Yesterday I wrote that these were some things to look out for in Theresa May’s environment speech: is it all about climate change and plastic or does wildlife get a proper mention? is it all about the financial value of being green – or is there any moral imperative? is there any mention of wildlife…
Category: THE POLITICS: Ministers, MPs, government policy
The PM’s environment speech – the reaction
Responses to Theresa May’s environment speech: Greenpeace: We need a 25-month emergency plan for nature, not a 25-year vision Commenting on Theresa May’s speech on the environment and the publication of the government’s 25-year plan for nature, Greenpeace UK’s executive director John Sauven said: ‘Britain’s natural environment needs a 25-month emergency plan more than…
The PM’s environment speech – the text
It is wonderful to be here at the Wetland Centre – a true oasis in the heart of London. In our election manifesto last year we made an important pledge: to make ours the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state than we found it. As we leave the European Union,…
The Conservative environment
So, no ministerial changes in Defra (and no pulse quickening ministerial changes at all in the Conservative reset). It’s a pity that Therese Coffey keeps her job but we must all look forward to the government response to the invisible Jane Griggs’s e-petition in favour of grouse shooting with its claim that birds of prey…
Shuffling
There may be a reshuffle today. Theresa May has a poor hand and it seems to be rather rich in jokers. What will she do? Let’s hope that Michael Gove stays in place so that he has to take things forward in this unfrozen moment. Many of the changes will be in the junior minister…
Defra achievements in 2017
I asked a bunch of wildlife NGOs what they thought were Defra’s greatest achievements in 2017 (as I have done in 2016 and 2015). This year they had a much easier job and I agree with the thrust of their assessments, which were as follows (in the order in which they responded): WWF-UK: ‘Probably our…
NEWS: SNP policy is for licensing of shooting estates
Scottish National Party (SNP) delegates officially adopted a policy supporting licensing of driven grouse shooting estates at today’s National Council in Perth, making it certified party policy to support licensing for driven grouse estates. The move adds considerable momentum to the campaign for shooting estate licensing. Ian Thomson said, ‘RSPB Scotland commends the National Council…
Dear @MichaelGove
I was surprised to notice the other day that the Secretary of State for the Environment (and some other stuff), Michael Gove, follows me on Twitter. I’m not foolish enough to think that Mr Gove is reading every word that I write, nor perhaps any of them, but just in case, I thought I’d pen…
The Defra response – a few comments
The biggest problem with the Defra response is that it still ducks the issue of wildlife crime – and how can a government turn its back on crime? I’ll come back to that tomorrow morning. But for now, let us thank Gavin Gamble (and 9,999 others) for flushing out these comments. It’s always enlightening to…
A Defra response only scores 3 out of 10
Defra responded yesterday to Gavin Gamble’s e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting. Congratulations to Gavin for having moved things on a bit – it’s always interesting to get a glimpse of what is going on in the government mind. Here is the government response: Defra is working with key interested parties to ensure the sustainable…