All articles written by Luke Pollard MP on PoliticsHome.com

Accelerating human-relevant innovation will benefit both people and animals

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19 May 2022 Environment

Accelerating human-relevant innovation will benefit both people and animals

Animal protection is an issue of vital importance and is rightfully climbing up the political agenda - recent months have seen some welcome progress in this field, but I want us to go further, and would like to see the UK position itself as leader in the world when it comes to animal welfare.

04 Mar 2022 Home affairs

After what happened in Plymouth, we need to change our gun laws

It has been six months since the first shots were fired in Keyham in Plymouth. The date of 12 August will loom large in our city for some time to come - when five members of our community were tragically killed, with two others injured, and hundreds of other eyewitnesses.

16 Feb 2022 Environment

Growing more food in Britain is good for jobs, nature, carbon and national security

Britain needs to grow, rear and catch more of its own food. In an era of globalisation, this can seem like rose-tinted, “Dig for Victory nostalgia”. But in reality, this is a question of hard-nosed national security.

19 Jan 2022 Environment

Harmful pesticides must be banned for good to save our bees

The health of our bees is non-negotiable. Bees and other pollinators are responsible for more than a third of the world's crops. Without them, it would cost £1.8 billion a year in the UK to pollinate our crops.

04 Dec 2021 Home affairs

The Eye of the Storm: Constituencies in a Crisis

What is the role of an MP in the aftermath of a local disaster? From fire and flood to violent crime, MPs often take the lead in helping to resolve problems when tragedy strikes. But is it part of the job, or should there be more support for MPs and staff? Georgina Bailey reports

23 Nov 2021 Environment

A fair deal on fish quotas is essential for the future of many fishing businesses

Fishing might have been misleadingly used as the Brexit poster industry, but the UK is experiencing the opposite of a coastal renaissance. That needs to change. Ministers aren't taking notice as things go from bad to worse for fishing – and they have no plan to help British fishers.

17 Jun 2021 Environment

We need bold action to tackle pollution by passing a new Clean Air Act

Labour are calling for a Clean Air Act, which would establish a legal right to breathe clean air, ensuring the UK law on air quality matches the targets set by the World Health Organisation.

21 Apr 2021 Communities

Rural communities have become an afterthought in Westminster

Today, Labour is launching a major review of its policies for rural communities in England.

26 Oct 2020 Environment

We can't let animal welfare fall by the wayside again

The government must stop the delays and ensure there’s sufficient legislative time to bring stronger sentences to protect animals from cruelty into law.

12 Oct 2020 Environment

The Conservatives cannot be trusted to protect British standards – they must be guaranteed in the Agriculture Bill

The Conservatives’ refusal to put British standards into law will mean more cheap, low-quality food being imported and put our farmers livelihoods in serious jeopardy.

23 Sep 2020 Political parties

We need to extend our idea of protecting the environment beyond the necessary focus on carbon

Covid has re-politicised the debate around the work of Defra – it’s time to shake off its administrative image and innovate

24 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Are the Tories unaware of the increase in animal cruelty over the lockdown, or do they just not care?

There is a Private Members Bill in Parliament to raise sentences for people convicted of animal cruelty. It has cross-party support. All George Eustice has to do is bring it forward, and MPs will swiftly pass it so it becomes law.

09 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Coronavirus should accelerate action on animal cruelty - not delay it further

Increasing prison sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years could save the lives of animals and prevent unspeakable suffering.

01 May 2020 Coronavirus

Britain’s food bank use soaring amid coronavirus crisis, charities warn

Labour has backed charity demands to do more to help people on lower incomes as new figures showed the use of food banks is soaring during the coronavirus pandemic.

03 Apr 2020 Coronavirus

Delaying COP26 was the right decision – but delay must not mean dither

The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the lack of global leadership. We need a vision for climate action in a post-virus world.

21 Mar 2020 Coronavirus

Labour demands ministers use 'Get Ready for Brexit' ad campaign money for coronavirus media blitz

The Government should use money set aside for its shelved 'Get Ready for Brexit' ad campaign to launch a media blitz aimed at stopping coronavirus panic-buying, according to Labour.

09 Mar 2020 Home affairs

Luke Pollard MP: We must act now to protect Britain’s shellfish industry

Uncertainty over Brexit and delays at the border will mean the shellfish sector suffers particularly badly, writes Luke Pollard MP

15 Jan 2020 Environment

The Environment Bill is nowhere near bold enough to match the scale of the climate crisis

The Government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is too little and too late, says Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Luke Pollard MP.

23 Sep 2019 Environment

The water industry values profit over people or planet – we need to love every drop to fight climate change

Our water infrastructure uses huge amounts of carbon at every turn. Labour would nationalise the water companies to fight climate change and deliver for consumers, writes Luke Pollard MP

24 Jun 2019 Environment

Let's begin the process of recycling our nuclear submarines

The task of dealing with our obsolete nuclear submarines has been ignored for over 50 years. A clear timetable and funding for a full dismantling and recycling programme is needed, says Luke Pollard

04 Jun 2018 Defence

Warfare is changing but the MDP must protect the role of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines

Ministers have a month to make the right call on the future of the UK’s defence before the MDP is published, warns Labour MP Luke Pollard.

22 Mar 2018 Defence

The Prime Minister may sound tough on Russia, but we can’t keep our country safe on the cheap

In uncertain times, we need to exert confidence to friend and foe alike. But years of defence cuts have chipped away at our credibility on the world stage, writes Luke Pollard

26 Oct 2017 Defence

Commons Diary: Luke Pollard

Luke Pollard spends a week 'badgering, poking and cajoling' to get a better deal for Plymouth – and finds cause for hope in the midst of a gridlocked Parliament

24 Oct 2017 Transport

Autumn Budget is a chance to give the South West it’s fair share for transport

The South West is not asking for more money than anywhere else - just its fair share, argues Luke Pollard MP.