Get the party (conference season) started

I am travelling to Brighton today.  The great seaside town is hosting the Liberal Democrats' party conference.  The RSPB attends the major party conferences to put a spotlight on issues which affect wildlife.  I shall be packing my suitcase and popping in to each over the next three weeks.  So, I thought I would through this blog give a flavour of what we get up to and how each of the parties are living up to their environmental ambitions. 

This week therefore, the focus is on the Liberal Democrats.

Reading the newspapers over the weekend it is clear that in the run up to the next General Election in 2015, the two coalition parties will seek to differentiate themselves from each other.  During party conference, it is tempting to exacerbate differences even further to rally the party faithful.  So, this weekend Danny Alexander complained of a “blue roadblock” on the green agenda. Meanwhile, Nick Clegg (fresh from his apology which was brilliantly put to music here) criticised the “turbo-charged” Conservative Right, while Ed Davey likens the Tories to the Tea Party putting green jobs at risk.  I am sure that similar language will emerge in a couple of weeks time when the Conservatives head for Birmingham.  Whatever the motivation, It certainly makes for more spicy Cabinet meetings.

For a party that once claimed to have a 'green thread' running through its policies and that has stewardship of the environment in its constitution, the Liberal Democrats should be particularly sensitive to how the government environmental track record is perceived.  They will want to go into the next general election being able to demonstrate that we are on track halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020 and have made a significant shift to a low carbon economy.

Yet, despite having been at the helm of the Department of Energy and Climate Change since 2010 (with Chris Huhne and now Ed Davey as Secretary of State), it is only since the reshuffle that a Lib Dem minister (David Heath) has been posted to Defra.  Will this change the dynamic in the department?  Given that the coalition agreement made reference to "a science-led policy of badger control", I was not surprised that Natural England released the first licenses last week. 

What I am looking for is more policy oomph, momentum, impetus - anything to help realise the fine ambitions in the Natural Environment White Paper.  We are looking for Mr Heath to work with the rest of the Defra team to fight for the resources that the department needs and stimulate innovative thinking to help "protect wildlife and ... restore biodiversity" - another coalition commitment.  As the lead on agriculture policy, CAP reform should be his top priority.  He will need to use all his diplomatic skills in Europe (and at home with the Treasury) to deliver a decent deal for farmers and wildlife.  Agri-environment schemes provide the funds that underpin any government's wildlife ambitions.  Mr Heath should be looking to bolster the funds and improve the design of the schemes. 

My colleague, Tom Fewins, has written his own appeal to the Liberal Democrats to enourage them to do more for wildlife.  You can read his article here. 

We need the parties to be locked in an evolutionary arms race where the parties strive for the best environmental policy agenda.  We don't expect this to happen overnight, but this is a long term aim.  And it is why, every year, the RSPB goes to Party conference season, engages with the politicians and challenges them each to do more.

Tomorrow, I'll let you know how we (and the party in yellow) are getting on.

If you were to make an appeal to the Liberal Democrats, what would you say?

It would be great to hear your views.