Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman has written to Michel Gove asking the newly appointed Defra Secretary to clarify the department’s position on neonicotinoid pesticides, after Conservative MEPs’ proposed amendments to weaken new neonicotinoid restrictions were defeated in voting in the EU Parliament last week.  

In her open letter to the Secretary of State, Hayman said she is “Concerned by the apparent Conservative Party position” on neonicotinoids; she noted that Michael Gove has previously stated that he would not seek to weaken European environmental regulations, but that there is a lack of information on a clear Conservative policy on neonicotinoids, and that Conservatives’ actions in Europe appear to contradict Gove’s claims.

Although government spokespeople have stated that the UK government has abided by the EU’s restrictions on three neonics, when these were introduced in 2013, the Conservative-led Coalition government publicly rejected neonicotinoid science. The Uk government also attempted to influence the Commission’s initial restrictions using a study that it commissioned, which was not peer-reviewed but was released directly onto the internet, and which was later panned by EU food safety watchdog EFSA. 

Following a review of the 2013 partial ban, the EU Commission plans to ban all outdoor use of neonicotinoids, reserving them for use in greenhouses only.

Highlighting Labour’s manifesto pledge to oppose the use of neonics, Sue Hayman asked the Defra Secretary to share details of any communication he has had with Conservative MEPs on the issue, and to clarify whether their attempts to derail the EU restrictions are in accordance with the Conservatives’ minority government policy.

Acknowledging farmers’ concerns over the shrinking toolbox of agro-chemicals in Europe, Ms Hayman asked MR Gove to commit to funding and promoting research into viable, environmentally friendly alternatives to neonicotinoids. She said, “We must have assurances that after Brexit our environment and health will be in safe hands and current actions by elected members of the Conservative party must reflect those assurances.”

Mr Gove has also come under fire this week after the government’s much-delayed 25-year environment plan appears to have been shelved once again. Initially promised in 2015, the plan was held back in light of the Brexit referendum result. Officials told reporters from the Independent this week that they cannot now guarantee that the long-awaited report will now be published before 2018.