On a hot summer’s night the people spoke – the vote at the end of last night’s rewilding debate in London was 52% in favour of rewilding the uplands and a mere 39% against. If 52% (actually a smidgeon under) v 48% (actually a smidgeon over, and without counting the don’t knows and did not…
Category: THE POLITICS: Ministers, MPs, government policy
Farewell Brexit Bulldog!
And so we say farewell to David Davis, the Brexit Bulldog. I have quite a lot of time for Mr Davis even though I agree with him about very little. You may have noticed that I did not list him in the three Cabinet minisiters who lack moral compass. I think Davis has a moral…
Defra FOI fail
Comments Off on Defra FOI fail
Dear Defra I sent you an FOI request at 1:58pm on 9 March. You acknowledged it with an automated response at 1:59 on 9 March as follows: Thank you for your email. We have a target of replying to emails within 15 working days where a response is required, and 20 working days where…
Natalie Bennett says ‘Ban driven grouse shooting’
Natalie Bennett is a Green Party politician, and says; ‘I first learnt about the damage driven grouse shooting moors were doing to their neighbours with disastrous land management practices after the 2015/16 floods. And I found out about the carbon emission impacts of their activities. Then I learnt about the plight of the hen harriers…
Gove questioned over Hen Harriers – and spectacularly doesn’t answer!
In a bit of a coup, Rob Yorke got an exclusive interview with Michael Gove – I’m almost jealous. There are some interesting things in the interview – all words dropping out of the mouths of senior politicians are somewhat interesting, as much in what they don’t say as what they do. But Rob Yorke…
PM’s environment speech
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…
When will Jeremy Corbyn make an environment speech?
We’ve had Theresa May’s environment speech – I’m looking forward to Jeremy Corbyn’s now (please). There are some great advantages that a left-leaning philosophy has over a right-leaning one when it comes to the environment at all times and at these times: you can attack the market for failing (which it does) to deliver for…
The PM’s environment speech – a few thoughts from me
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…
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,…