A resounding victory for SNP in Scotland, a stronger Labour in Wales, a night of mixed fortunes for the parties in the local elections and a rejection of a new voting system. The count in Northern Ireland is underway.
As ever, it will take time for the implications of the results to become clear - particulalry for the UK Coalition Government. But we know some things already such as the new cast list of AMs and MSPs and the likely programme of government which is spelt out in the manifestos spell of SNP and Labour. The striking SNP manifesto commitment to secure 100% of electricity from renewable resources by 2020 is one which we support and will be working hard to ensure that this is done in harmony with the natural environment.
I and some colleagues were lucky enough to be at the Senedd in Cardiff yesterday as the results were coming in (Carwyn Jones, the First Minister in Wales was moving between cameras doing interviews - no doubt wondering if only Labour had secured one more seat they'd have a majority). It is a wonderful building, open and accessible with the public allowed to mingle with the politicians and look in on the chamber and committee rooms. It is so different from the atmosphere at Westminster where the public does not have the same freedom to wander without being challenged (or at least steered with a firm hand).
But wherever there are politicians, the RSPB tries to develop relationships with them - across the political spectrum. This is why it is always sad (and sometimes frustrating) at election times when friends that you have worked with for years step down or lose their seat. But a fresh intake of politicians can bring a fresh perspective. Colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will now be setting up a programme of meetings to introduce themesleves and the RSPB to these new elected representatives. Our hope is that they will want to become voices for nature and we'll help them do that..
Bob - I learnt one or two things from my former boss. One of those was that if you want a clue as to political outcomes look at the odds shown at the bookies. Here's the latest one I have seen on independence for Scotland: Against independence (Fail/No) 1/3; For independence (Pass/Yes) 9/4. Suffice it to say, we shall be watching this closely.
I have just seem Alex Salmond on the news. Redkite is right to hope that the SNP work strongly with the RSPB in Scotland. The only concern I would have is if in the future the RSPB found itself having to split formally into the RSPB and RSPB Scotland (the National Trust scenario). It probably works with the National Trust because houses don't move but birds require a whole island (or even whole world) approach to their protection.
One post script to the above, last week it was interesting that in the lowland areas of South Devon there were many chifff chaffs singing and hardly any willow warblers, but up on Dartmoor it was all willow warblers and no chiff chaffs. Another sign of global warming?- as in my youth in that area, willow warblers were common regardless of altitude.
As you say Martin, it must be a busy time for the RSPB having to make or remake a lot more political contacts. Let's hope that the SNP with their now overall majority work strongly with the RSPB in supporting Scottish wildlife and especially the eradication of the killing of birds of prey in Scotland.
I woke up to two niece sounds this morning, the sound of heavy rain and a cuckoo calling. Hopefully this rain which, seems to be fairly general, will put a stop to these wretched fires (mostly probably started deliberately), and let's hope that the RSPB working with the new and existing politicans at home and abroad, can in due time halt and reverse the terrible decline in such migrant birds as the cuckoo and turtle dove.
I have just spent a few days in south Devon where cirl buntings and linnets (the cousin of the twite) seem to be holding their own along the areas of Bolt Head to Bolt tail and around Prawle Point. Also, at Yarner Wood on the edge of Dartmoor there is an initial count/estimate by the wardens of 50 pairs of pied flycatchers which is about the same as last year apparently.