Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has warned that Britain must not “surrender the Fens” to the sea. Friends of the Earth has warned that more than 90% of homes in Mr Tice’s Boston and Skegness constituency are at risk of flooding – the highest in England.
It claims the constituency also has the third-lowest tree cover in England. Mr Tice said this stretch of eastern England must be protected for the sake of Britain’s food supply and the livelihoods of the population. He said: “The Fens and East Lincolnshire are not just a cornerstone of Lincolnshire’s heritage, they are one of the most important food-producing regions in the entire country, responsible for up to 30% of the nation’s vegetables.
“Quite simply, we cannot afford to ‘surrender the Fens’ to the sea.
“I am working closely with local partners, including Lincolnshire County Council, the Environment Agency, and district authorities, to ensure that this issue receives the national attention and urgency it deserves.
“I will be writing to both the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to demand immediate action, investment, and long-term strategic support for the protection and renewal of the Fens’ critical drainage and flood defence infrastructure.”
Mr Tice added: “This is not just about defending homes and farmland, it’s about safeguarding our national food security, protecting livelihoods, and preserving a unique landscape that has supported communities for generations. We need the Government to step up, match the ambition and ingenuity of our ancestors who created the Fens, and ensure they remain protected and productive for centuries to come.”
The Friends of the Earth analysis looks at the greatest environmental risks facing England’s constituencies.
It found every single neighbourhood in more than 90% of constituencies in England has unsafe levels of air pollution. Forty-seven of the top 50 constituencies with the worst air pollution are Labour seats.
The charity warns that Devon records the worst figures for sewage overflows. Constituencies represented by Sir Geoffrey Cox (Torridge and Tavistock) and Sir Mel Stride (Central Devon) had 70,000-plus hours of raw sewage overflow last year.
All of London’s 1,002 neighbourhoods are classified as high risk for extreme heat.
Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, said: “This data shows the true scale of environmental threats across England and reinforces why a strong climate plan is so important to protect communities. Flooded homes, dangerous heatwaves and filthy air are not abstract risks but realities for millions.”
A government spokesperson said: “Ambitious climate and nature action is the only way to protect Britain’s way of life – which is why we have a mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.
“Having inherited flood defences in the worst condition on record and nature in long-term decline, we’ve begun decisive action to clean up our waters, restore our nature environment and protect communities from extreme weather.
“This includes securing investment to cut sewage spills in half by 2030, build new reservoirs, restore nature at scale and protect more than 900,000 properties from flooding by 2036.”