"We are trading the health of our world’s ecosystems for the right to upgrade our smartphone every year; the futures of our children and their children so we can wear clothes just once then throw them away; and a functioning climate so we can nip on a plane whenever we wish"

🚨 THOUSANDS of animals are being killed as a result of getting accidentally caught in fishing gear, such as trawling nets - new research shows Each year industrial vessels in the UK are catching: 🪶 10,000 seabirds 🐋 1,000 porpoises, dolphins & whales 🦭 500 seals 1/2 🔽

The consequences of bycatch are devastating. Seabirds, porpoises, seals, sharks and other wildlife are accidentally caught in fishing gear intended to catch other species, often suffering injury, drowning or slow deaths. The shocking reality? Bycatch is avoidable. Solutions exist, but progress by Government has been far too slow. Our new report, Hidden in the Haul: The true scale of bycatch, reveals the impact this hidden issue is having on marine wildlife and why urgent action is needed. 📖 Find the full report here: wcl.org.uk/docs/hidden_in_th… #Bycatch #OceanWildlife #ProtectOurSeas

All politics is local, and local people know best what their area needs. Labour is transferring power and wealth out of Westminster to communities across Britain.

If you ever doubted how much we love nature in the West Country, just listen to how excited Mayor Helen Godwin gets about bird song 🐦 Our new £5 million Nature Fund will help keep the birds singing, and restore our natural world with major investments in our green spaces and waterways 🌳

🚨 England's poorest communities risk losing out on the trees, green spaces and wildlife they need most. New research for Wildlife & Countryside Link shows that proposed Biodiversity Net Gain exemptions could disproportionately affect deprived communities, where access to nature is already limited. From de minimis loopholes to proposed 0.2ha and brownfield exemptions, the areas with the least greenery stand to lose the most. This is not the route to good, sustainable development or proud, thriving communities. People deserve homes surrounded by trees, nature and healthy green spaces. The Government should strengthen Biodiversity Net Gain, not weaken it. Read the report: wcl.org.uk/docs/green_gap_re…

Utterly disgusted to see Croudace Homes wilfully clearing mature trees and hedgerows in Shenfield during the height of the breeding season. Century old oaks hosting nesting birds and other wildlife have been felled. We need to place more value on our natural environment.

Starmer's back out moaning about 'blockers' again. So we're going to help councils to get blocking. There is simply no need to build on an inch of green space... Keep an eye out here for our NEW councillor toolkit, coming very soon! @CommunityPlann1

We can’t keep piling endless demand onto finite water supplies. Families can't be left without essential water while AI data centres burn through it. Madness. We need long‑term solutions that put living standards first - that means public ownership of water.

France has introduced one of the world’s toughest environmental laws by criminalizing “ecocide” under its Climate and Resilience Act. The new legislation allows courts to impose severe penalties on companies and executives responsible for severe and lasting damage to air, water, or soil. Convicted offenders can face fines of up to €4.5 million, or up to ten times the profits gained from the violation, along with prison sentences of up to 10 years. This marks a significant cultural and legal shift, elevating environmental protection to the same level of seriousness as threats to public safety or human life. The law is part of a growing international movement, driven by activists, scientists, and legal experts, to treat large-scale ecological destruction as a serious crime rather than a mere business cost. While some critics worry the law may prove difficult to enforce, it reflects a broader recognition that the health of the planet’s ecosystems is essential to human survival.

And now to my apology to @krishgm. When I referred the other evening on @Channel4News that using these calculations Thames Water would be worth £21 billion I was wrong. Using Ofwat's latest RCV and applying the SMF 1.3 multiplier Thames Water would now apparent be worth a stonking £26,659,419,800. Not bad for a company that's effectively bankrupt. 3/3

Labour is delivering a win-win for nature and growth.   After years of Tory red tape, endless barriers to growth and a merry-go-round of regulators, Labour is building infrastructure faster, cutting costly delays and protecting the environment.