I haven't done much blogging from Manchester - I've hardly had a minute to spare!I've spoken at two Fringe meetings so far, with Richard Benyon and Julian Brazier on the platforms with me - two more Fringe speeches to go!We've met and talked to a wide variety of MPs and Peers, including John Gummer, Nick Herbert, David Davis, Peter Ainsworth, Jim Paice, Bill Wiggin and Lord Taylor of Holbeach. And there are lots of RSPB members here who have introduced themselves to us.Most unlikely person to see at a Tory party Conference so far? Lord Rooker! But now, as boss of the Food Standards Authority he gets everywhere. I had a brief chat with him about lead in shot game.Yesterday at an NFU breakfast fringe meeting, John Gummer gave the NFU a hard time for the lack of bacon butties and the source of the butter on offer at the fringe meeting - it gives a different angle on buttering up the NFU! I asked a question about what a low carbon agriculture might look like and was pleased to get a very considered reply from Peter Kendall - the NFU President. As I've written before, no-one seems to have a clear picture of what this type of agriculture might look like and Peter left the door open for many types of contribution - organic, GM, high-tech and anything else that will make UK agriculture more sustainable. At the same event, Jim Paice made the important point that future agriculture, although it needs to be productive, cannot be 'production-at-any-cost' agriculture. Hear hear! And John Gummer had a go at vegetarians!At another fringe with the Policy Exchange I had a bit of an argument with Tom Kelly of the BAA about how much aviation is possible in a future world where greenhouse gas emissions will have to be reduced. The fringe was about infrastructure and my fellow three panellists paid rather little attention to how we achieve growth of the economy, improve our infrastructure and yet do this in the most sustainable way possible.
And we aren't just talking about climate and agriculture policies - vital though they are for the future of wildlife - we have had pleny of conversations about birds in people's gardens, RSPB nature reserves and what farmers are doing to help birds on their farms! It's nice that quite a few RSPB members have sought us out for a chat. Thank you!
Nothing to do with your blog really Mark but seems people worried because most RSPB members seem oldish,I don't really think so but retired people have more time to attend meetings etc and younger people have to probably put family first and also the younger ones probably having more energy go chasing rare birds.I seem to see quite a lot of young people interesting in birds and mostly very knowledgeable probably as it is easier to learn when young.
Hi Mark you seem to get on several subjects so here is one cropped up in the last few minutes.If the Conservatives get in at next election they will allow hunting again,conveniently they conclude that country people like it.Well I have lived in the country all my life and I dislike it immensely and I Would say a majority of ordinary country people feel the same.
Lets dispel the myth that they are needed to control the population of foxes or all the other excuses they think up,it is just an excuse for a bloodthirsty sport and seeing as Bear baiting,Bull baiting,Cock fighting and probably others have been banned for many years I find it incredible it is even considered I can only think that all those banned are what would be termed for the working class and whatever the hunting fraternity would have us believe they are the better off people and I Assure you I am not against the upper class as each individual should be judged on merit.Sad that David Cameron would allow such a cruel thing as fox hunting,anyone who thinks a fox enjoys the chase should be made to have a pack of dogs chase them with killing in mind.