RSPB leadership burns its fingers badly with clumsy and insulting foray into party politics

 

The insulting image that has caused the rumpus

THE RSPB faces losing hundreds, if not thousands, of members after it accused the Prime Minister and two of his cabinet colleagues of being 'liars'.

Most of the charity’s 1.2-million strong membership is likely to be Conservative voting, and many of them will be spluttering with outrage about the insulting message put out earlier this week on social media.

Under the photograph was a caption saying: “You lie, and you lie, and you lie again.”

At least one trustee of the RSPB has expressed his displeasure, and others may do likewise at the next board meeting when the issue will be top of the agenda.

The Charities Commission is also investigating because there are strict rules about party political partisanship.

In the wake of the rumpus, the RSPB’s chief executive has apologised for the slur to Rishi Sunak and his colleagues, Therese Coffey and Michael Gove.

She says she had not been consulted in advance of the offensive message being posted which leaves her open to accusations of not having a grip.

But as of last night, even though the apology had been made,  the offending message had not been taken down.

In another twist, many environmental activists have applauded the original post and accused the RSPB of lacking 'backbone' in making the apology.

Ms Speight’s position is now in question, but she has shown no inclination of a readiness to step down.

It is not known if the three ministers have accepted the apology.

Politeness pledge - the apology