The Labour Party's recent history with the right to roam policy reveals a disheartening retreat from a bold vision of equitable access to green spaces. Initially pledged to introduce a Scottish-style right to roam law in England, Labour's promise to enshrine access to nature in law was a beacon of hope for many. However, the abandonment of this policy since 2023 marks a significant setback for progressive environmental reform.

The announcement by shadow environment minister Alex Sobel, during a debate led by Green MP Caroline Lucas, underscored Labour's initial commitment to replacing the "default of exclusion with a default of access". This approach was inspired by Scotland's successful model, offering the rest of Britain a chance to enjoy high-quality green and blue spaces.

But despite its potential, the right to roam proposal faced fierce criticism from rural campaign groups, including the National Farmers’ Union. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, labeled the policy as an “attack on the countryside,” suggesting it would alienate rural voters. This opposition, grounded in concerns about property rights and land management, appears to have influenced Labour's decision to backtrack.

Labour sources revealed to The Guardian a shift in strategy, indicating a move away from a widespread right to roam towards working with rural groups to find alternative ways to increase access. While collaboration with rural stakeholders is essential, the abandonment of the original policy signifies a reluctance to pursue ambitious reform in the face of opposition. Also, the party must find a way to reconcile these competing interests if it hopes to lead on environmental and social justice issues in the future.

SOURCES

1st Video: Guy Shrubsole X - https://x.com/guyshrubsole/status/1659177999554560000

2nd Video: Labour U-turns on promise of Scottish-style right to roam in England - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/25/labour-u-turns-on-promise-of-scottish-style-right-to-roam-in-england

3. Public Access to Nature - Volume 732: debated on Thursday 18 May 2023 - https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-05-18/debates/72C37494-B6BC-43E5-8026-8F4EC4EC60CA/PublicAccessToNature#contribution-0A157368-3DC8-4369-9C6C-8D73969F7A74

4. Labour’s Right to Roam policy incompatible with claim to be ‘the party of the countryside’ - https://www.cla.org.uk/news/labours-right-to-roam-policy-incompatible-with-claim-to-be-the-party-of-the-countryside/