RSPB apologises after branding Rishi Sunak, Michael Gove and Therese Coffey ‘liars’
The RSPB has apologised after calling members of the government “liars” over its environmental policy.
The UK’s largest conservation charity yesterday vented its “frustration” on X, formerly known as Twitter, launching a scathing attack on PM Rishi Sunak, Housing Secretary Michael Gove, and Environment Secretary Therese Coffey.
The post, with over three million views, featured the trio branded with “liars” in big red letters saying: “You said you wouldn’t weaken environmental protections… And yet that’s just what you are doing.
“You lie, and you lie, and you lie again. And we’ve had enough.”
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Its concerns relate to government plans to scrap pollution rules in order to build new homes near sensitive UK areas like rivers and waterways.
A sprawling thread ensued with the RSPB citing Tory manifesto lines and quotes from the three ministers about supporting environmental protections which it claimed were all false.
Hours later, the RSPB changed tack, apologising for the earlier post, saying its “frustration” had led it “to attack the people not the policy”.
It added: “This falls below the standard we set ourselves and for that we apologise. We will continue to campaign vigorously on behalf of nature but we will always do so in a polite and considered manner.”
However, RSPB maintained its stance on the government saying it was “reneging on its environmental promises”.
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On Tuesday, ministers confirmed that EU-era restrictions that force housebuilders to mitigate the impact new developments have on river health were to be scrapped under plans to provide 100,000 new homes in England by 2030.
The government argued the measure would be economically beneficial, adding that new developments contribute a small amount of nutrient pollution, and promised extra funding to offset any increase.
The Wildlife Trusts’ chief described the move as “disgraceful”.
Current rules prevent new developments in protected areas when they would add harmful nutrients, like nitrogen or phosphorus, into the nearby waters because these can cause algal blooms that deprive other plants and animals of light and oxygen.
Originally created to focus on the protection of birds and later awarded a royal charter, the RSPB says on its website that it works to protect habitats, save species, and help end the nature and climate emergency.