Was BBC called in to fix Coquet Island scandal after RSPB's disastrous damage control?
COO James Robinson's bizarre response to bad publicity was an attack on 'vile racist' media. Meanwhile, was the Countryfile film crew on the island to 'clean up'?
In early November, RSPB chief operating officer James Robinson published a strange response to newspaper reports alleging dubious human resource policies at the bird charity.
The Telegraph, Daily Mail and others ran stories about Paul Morrison, a white Englishman who was fired after spending more than half his life managing the RSPB’s Coquet Island reserve in Northumberland. The reason, according to the reports, was RSPB wanted to fulfil its diversity, inclusion and equity (DIE) agenda by replacing him with a Syrian refugee, Ibrahim al-Farwi.
“Our vision is to be an inclusive, diverse, and equitable organisation,” Robinson begins, sounding like he agrees with the newspapers. “Like nature, our survival depends on diversity. Nature has no borders and neither do we.”
The statement no doubt caught the attention of RSPB CEO Beccy Speight, as Robinson’s ‘no borders‘ pledge contradicts statements the charity has been making about the EU challenging a ban on Europeans fishing for sandeel in UK waters.
From the relative calm of defending RSPB’s diversity plan, Robinson’s message becomes ranty and extreme. Initially, he calls the newspaper stories “unfounded” because he’s been to Coquet Island.
“I happen to know our work there pretty well,” he brags. “Between 1996 and 1998*, I completed my PhD work there... I know what dedication it takes from our staff and volunteers, to turn around the fortunes of the incredible birds that call the island home, managing and protecting the colony to make it as successful as possible.”
Of course, Morrison was managing the place at the time and the turnaround in tern numbers over the years is largely due to him. But Robinson “won’t comment on“ former members of staff, regardless of their contribution.
“I can categorically say that we have absolute confidence in the new team on Coquet,” the COO continues. “We have a thriving colony of breeding Roseate Terns, which is the largest stronghold for this rare bird in the whole of the UK and has achieved excellent breeding results this year.”
This would probably be the same team that was seen covering up the nest cam before they cleaned the very busy nest area, an act that could be described as reckless disturbance.
(*1996-1998 seasons only, so about eight months)
It’s also the same team that’s been allowing raw sewage to spill out onto the beach, not far from the nesting area. This is because of a blocked septic tank caused by a warden smashing the sewage feed from the lighthouse.
Keen naturalist Matt Ridley (Viscount Ridley), is a former member of the House of Lords who lives in Northumberland. He disputes Robinson’s indirect assertions, saying Morrison is “a very talented individual“ and RSPB’s treatment of him was “very unfair”.
“He's increased the bird population massively,” he told GB News on Monday night. “In particular, a rare bird called the roseate tern… There were 30 pairs when he took over, 150 pairs when he was sacked… The RSPB… gave a series of different excuses as to why they were getting rid of him, allegations that some of which were false and others which certainly haven't been proven.
“This is a fabulous bird reserve. It mustn't be allowed to go wrong and since Paul has no longer been on the island, it's been clear to me… that it's not being as well managed as it was. So I think this is a disgraceful episode of treating someone badly and putting at risk a wildlife conservation success story.”
After RSPB’s witchhunters couldn’t conjure up any proof against Morrison, he was effectively cleared of all charges when the charity paid him compensation.
That hasn’t stopped Robinson taking issue with anyone complaining about the new team, specifically Ibrahim al-Farwi, who was headline news a few months ago after being caught on camera stepping on a bird’s head, killing it.
In a letter to a traumatised woman who cancelled her RSPB membership after seeing the video, Speight said al-Farwi was only told to catch the bird, not kill it. A long quote from him about Coquet Island’s success appeared in the subsequent annual report, months after RSPB’s top brass found out about the act and the fact it was filmed.
Robinson writes: “This member of staff has been cleared of any wrongdoing following a full and thorough investigation,” then cranks the mood up to full ranty, suggesting criticism of al-Farwi, including of his needless and violent slaughter of a seabird, is racism.
“We absolutely stand by our colleague in the face of, frankly, some of the most, vile racist commentary under online articles that I have had the misfortune to read in my career.”
I presume that’s the ‘royal we‘, as it’s unclear how much support Robinson has after at least six long—serving Coquet Island volunteers resigned to protest against Morisson’s dismissal. The four who have been there the longest have a combined experience of more than 100 years. Who knows how widespread disapproval is.
In anticipation of more negative feedback, it seems the BBC was invited to the reserve to perhaps help clean up its act. Countryfile has been on Coquet yesterday and today (6th November 2024) “pretending to set up the roseate terrace and put boxes out”, says an observer. Their plan might be to try to convince viewers the terraces were not Morisson’s idea and everything is hunky dory.
Adding weight to this theory is the fact BBC Northeast and Cumbria’s Look North hasn’t mentioned the scandal, which involves a large sum of money donated by the public being lost in RSPB’s failed legal battle and not conservation.
Workers also appeared to be setting up mist nets, used to catch passerines and other species. These are extra duties for the overworked staff on the understaffed reserve - even more so after the departure of the long-term volunteers. Trapping and ringing on Coquet Island is not one of the objectives in the management plan. “Why is precious time (and money) being spent on something that is a hobby for the current manager?” our observer asks.
We should find out what they were doing soon because… according to the BBC’s Countryfile website, shows are “filmed one to two weeks in advance” and there was nothing on tonight’s prgramme (10th November).
In his rant, Robinson fails to say none of the claims against Morrison could be proved. He does, however, try to stop anyone finding out what RSPB falesly accused Morisson of with this warning: “I’ve deliberately not linked to these reports and would not encourage you to search for them and risk boosting their viewing figures.”
Judging from the two comments at the bottom of Robinson’s post, it’s unlikely his readers number enough capable of providing a ‘boost‘ to anything other than his ego.
A blogger who calls his page The Wryneck, wrote a scathing review of Robinson’s work. It takes aim at his bizarre claim the newspaper articles are “vile” and “racist’, as this “serves only to slur those commentators who are making perfectly legitimate comments untainted by even the slightest hint of racism”. Hear hear.
“As for the prospect of pursuing legal action, please RSPB, don't even think about it. That would really be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”
It’s here where we differ, as I encourage the RSPB to fritter away millions more pounds of donor’s money on fruitlessness. In the 2,000 or so comments that follow the newspaper articles, I lost count how many are about cancelling memberships.
Update 20th November 2024
James Robinson has deleted his X account. He’s one of the 1s on the table below on the right, but not the one at the bottom. That’s Beccy, but for how much longer? As someone said to me earlier tday, “The rats are leaving the sinking ship before the wheels fall off.”
