𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Chris Packham has pledged to “fight for hell” while threatening the government with legal action if they cut extra support in schools from children with special needs. Full details of the proposed changes are due in October but Labour ministers have not ruled out scrapping the education, health and care plans (EHCPs) – insisting no decisions have been taken.

An EHCP is a legally binding document which ensures a child or young person with special or educational needs in England gets the right support from a local authority. Speaking to the Express, naturalist Mr Packham told how he had a “shit” time at school and now realises that he needed support.

The Springwatch presenter, 64, was only diagnosed with autism at the age of 44. He said: “I’ve got ten legal cases running. Some of them are investigative at this stage but they’re all based around environmental issues. But it’s going to expand, isn’t it, because frankly, if they do try to take these EHCPs away then…I mean I had a really shit time in school. I needed support, really, with the benefit of hindsight.

“And we put a system in place where young people should be getting that support. And if they don’t, and that’s taken away from them, that legal right to that essential protection.

“I’ve always said that the “P” in that stance should stand for protection as well as plan.

“If it’s taken away from them, that legal right to that essential protection then I’ll fight for hell for that. Of course I will. Local authorities [are] being really pushed because it is expensive to protect and educate those people in the way that they need to be educated, but they have a fundamental right to education and so somewhere we’ve got to find that money.”

Mr Packham, who scored Labour’s first year in power as one out of 10, suggested the government needed to introduce a wealth tax of 2% on wealth above £100million.

He said: “Apparently – I’m not an economist, I’m an ecologist – but what people tell me is that that would solve our problems.

“They can’t get enough out of us to support the health service, education. So on and so forth. When pensioners are going cold in the winter, I want [Jeff] Bezos to pay for them.”

The environmentalist said he was “confounded” by Labour’s failure to bring in the wealth tax.

Mr Packham also admitted he was “disappointed” by Labour’s treatment of the environment since coming into power.

He raised particular concerns around the risks to nature by Angela Rayner’s Planning and infrastructure Bill.

He voiced worries before the UK Government tabled amendments to add nature safeguards to Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, one of two parts the broadcaster was troubled by.

When asked whether he was surprised by the way Labor’s treated the environment and nature, Mr Packham said: “Am I surprised? I’m disappointed. I think that we inherited a country that was…there’s not a lot of money kicking around to do things. And they’ve [Labour[ nailed their flag to the mast on economic growth. Growth, growth, growth. Growth is all we hear, and at the core of that is that they want these building projects, whether it’s housing or infrastructure, to move.

“They see that as a way of generating that instant growth. I’m concerned about that obviously, on a planet with finite resources, I’m concerned that the growth agenda should be at the core of that. I think that sustainable growth should be at the core of it, and I think there’s a significant difference, circular green economies and so on and so forth.

“So I think I’m not forgiving them in any way, shape or form. I mean obviously there’s been other cuts which have got them into trouble, disabilities, winter fuel, and now there are some which again I’m going to be vocal about when they’re talking about cutting ECHPs.”

Mr Packham praised Energy Secretary Ed Milband’s lifting of the de facto onshore wind ban and said “long may he be there”.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ focus on water, their ban on harmful neonics and a ban on toxic lead ammunition were also praised.

Mr Packham wants Defra to go further by ending the badger cULL, getting rid of fox hunting, banning snares and stopping trophy hunting, and all of those.

He said: “These are really low hanging fruit.”

When asked to rate the government overall, Mr Packham said: “Government overall, I mean it’s going to be low unfortunately. It’s going to be low. I mean they haven’t addressed Gaza. They haven’t done any of those things, have they? One [out of 10] because of Ed and Defra, and it could be less if they start on those EHCPs.”

In the House of Commons, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We want improved inclusivity and more specialist provision in mainstream schools and absolutely to draw on the expertise of the specialist sector and create the places where we need them. There will always be a legal right to the additional support that children with SEND need.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman added: “This government inherited a SEND system on its knees – which is why we are listening closely to families as we work to improve experiences and outcomes for children, and have committed to protecting the legal right to additional support for children with SEND.

“We are already making progress, from more early intervention in mainstream schools across ADHD, autism and speech and language needs, through to £740 million investment to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools.

“As part of our Plan for Change, we will restore the confidence of families up and down the country and deliver the improvement they are crying out for, so every child can achieve and thrive.”

The Government will set out plans for the SEND system in further detail in the Schools White Paper later this year.