Tories target grey squirrels and muntjac through new bill

A Conservative peer has tabled an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that would legally require the culling of grey squirrels, muntjac and other invasive non-native species.

Lord Roborough’s proposed amendment would require Natural England to take “all reasonable steps” to eradicate invasive species where they are identified as threats to native wildlife at development sites.

Current statistics highlight the scale of the problem: at least 2.7 million grey squirrels now inhabit Britain compared with only 287,000 native reds, which survive only in isolated pockets including Scotland, the Isle of Wight, and Formby, Lancashire.

Originally introduced from America in the late 1800s for estate grounds, greys rapidly spread nationwide, outcompeting reds for food while transmitting fatal diseases.

John Flesher from the Conservative Environment Network supports the proposal, arguing: “For too long we have allowed invasive species to spiral out of control. From grey squirrels to muntjac deer, invasive species are damaging trees, destroying crops and squeezing out our precious native species.”

Several regions already demonstrate successful control programmes, including Anglesey, where greys were eliminated after an 18-year cull.

The bill is currently at committee stage in the House of Lords, where peers scrutinise amendments before report stage and third reading.

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