Letter to my MP

In response to government plans to privatise Britain's forests, I wrote a letter to my MP, through the excellent 38 Degrees.

I am even more worried after reading that this could end up as little more than a welcome opportunity to the richest among (or above) us to dodge a bit of inheritance tax, while they fail to look after these invaluable assets.

"Dear Ms Green

First of all, I would like to thank you for forwarding the copy of the letter [see previous blog] which you received from Jeremy Culture Secretary. It is sad to see that you as an MP are fobbed off just as inconsiderately as the rest of the public.

Second of all, I would like to let you know that it is very important to me to have such a good MP, and that you have my support - and I often say as much when talk turns to politics.

Unfortunately, there is a thirdly, and it's as simple as this: I am fairly confident that you share my opinions (especially as someone living in an inner city) that our forests are an important asset, not to be disposed of lightly.

This is why I am very worried about the government's plans to privatise our national forests. Sell-offs and privatisations - though multifarious, and seemingly the stock-in-trade of Conservative governments - simply are not good for the people of this country. Selling off (or to a lesser extent, leasing) our publicly owned forests is not going to lead to anything other than the loss of irreplaceable land, biodiversity and beauty in exchange for the short-term gains of a small few companies (and/or individuals).

If the sell-off goes ahead, apparently we will be only developed country not to have a significant number of publicly owned forests. What was recently a proud, world-leading nation seems destined to become the small-holding of a few multinational corporations.

As you know, on Wednesday afternoon you'll have the opportunity to call for a rethink of these plans. I hope you continue to impress me by calling on the government to preserve our forests.

I look forward to hearing from you,
Chris Oliver"