Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.... Michael Gove

[VanillaSugar]

Is back in the Cabinet, doing for the environment what he did to education.

FML.

Absolutely, Makingmerry. It is something I take some comfort from. However, it does worry me that someone who has that mentality is now in charge of the environment. Maybe he's limited in the damage he can do. I hope so. But I am not impressed with his track record in education, and am keeping everything crossed that he doesn't do the same thing with regards to the environment.

Gove's an intelligent, savvy politician

Very little evidence of this previously.

Judging by his shenanigans last July, one could easily argue that the opposite.

Going back quire a few posts on this thread... no I didn't read between the lines re Gove and BoJo? What went on then?

I just do not understand how/why someone with no background in a subject should be arbitrarily put in charge of it? Unless Gove has spent his non-political life in an environmental science type role,that I'm not aware of? Seems a ridiculous way to run a country IMHO

Oh, I say this over and over and over again CakeGoblin
I mean, it wouldn't be so bad, if the Ministers were prepared to acknowledge they are managing a situation they know nothing about, and were prepared to listen to people who are knowledgable or even know a little bit about the area.

My dp used to work for the Ministry of Justice and Gove was not popular there either.

The only people who can save this mess are The Milliband of Brothers. With David in charge, of course. And no EdStone.

I think we should all be worried about what happens to environmental protection once we leave the EU, babybythesea, definitely. The environment didn't make it into the Brexit debate at all. UK air quality is already poor in a number of cities. UK biodiversity has been rated as severely impoverished - bottom ten percent of the world, I think, although that doesn't get talked about. And so we don't have a lot of leeway for things to get worse. But I don't think the risk is much greater than it was when Leadsom was in charge.

Over the next two years though, the Secretary of State for the Environment - whoever they are - has to focus on CAP and farming - above house building or anything else, because if we leave the EU without a trade deal, then the WTO tariffs on agricultural produce will apply, and they are alarmingly high. Food prices will increase. If the UK doesn't have a way to fund its own farmers then that problem becomes even more severe. Politically, socially, we can't Brexit and end up with significantly increased food bills, or potentially shortages. So there isn't going to be much time for tinkering with other policy areas.

I mean, it wouldn't be so bad, if the Ministers were prepared to acknowledge they are managing a situation they know nothing about, and were prepared to listen to people who are knowledgable or even know a little bit about the area.

Michael "Britain has had enough of experts" Gove sounds perfect so

Gove won't be in this role long enough to cause much damage. This is his foot in the door. When the 'real' prime minister takes over, he'll get something much bigger.

Gove won't be in this role long enough to cause much damage. This is his foot in the door. When the 'real' prime minister takes over, he'll get something much bigger.

Like a dagger in his back?

He's too handy to have around. He writes for the Times, his missus writes for the Mail and he's not appalling on TV.

For your delectation:

Gove drinking a glass of water...
pbs.twimg.com/media/CmSm2i8W8AAt3to?format=jpg

Sleep well...

shudder

I don't find it exactly reassuring that they can't do any real damage to the environment until 2019 ...

And I believe having Gove in change voiceing things like getting rid of EU legislation upon leaving is damaging actually as it fuels and idea in people's minds.

I am very concerned about the effect Brexit could have on the environment. Environmental issues tend to cost money (e.g. From construction/development) and not be very profitable. It's not a huge leap to see people doing away with the legislation they see as hampering growth.

*the idea

nina2b that made me laugh out loud

He's a sexy beast, isn't he?

He's an improvement on Andrea 'butterflies' Leadsom
www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/14639023.Leave_the_hills_to_butterflies/