Political opinion with Andrew Griffith MP: Litter picking, and peace through strength
There are many reasons that February tops the polls as Britain’s least favourite month: the wet, miserable weather comes first, but litter is also high on the list. With roadside vegetation at peak dieback, litter on the side of roads is clearer to see, and every road and lane shows up as an artery of discarded plastic bottles, fast-food wrappers, cans and other assorted detritus.
On top of casual littering there also seems to be an epidemic of fly-tipping due to restrictions at council waste sites which is likely to be confirmed by government figures expected this week.
Littering is a societal problem, and it is largely down to us as individuals to influence friends, family and our own communities. District councils have the legal powers to fine those who drop litter, but few actually do so. In the meantime, this unsightly mess spoils our rural communities for locals and visitors alike.
Rather than leave it solely to others, I am planning my own litter pick, and I am looking for nominations of the ‘worst’ littered verges in the area. It might seem like a drop in the ocean of rubbish, but each of us can do our bit. Please e-mail if you want to nominate – or to join me?
I was at a defence meeting after the Munich Security Conference last week and there was a growing consensus about the need to more actively prepare for war as the best way to prevent one. Peace through strength worked in the past and can do so again.
The post-Cold War ‘peace dividend’ has given way to an increasingly confrontational geopolitical environment, in which adversarial nations pose a growing threat to British interests. Saying that ‘hard power is the currency of our age’ is fine, but it does then need actual money and tough decisions on cutting welfare to fund it.
We also need honest conversations with the public and preparedness for resilience. That includes food security and many of the other vital ingredients of our modern lives.