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New Environment Secretary backs fox hunting, selling off forests, and opposes climate change measures | New Environment Secretary backs fox hunting, selling off forests, and opposes climate change measures |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Theresa May’s new Environment Secretary backs fox hunting, supported selling off Britain’s forest, and has generally opposed measures to halt climate change, her record shows. | Theresa May’s new Environment Secretary backs fox hunting, supported selling off Britain’s forest, and has generally opposed measures to halt climate change, her record shows. |
Andrea Leadsom said during the Conservative leadership campaign that she wanted to un-ban fox hunting, citing “animal welfare”. | Andrea Leadsom said during the Conservative leadership campaign that she wanted to un-ban fox hunting, citing “animal welfare”. |
Her voting record shows she generally voted against key measures to stop climate change, including against setting a target on reducing carbon emissions in both 2012 and 2016. | Her voting record shows she generally voted against key measures to stop climate change, including against setting a target on reducing carbon emissions in both 2012 and 2016. |
Ms Leadsom’s appointment comes alongside the apparent abolition of the named Energy and Climate Change department; its responsibilities have been subsumed into the new Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. | |
In July 2015 Ms Leadsom supported applying the climate change levy on electricity generated from renewable sources, while in March this year she voted against developing a strategy for carbon capture and storage for the energy industry. | In July 2015 Ms Leadsom supported applying the climate change levy on electricity generated from renewable sources, while in March this year she voted against developing a strategy for carbon capture and storage for the energy industry. |
In 2011 she also backed the Government’s policy on selling off Britain’s forests, before ministers were forced to U-turn on the plan. | In 2011 she also backed the Government’s policy on selling off Britain’s forests, before ministers were forced to U-turn on the plan. |
After her appointment as a minister at the department of energy in 2015 it emerged that she had asked officials whether climate change really existed. | After her appointment as a minister at the department of energy in 2015 it emerged that she had asked officials whether climate change really existed. |
“When I first came to this job one of my two questions was: 'Is climate change real?' and the other was 'Is hydraulic fracturing safe?' And on both of those questions I am now completely persuaded,” she told the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Gas and Oil in October last year. | “When I first came to this job one of my two questions was: 'Is climate change real?' and the other was 'Is hydraulic fracturing safe?' And on both of those questions I am now completely persuaded,” she told the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Gas and Oil in October last year. |
During the Tory leadership contest, she said of fox hunting: “I would absolutely commit to holding a vote to repeal the hunting ban. It has not proven to be in the interests of animal welfare whatsoever. | During the Tory leadership contest, she said of fox hunting: “I would absolutely commit to holding a vote to repeal the hunting ban. It has not proven to be in the interests of animal welfare whatsoever. |
“I do believe we need a proper licensed regime which works much better and is more focused on animal welfare.” | “I do believe we need a proper licensed regime which works much better and is more focused on animal welfare.” |
The Environment Secretary generally has little say over energy policy, but issues like fox hunting, badger culls, and floods caused by climate change fall within her remit. | The Environment Secretary generally has little say over energy policy, but issues like fox hunting, badger culls, and floods caused by climate change fall within her remit. |
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas described the shutting down of the climate change department as “deeply worrying”. | Green Party MP Caroline Lucas described the shutting down of the climate change department as “deeply worrying”. |
“The decision to shut down DECC is a deeply worrying move from Theresa May. Climate change is the biggest challenge we face, and it must not be an afterthought for the Government,” she said. | “The decision to shut down DECC is a deeply worrying move from Theresa May. Climate change is the biggest challenge we face, and it must not be an afterthought for the Government,” she said. |
“Dealing with climate change requires a dedicated Minister at the Cabinet table. To throw it into the basement of another Whitehall department looks like a serious backwards step. | “Dealing with climate change requires a dedicated Minister at the Cabinet table. To throw it into the basement of another Whitehall department looks like a serious backwards step. |
“In the coming months I will work constructively with any Minister willing to take climate change seriously, and I’ll be holding the Government to account for any backpeddling on our climate change commitments.” | “In the coming months I will work constructively with any Minister willing to take climate change seriously, and I’ll be holding the Government to account for any backpeddling on our climate change commitments.” |
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