Having spoken to several people who were present at Theresa May’s environment speech (when will we hear Jeremy Corbyn on the subject?) they all say that a striking feature of the speech was that it gained an enthusiastic reception from the environmentalists in the room and the Prime Minister visibly looked happier, more confident and less stressed as the favourable reception was received. It says something when a Tory PM finds their friendliest audience amongst environmentalists.
As a result she handled the questions in a much more relaxed manner than usual.
But today’s news is full of rumours of disquiet among the Tory backbenchers and former aides – no smoke without fire but some small fires produce a lot of smoke as they die out – where one of their apparent worries is that the PM is wasting her time on non-issues such as the environment! Despite trying hard, and doing some good things, the Conservative Party seems determined to maintain its recent reputation as being hopeless on the environment.
[registration_form]
And quietly opposing EU recycling targets: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/24/uk-opposes-strong-eu-recycling-targets-despite-plastics-pledge
and Glyphosate and air quality.
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/jmprsummary2016.pdf
“no smoke without fire but some small fires produce a lot of smoke as they die out ” No sign of smoke and fire dying out on the managed grouse moors…she must be aware how much damage those wildlife killing zones are doing to the reputation of her traditional allies in the countryside…but no mention in this speech.
I realise it’s an impossibility (with perhaps a few hundred differing views), but what a pity we can’t have a comprehensive and regularly updated document with the overt position of each political party alongside the covert/honest/accurate appraisal of their true and intended position.
Open and honest government? Wishful thinking in another galaxy far away.
Mike – that would be a good thing to have. And the same from environmental NGOs would be quite useful too.
Agree with Mike P & Mark, but ever a realist …. given the subjective spin promulgated by both sectors who would validate;) ?
Slightly off piece but the keeper claimed on Countryfile all shot hares were eaten, easy to discredit that with photographic images (file information makes data available so can be verified etc.)