In today’s Westminster Hall debate on restoring nature on a massive scale to help stop climate breakdown there was an important commitment made by DEFRA minister, Zac Goldsmith. . . Several hon. Members talked about the problem of burning peatlands. There is no doubt that they are right; the Government share that view. There has…
Tag: Defra
Brexit – generally a bad thing for the environment
This blog has always maintained that Brexit is bad for wildlife and the environment. I stand completely by that position. Yes, it depends on what type of Brexit happens (might happen) but any Brexit is likely to be bad news for wildlife and the environment. Funnily enough, the worst type of Brexit, the crashing out…
Doing nature conservation abroad by Defra – some more
Britain is to have the toughest trophy-hunting laws in the world according to the Daily Telegraph and Defra minister Zac Goldsmith. What appears to be envisaged is a ban on the import into the UK of endangered animal parts, such as their heads. Sounds good – if you can’t bring them home to hang on…
Doing nature conservation abroad by Defra
This story in Sunday’s Telegraph coincides with the Conservative Party conference. It criticises two UK firms for providing holidays to Morocco to shoot Turtle Doves – a declining species in the UK and the rest of Europe. So threatened is the Turtle Dove these days that it is listed as globally vulnerable to extinction. Shooting…
Zac and Pow!
Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park, 224 signatures in favour of a ban on driven grouse shooting) has been promoted to fill the void left by Therese Coffey. Zac has had one of the quickest ever promotions having come in to Defra as a Parliamentary Under Secretary at the end of July he is a Minister of…
Ministerial responsibilities at Defra
Therese Coffey has had a promotion (and a payrise) but apparently has no responsibilities at all according to the Defra website this morning. Whereas new Parliamentary Under Secretary Zac Goldsmith seems to be doing quite a lot, and in two departments;
Brecon and Radnor by-election
Although political predictions have been very much awry in recent years I think it is almost certain that the Lib Dems will win back the Brecon and Radnorshire seat in tomorrow’s by election. The seat has often been held by the Liberals and looks destined to go back to them this week. Chris Davies the…
More changes at Defra
Robert Goodwill and David Rutley have left Defra and Zac Goldsmith has arrived. Goldsmith’s role is a joint one at Defra and international Development. The ministerial team at Defra is now Theresa Villiers (Seccetary of State), George Eustice and Therese Coffey (Ministers of State), Zac Goldsmith (Parliamentary Under Secretary) and Lord Gardiner of Kimble (House…
Westminster update
Did you notice that we have a new Prime Minister? That’s not the only movement… Michael Gove goes (to Cabinet Office) – I’m sorry to see him go because I would have liked to see him deliver on some of his best promises. All bets are off on everything – is that any way to…
Gove’s landmark environment speech
Comments Off on Gove’s landmark environment speech
Social media and some mainstream media are all over Michael Gove’s ‘landmark’ environment speech. Here is the text. It’s a pretty good speech but I think the signs are that it is a land-grab speech as much as a landmark one. There is so much in here about climate change and yet no-one seems to…