islands
    Central America
    Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)
    Channel Islands
    China
    Colombia
    Commonwealth
    Croatia
    Cuba
    Cyprus
    Democratic Republic of Congo
    Denmark
    Egypt
    Eritrea
    Estonia
    Ethiopia and Djibouti
    Falkland Islands
    Faroe Islands
    Finland
    France
    Georgia
    Germany
    Gibraltar
    Greece
    Greenland
    Haiti
    Hong Kong
    Hungary
    Iceland
    India
    Iraq
    Ireland and the Irish in Britain
    Isle of Man (Manx)
    Israel
    Italy
    Jamaica
    Japan
    Jordan
    Kazakhstan
    Kosovo
    Kurdistan in Turkey and Syria
    Kurdistan Region in Iraq
    Kuwait
    Kyrgyzstan
    Laos
    Latin America
    Lebanon
    Libya
    Liechtenstein
    Lithuania
    Luxembourg
    Malawi
    Mexico
    Moldova
    Mongolia
    Montenegro
    Montserrat
    Morocco
    Nepal
    Nigeria
    Norfolk Island
    North Korea
    North Macedonia
    Norway
    Oman
    Pakistan
    Palestine
    Peru
    Philippines
    Pitcairn Islands
    Poland
    Polar Regions
    Portugal
    Qatar
    Republic of Korea
    Romania
    Russia
    San Marino
    Saudi Arabia
    Serbia
    Singapore
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Somaliland
    South Africa
    Southern Yemen
    Spain
    Sri Lanka
    St Helena
    St Kitts and Nevis
    Sudan and South Sudan
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Taiwan
    Thailand
    Tibet
    Turkey
    Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
    Turks and Caicos Islands
    Ukraine
    United Arab Emirates
    Uzbekistan
    Venezuela
    Vietnam
    West Papua
    Western Sahara
    Yemen
    Zimbabwe
  • From memory Eric Pickles has 'recused' himself from certain decisions/processes involving avian related issues because he was a RSPB member.
  • "I can understand why Tuwit would feel aggrieved to discover her MP"

    Her? You jump to more than one conclusion there, I think.
  • With MPs due to debate - on July 10 - a petition for it to be a mandatory requirement for swift bricks to be installed in new houses, what better time to set up an All-Party Parliamentary Group for swifts?

    I hope the RSPB's parliamentary officer is on the case.
  • MPs did themselves proud in today's debate on swifts - in particular on whether the incorporation of swiftbricks should become mandatory in all new housebuilding developments.

    Those who took part seemed strongly in favour, with many excellent contributions.

    Unfortunately, neither the Government nor the Labour Frontbench support such a project to be mandatory, preferring to leave it to local authorities of which only eight so far have been supportive via their Local Plans.

    Another consideration is that they do not want to impose what they consider to be an "additional burden" on housebuilders. .

    This exasperated Caroline Lucas who protested: "Warm words won't get us anywhere - we need action."

    At the end of the meeting, Government minister Dehenna  Davison agreed to a further meeting where MPs will have another opportunity to press their case.

    The debate can be watched at:      

    https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/cc4e997f-9399-49d3-9d9b-805710f6ce50

  • Unknown said:
    neither the Government nor the Labour Frontbench support such a project to be mandatory

    It bloody well should be.  I'm with Caroline Lucas on this.  It's a pity she's standing down - I have a lot of time for her.  Perversely, though, I don't vote Green - when they rethink their stance on firearms certificates for target shooters (as in change their stance completely!) they might yet get my vote.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • Guns vs. female reproductive rights.

    Sounds a bit like US politics...
  • tuwit said:
    Guns vs. female reproductive rights.

    Sounds a bit like US politics...

    Er ....... I'm very much pro-choice.  And I'm all for firearms legislation there as it seems that almost anyone there can just buy guns.  I'll never forget seeing the footage of people queueing up at the gun shops when Covid hit the country.  What the hell?

    This country is very much stricter.  Every five years I have to renew my certificate and each time someone from the police firearms licensing department comes over to interview me and to check my storage facility.  I also have to pay for a doctor's report to show there's no medical reason to stop me shooting.  I'd say we're already strict enough ........ though it sometimes seems that any idiot can buy a shotgun to blow our raptors out of the sky.  You don't want to know what I think of those people.  I don't think I could ever target a living thing.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • "I also have to pay for a doctor's report to show there's no medical reason to stop me shooting."

    Doctors (GPs) can misjudge sometimes. Sometimes it takes a person much closer to an individual to convince authorities that a GP may not have made a correct assessment. That's one element that is part of my knowledge. In this case it wasn't about gun licenses, but it exposed flaws.

    I'm not accusing you of anything. Far from it. I've accepted that you've exhibited 'pro-choice'. Just having a poke at the systems that sometimes fail, often with consequences.

    A scheduled/announced visit from the police may not be a correct oversight regime.

    I did not mean to cause any offence, And I apologise, because I didn't gauge the discussion correctly.
  • Does no MP have a kid word to say about gulls?

    This exchange came in the 'Commons on Wednesday.