How should conservative environmentalists respond to the Labour government’s plans for nature?

Labour’s rhetoric on nature has been largely positive, but strikingly their manifesto had no major, substantive policies to demonstrate how they would deliver on their ambitions. So now they’re in government, what are their plans?

So far most of their focus has been on tackling the thorny issue of water pollution with new legislation included in the King’s Speech. They have also said they will retain the landmark nature-friendly farming schemes introduced by the Conservatives. 

However, there are reports that Labour intends to cut the nature-friendly farming budget by £100 million. Furthermore, given these schemes were only possible outside of the EU, could a Brexit reset put them in jeopardy? Could our strengthened marine protections post-Brexit to restore sealife and seabird numbers also be at risk?

How can conservative environmentalists defend the progress already made to protect nature and call for more ambitious, less statist action? Could unlocking private funding…