The UK government has granted sugar beet farmers emergency approval to use a banned pesticide, neonicotinoid, known to be harmful to bees, for the fourth consecutive year, a decision that "makes a mockery" of the existing ban. Critics, including environmentalists and members of the Labour party, argue this poses a significant threat to bee populations, with tiny amounts capable of killing millions of bees. The pesticide, banned in the EU, has sparked widespread concern. Labour's shadow defra team opposes the use of neonicotinoids, and discussions in Parliament, led by advocates like Luke Pollard who professed, "I bloody love bees," aim to ban bee-harming pesticides.
The Govt has granted farmers emergency approval to use banned neonicotinoid pesticides for 4 years running. That's not an emergency it's a routine - and it's a routine that's killing our bees. Where's the plan to end harmful pesticides @DefraGovUK? https://t.co/5WW7vaYzb5
I bloody love bees🐝 I’m about to speak in the Parliamentary debate on bees to make the case that bee killing pesticides must be banned. https://t.co/B1aT912TJr
NATURE NEWS from Labour's shadow defra team. They say they want to end the use of bee killing neonicotinoid pesticides - which the government yesterday granted the use of. Tiny amounts can kill millons of bees. https://t.co/v6LGttl4u4
It’s likely that many bees will die as a result of this. This pesticide is banned in the EU. https://t.co/2Dby76CVJX
GRRRRR.., Sugar beet farmers have the green light to use a banned pesticide deadly to bees. Bee-harming neonicotinoid use "makes a mockery" of ban. So a pointless crop is worth more than our wildlife!! How has this happened??? https://t.co/uj6Zkcscl9
What a depressing sight - farmers in China forced to pollinate by hand. In the UK the government has quietly just approved a nasty pesticide, a type of neonicotinoid called thiamethoxam, for use this spring. It’s highly toxic to bees and banned in the EU. Some Brexit freedom! https://t.co/yHWSTO9Gsn