Thread by @_nic_beuret_

On the defection of voters from the Tories to the Greens, the FT quotes O’Hara: “it’s essentially a set of reactions against modernity on both left and right”

Except it’s not. Its pretty clear that we are seeing the emergence of a new conservationism 🧵

tinyurl.com/2v2snhx7

The Green’s have been steadily increasing their council seats in East Anglia for almost 20yrs. But what’s happened in the past 4 is a surge. It’s not one “against modernity” [FT quote], but more of a ‘final straw’ moment as enviro damage accelerates.

tinyurl.com/yrj8f6r8

XR reached deep into rural and exurban areas. Down the road from me in Sudbury there was a group - there were groups everywhere. After XR’s peak, and the pandemic lockdowns, most of these ppl refocused on their local areas.

These activists, combined with other ppl who had renewed their ecological relationships via the pandemic, mean there is now a huge body of ppl who want to conserve what little nature’s left. Many live in Tory constituencies.

tinyurl.com/5n6u6nwp

Sewage, trashed beaches and rivers, tree’s felled in town centres (which is what cost the tories the most in many areas), development *for London* at other’s expense. Bad housing development, etc - nature is taking a renewed beating.

There are large numbers of ppl in new campaign groups, inc. Right to Roam, and active through existing nature charities; throughout this milieu there is a shared affect around not only wanting to stop further destruction but have access to something more than concrete.

It's not cohered yet into more than a broad revulsion at pollution, destruction of remnants of woodlands, etc, and a desire to have access to nature. So far the Greens are the only group to mobilise this base. But we could be seeing the beginning of a new conservationism