Most Britons believe Keir Starmer is putting one key thing in jeopardy

Britons believe nature is in more jeopardy under Keir Starmer than it was a year ago, a poll has revealed. Four in 10 (41%) of the public feel that nature in the UK is more at risk now compared to 12 months ago, the YouGov survey showed.

Only 8% of the public are confident that the current Labour Government will meet targets to halt nature's decline by 2030 - 83% are not confident targets will be met. Referring to last year's Restore Nature Now demonstration, Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: "Few issues unite people from every political and social background, every creed and ethnicity as much as our love of nature. That was apparent when an amazing kaleidoscope of green-hearted people gathered to demand that politicians restore our natural world.

"We were united in hope of a greener future. But politicians can't save nature with wishful thinking. We need action. There's still a chance to make this the Parliament that finally, finally turns around the tragic and self-defeating decline of wildlife, but time is running out. So, let's all say it again, while there's still time. Come on Keir Starmer, Restore Nature Now."

Rachel Reeves has been accused of "leading an ideological charge" against nature since coming into power.

The RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts warned the Government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill undermines its commitment to protect the natural world.

Matthew Browne, head of public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Whilst we fight against the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill which threatens to give the green light to destruction of much-loved wild places and fend off inaccurate rhetoric about planning delays being caused by 'bats and newts', our natural world is failing.

"Environmental charities have more members than political parties - we are a united voice and we need to be heard."

Wildlife populations are almost a fifth lower on average than 50 years ago and one in six British species are at risk of extinction.

A spokesman for the Departmet for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Britain is a proud nation of nature lovers, and this Government is committed to turning the tide on its decline after years of neglect.

"We've already banned bee-killing pesticides, reintroduced beavers into the wild, created the first national forest in 30 years, and are investing up to £400million a year in planting trees and restoring peatlands to lock up carbon and protect the environment."

A Labour source added: "None of these things happened under the Conservatives, who left UK as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world."