There is the certainty of a clear Government with an outright Tory win and rapid progress to a new government with minsters named quickly. But then there is the difficulty of what John Major called the ‘bastards’, the Eurosceptics and climate change deniers on the right. The slim majority will make every contentious issue a challenge.
Cabinet: Liz Truss stays as Environment Secretary.
Amber Rudd is promoted from a minister in the last Government in the Energy and Climate Change Department to the Secretary of State. She is ex JP Morgan, a venture capitalist, who has worked in recruitment, PPS to George Osbourne at the Treasury and made her maiden speech on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Eric Pickles is no longer in the cabinet and is replaced at DCLG with Greg Clark who has in the past been more pro-green.
Out go Dan Rogerson and Ed Davey; Caroline Lucas held her seat with a substantially increased majority.
Commitments
Europe: Europe will dominate this Parliament as the referendum looms. Leaving would clearly have huge implications for the environment, sustainability and carbon agendas. What can we look forward to?
There seems likely to be another budget in June which will indicate intentions towards departmental activity
The Conservative Manifesto – See page 54 for Environment and page 56 for Energy and Climate change http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2015/05/election-2015-what-will-a-conservative-majority-mean-for-climate-and-energy/
What did the conservatives promise in their manifesto?:
- More ‘departmental efficiency savings’ translates as job losses – at DECC & Defra and their agencies
- More fracking and interesting local debates on its impact
- Less onshore wind … with no subsidy and local citizens allowed decide
- More badger culling …. And loss of historic woodlands
- No peg on energy prices – the Labour pledge – Energy shares responded positively
- The growth of the business and economic drivers in European Directives
- Support for the Swansea Tidal Barrage, HS2 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel
- Natural Capital Committee to continue
Comments from the trade press:
Business Green http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2407758/liz-truss-to-continue-as-environment-secretary
The Carbon Brief A wide ranging review of energy, carbon and climate change issues http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2015/05/election-2015-what-will-a-conservative-majority-mean-for-climate-and-energy/
The Chartered Institution of Wastes management – CIWM’s chief executive, Steve Lee, has called on the incoming government to push resources and waste back up its agenda and to make the European circular economy package an “early priority”. He also thanked former Defra Minister, Dan Rogerson, for his efforts and interest in the sector in the wake of his defeat last night.
http://www.ciwm-journal.co.uk/archives/13398
Utility Week: Energy pledges – Conservatives – http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/labours-energy-pledges-wiped-out-as-tories-take-election/1129282#.VUyDc2d0ypo
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