Labour risks the “worst environmental regression seen in decades” amid a blitz on nature, campaigners have warned. The Wildlife Trusts warned that the Government could next week “abandon” its election commitment to ensure “development promotes nature recovery” by gutting Biodiversity Net Gain.

This refers to a scheme that requires homes for wildlife to be delivered alongside homes for people. Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “If the Government’s proposed changes to development rules are announced next week amid a wider blitz on nature, it would amount to the worst environmental regression seen in decades. As well as damaging nature and setting back net zero efforts, the Government’s abandonment of the nature promises it was elected on will have significant electoral consequences.

The Wildlife Trusts’ polling from the 2024 General Election showed that over a third of voters cast their vote based on environmental policies offered by candidates.

The Government’s “damaging” Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which green groups are in uproar over, is in the final stages of its passage through Parliament.

Mr Bennett said: “It’s clear that many Labour MPs are already concerned about the knock-on effects that the Government’s betrayal of millions of nature-loving voters will have, because support for the Early Day Motion expressing concern against the Nuclear Regulatory Review is growing. This will have a serious impact on the party in local elections next year and beyond.”

The Wildlife Trusts’ polling from the 2024 General Election showed that over a third of voters cast their vote based on environmental policies offered by candidates.

The Government’s “damaging” Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which green groups are in uproar over, is in the final stages of its passage through Parliament.

Mr Bennett said: “It’s clear that many Labour MPs are already concerned about the knock-on effects that the Government’s betrayal of millions of nature-loving voters will have, because support for the Early Day Motion expressing concern against the Nuclear Regulatory Review is growing. This will have a serious impact on the party in local elections next year and beyond.”

The Wildlife Trusts warned that other “anti-nature” policies are “looming”, including the weakening of the Habitats Regulations, which protect the wildlife sites of greatest significance and international importance for nature.

The charity added: “This threat has arisen thanks to the Prime Minister’s recent enthusiastic response to the Nuclear Taskforce’s recommendation to bypass existing regulations.

“Elsewhere, remarks from the farming minister indicate that the nature-friendly farming elements of Environmental Land Management schemes could be scrapped.”

A Government spokesman said: “We are determined to turn around the decline in nature we have seen for far too many years, and our Environment Improvement Plan sets a clear path to achieve our ambitious environmental targets.

“The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will both improve our environment and help us build 1.5 million homes to restore the dream of homeownership.

“We will publish our response to the Biodiversity Net Gain consultation in due course.”