…that the Chancellor, George Gideon Oliver Osborne, is a ‘bloody idiot’ on the subject of wildlife protection.
Sir John, or actually, I see, John Hartley Lawton, is a Vice President of the RSPB, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a good birdwatcher, was the last chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (deceased), is a former head of the Natural Environment Research Council, chairs the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, won the 2004 Japan Prize (for observational, experimental and theoretical achievements for the scientific understanding and conservation of Biodiversity), is a keen naturalist, was awarded the Ramon Margalef Prize in Ecology in 2006, is a brilliant public speaker, was a trustee of WWF UK, received the RSPB Medal in 2011 (and made a very good acceptance speech), chaired a group which produced a very good and influential 2010 report entitled ‘Making space for nature‘ and has produced a string of hugely important scientific papers.
George Osborne has apparently had a career of data entry, folding towels, working for the Conservative Party and running the UK economy (some say, into the ground).
We shouldn’t always take any special notice of what scientists say, they sometimes get a bit carried away and start talking about things that they don’t understand and are not especially well qualified to discuss, but in this case, you’ve got to think that Sir John does know what he is talking about, does care about wildlife conservation and, just maybe, does have a point.
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Knowing of Prof. John Lawton’s ability to influence people and systems let’s hope his criticisms don’t fall on deaf ears! Some time ago I listened to a radio programme in which John Lawton appeared, although it was essentially about him throughout!!. It was utterly inspiring and included appreciative comments from a range of people, including from senior (past ) Government level. I was a little disappointed to see him absent from your recent list of eminent naturalists so had to vote for Max!!
Above all else John Lawton is such a nice bloke, as you’ll know from RSPB days. Let’s hope he’s listened to , not just by George Osborne but by the remainder of the Coalition too !
I really don’t think you need all those qualifications to reach that conclusion.
Lawton is obviously correct in his assessment. At a time when natural habitats are suffering death by a thousand cuts we need stronger protection not some doctrinaire attempt to sweep away the little that we do have. Whilst PeterD is right that it may not be necessary to have Sir John’s range of qualifications and accomplishments to reach this conclusion let’s hope that his eminence can carry sufficient weight to persuade the government that they are on the wrong course. Sadly I don’t hold out much hope for a dramatic Road-to-Damascus moment for our Chancellor.
Sounds a bit of a silly statement to me,why would such a supposedly brilliant scientist? make such a silly statement.
George Osborne has surely never claimed to be clever on the subject of wildlife protection.
Did he get all those awards etc for attacking people about things that are irrelevant to them.
By the way Peter Kendall has made half friendly wildlife comment in reply to M H provocative speech or whatever it was.
Dennis, he was hardly attacking Osborne on things that were irrelevant to him. You may recall that the Chancellor has explicitly called into question our present wildlife protection laws describing them as ‘gold plated’ and placing excessive costs on British business. Osborne’s comments were misguided and dangerous and fully merit Lawton’s attack – the more so because Osborne is the most powerful member of the cabinet after the PM and is in a position to cause a lot of damage by pushing through his vision of the kind of society we should have.
Correction: George Osborne is a bloody idiot, period!
Indeed, in particular he is a bloody idiot on banking reform, tax avoidance, finance for SMEs and windpower so it comes as no surprise he is deficient on wildlife protection.
There is one point in his favour though. The austerity measures and high fuel tax duty has reduced fuel consumption and mileage done in this country which must have saved lots of animals and birds from squashing on our roads.
Firm but fair.