Daniel Zeichner, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, quizzed the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove MP, in the House of Commons this morning and asked him to pledge to end the use of the neonicotinoid pesticide which is killing off Britain’s bee population.

Referencing research publicised recently in the peer review Journal of Science, Mr Zeichner added: “Can [the Secretary of State] also tell us whether the precautionary principle adopted by the European Union will be transposed into UK law?” referring to the Government’s Repeal Bill, which was published last week.

While saying that he shared Mr Zeichner’s commitment to ensure that the bee population are protected, the Secretary of State stopped short of announcing a ban.

Speaking outside the Chamber, Daniel Zeichner MP added: “This Government needs to do the right thing and ban the use of neonicotinoids, a move which is backed by scientific research.

“Michael Gove can claim all he likes that our current directives are in line with the science as he told me in his answer but the reality is that our bee population is dying and we need to do something quickly. Standing by just isn’t an option.”

You can watch Daniel Zeichner MP’s speech here: https://goo.gl/gGpB91