The blackest government ever…?

Mark 14 Comments

This blog has learned that the Chancellor, George Osborne, will announce in the autumn statement today that there will be a review of the Habitat’s Directive’s regulations.

This, if true (and we will wait to hear the details today)  is the latest sign that this government – including the hapless Liberal Democrats – is prepared to sacrifice the long-term future of our wildlife in the search for economic growth.  And this is the political party (sorry – parties) that want the NPPF to have a presumption for sustainable development in it!

The focus of the review will be those aspects of the Directive that limit the amount of concrete that can be poured on wildlife rich areas – the protected species and the protected areas .

Attacking environmental legislation will gain Osborne plenty of points in the far right reaches of Conservatism.  Watch out for mention of buzzwords such as ‘red tape’, ‘gold plating’ and ‘bureaucracy’ alongside some anti-EU rhetoric too.  For any little Englander being able to have a go at all life on Earth except our own species but criticise our own species unless it lives in England is a heaven-sent opportunity.  Like Osborne’s remarks about the National Planning Policy Framework it shows that the Chancellor has no feel for the countryside and the wildlife it supports.  And David, greenest government ever, Cameron must be too weak to stop Osborne or not bothered to try.

And it is further evidence that Defra has no clout within this blackest government ever as far as the environment is concerned.

Or maybe it’ll never happen – watch this space.

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14 Replies to “The blackest government ever…?”

  1. Worrying indeed. Wildlife legislation is toothless enough already. The Habs Regs are a useful tool for consultant ecologists and compensation measures put in place for European protected species (new hedges, new ponds etc) help a range of other less protected species.

    The current system works. Protected species rarely impact development significantly, providing the developer is aware of his/her responsibilities and factors them into their project programme.

    1. Pete – indeed. What is the evidence that the birds and the bees are wrecking the economy? I thought it was the bankers ‘what did it’.

  2. This is a government made for the rich. Forget the poor. They just cheap labour and the only ones to pay tax!

  3. Reading a combination of the WW2 in Burma and Lord lawson denying climate change I came up with an epitath for the neo-con approach to the planet:

    ‘For our today you gave your tommorrow’

    I can see no other way to sum up a selfish minority determined to hang on to their wasteful way of life at the expense of the future. We think we’ve got it bad – but it’s nothing compared to the Republican party in the US who seem to be masterminding the fastest collapse of empire since genghis Khan. Rich Americans, of course, think they can pass it on to their children but the way the US economy is going I wouldn’t be so sure.

    I’m also (blackly) amused by the way the media automatically dubs elcted politicians ‘leaders’. I’ve seen no evidence that David Cameron and George Osborne have any leadership skills whatsoever, nor for that matter managerial skills. They are politicians pure and simple and according to the Guardian Osborne’s main concern in life is planning for his fight with Boris Johnson for the conservative leadership.

  4. I think we entering a period of environmental depression.

    Internationally through the dismantling of Kyoto, in the USA through the continued lobbying of EPA and in the UK through the unpicking of the building blocks of environmental protection.

    There is a basic lack of knowledge that the economy is built on a healthy society which can only exist from conserving a healthy environment. Protect the environment and society and the economy will thrive, don’t and we will all suffer.

    Once the environment is gone all we will have is hubris riddled guilt.

    1. Cowboy – welcome to this blog and thank you for your comment. I think you put it very well. Let’s see how many bricks get kicked out by Osborne today.

  6. My concern is that having referred to the habitats regulation the Chancellor shortly afterwards reinforced that all possible airport hubs were back on the table.

  8. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, straight from the Autumn Statement:

    “In addition, the Government will ensure that compliance with the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives does not lead to unnecessary costs and delays to development, while continuing to support the Directives’ objectives. The Government is reviewing the Directives as currently implemented in England by Budget 2012 and is committed to tackling blockages for developments where compliance is particularly complex or has large impacts. In addition, the Government has announced progress on specific projects where compliance has already proved problematic, including Falmouth Harbour”

  10. Well seems there are 8 people out of 60 million doing no damage to the good planet earth.If I was confident I could stay the course I would join you.

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