Blog: why we need to talk to politicians

Vicky Godwin, Senior Public Affairs Officer at ZSL explains why BIAZA and its members need to talk to politicians to get the changes we need…

Politics is not everyone’s thing. In our divisive society talking about politicians, or even interacting with politicians can generate a revulsive reaction and that can turn so many people off talking about important issues. But politics is how things are done and change is made. Zoos, conservation and animal health are inherently political and increasingly zoos and aquariums are waking up to the need to engage the political process.

To give you some examples of how important politics is to our community, over the last year alone BIAZA’s Public Affairs Working Groups in the UK and in Ireland have been working on:

• UK zoo standards, ensuring that the UK Government produce workable high standards that are fit for purpose
• Resolving Brexit issues so that our members can get their animals where they need to go in the highest welfare conditions. Pushing for an agreement between the UK & EU as a solution to the issues with animal movements – every single BIAZA member in Northern Ireland & Ireland recently wrote to the Tsaoiseach, UK Prime Minister and European Commission President on this issue.
• Telling politicians about the high standards of elephant care, counteracting the campaigns against keeping elephants in the UK
• Pushed the UK Government to consider banning the advertisement of low-welfare elephant attractions abroad in their Animals Abroad Bill
• Placing important amendments into the UK Kept Animals Bill to ensure zoos are not negatively affected
• Working with officials around the implementation licensing measures on keeping primates as pets.
• Working on the Animal Penalty Notices Bill to make sure that zoos have been thoroughly considered
• Engaging with more and more politicians about the good work of BIAZA zoos and aquariums to ensure our sector can be supported and empowered to do even more going forward.
• Working with officials around avian influenza, counter terrorism and so much more.
• Supporting our members to push for Government help on rising energy costs

On a local level, everything from planning decisions to parking is reliant on our local politicians. In the UK, environmental issues such as fracking, badger controls, and river sewage all require a political response.

This is why we need to speak to politicians; it is the only way to get the changes we need.

Priti Patel (then Home Secretary) on a visit to Colchester Zoo with BIAZA & Colchester Zoo staff. Photo by Stuart Gulleford.

Making progress in politics can be incredibly frustrating, it requires a resilience to keep going back to politicians. This is the case even where we may disagree with them, or even where decisions have been made that negatively impacts the zoo sector. Nothing, not even laws that have been enacted, are without opportunity for change.

Speaking to politicians is not the same as endorsement, and it is important that zoos are a non-partisan issue…that is we speak to politicians from all parties.

• In Ireland we’ve seen the political leadership from Tsaoiseach Michael Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Leader of the Opposition Mary-Lou Macdonald supporting zoos in Ireland
• The 2020 virtual BIAZA conference saw the zoos minister from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, UK and Ireland speaking to the delegates
• In the UK, (recently former) Cabinet ministers such as Zac Goldsmith, Priti Patel, Nadine Dorries and even Prime Minister Boris Johnson have paid visits to BIAZA zoos
• Meetings have been held with both Defra Ministers and their shadow minister counterparts
• In Wales and Scotland, the Zoo Ministers have also paid a visit to BIAZA zoos
• MPs from across the political spectrum such as Christine Jardine, Chris Matheson and Gavin Williamson have been into our member sites to see for themselves
• On a more fun note, ZSL were pleased to march alongside Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Front Bench at London Pride

With so much in the hands of our politicians, the zoo sector can’t afford to not be at the table. That is why I am so pleased, ZSL, Chester Zoo and BIAZA will be attending Labour and Conservative party conferences this year.

We have to meet with politicians, find common ground and together create positive changes for our sector. This is for our conservation work, for the welfare of our animals and ultimately for the successful future of zoos and aquariums in the UK.

By Vicky Godwin

Senior Public Affairs Officer, ZSL

All blogs reflect the views of their author and are not a reflection of BIAZA's positions.