BRITAIN'S public voted to leave the European Union – but they do not support any weakening of the environmental protections introduced to the UK during its EU membership, a new survey has found.
The YouGov survey, conducted on behalf of environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth, found that the UK public 'overwhelmingly' back the retention – or strengthening – of EU rules to protect nature and in particular bees, in the form of the EU-imposed moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides.
With this result in hand, FOE is calling on the UK government to guarantee that its Brexit strategy will not lead to a weakening of environmental protections.
The survey found that 46% of respondents wanted Britain to pass laws providing a higher level of protection for wild areas and wildlife species than current EU laws, while 37% wanted at least equivalent safeguards. Only 4% want lower protection.
57% of respondents said that British farming subsidies should put either more or the same emphasis on environmental protection than the current EU subsidies do. Only 7% said British farming subsidies should put less emphasis on protecting the environment.
A convincing 81% wanted to keep the EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, with only 5% saying it should end. The survey also determined that these pro-environment views were held just as strongly by people who had voted for Brexit as they were by people who voted to remain.
FOE campaigner Samuel Lowe commented: “This survey sends a powerful message to the UK Government that EU rules aimed at protecting our natural environment must be maintained or strengthened. The poll completely undermines those who argue that Brexit should lead to a watering down of the UK’s environmental commitments. There is little public support for this – even from those who voted to leave the EU.
“The Government must also stand up to pressure from the NFU and keep the EU ban on bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticides. This is what the science says, and the public demands.”
The YouGov survey was carried out online and polled 1687 adults mid-August. The figures have been weighted to be representative of all GB adults.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here