Good morning,
You’ve probably not missed the news this week announcing a General Election on July 4th. We knew one was going to happen at some point this year – now we have a date in the diary.
General Elections are potential turning points when it comes to policy that effects wildlife and the environment, and so the next six weeks are crucial in influencing the direction of the next UK government. The nature and environmental sector now has a narrow window of opportunity – significant opportunity – to influence all political party’s manifestos and promises.
Wild Justice is disappointed that wildlife organisations often shrink from speaking up in the run up to elections. There is an atmosphere of cautiousness and fear – organisations often explain their caution in saying there are strict restrictions on what charities in particular can do. We do not believe this is the case.
Wild Justice have worked together with our lawyers, Leigh Day, to produce a new piece of guidance; Fighting Fearlessly: campaigning for the environment in the general election 2024.
Our guidance makes it clear that, whilst there are some rules around campaigning during the election, these are easy to navigate.
The bottom line:
- There is little to prevent organisations from highlighting environmental problems, asking for solutions, and assessing proposed solutions by different political parties.
- We believe the supporters of environmental charities should expect them to be communicating their views on what are important policies for the future and there is no reason for those charities not to comment on the policies proposed by a range of political parties.
- In our view, there is nothing to prevent environmental charities from making statements such as “This party has a better manifesto on environmental issues for the following reasons.”
Wild Justice will not be staying silent during the election window; we’ll be here, calling out bad policy and highlighting any good policy we see. And – as our guidance shows - as a not-for-profit company there is nothing to stop Wild Justice from endorsing any political party or candidate.
Read our full guidance here: Fighting Fearlessly: campaigning for the environment in the general election 2024.
More General Election analysis coming soon!
That's it for now!
Thank you,
Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).
This is the 190th Wild Justice newsletter.
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