Show Notes
On this week’s podcast, ENDS Report editor Jamie Carpenter discusses his key takehomes from Reform UK’s second annual conference in Birmingham.
The party’s leadership has been keen to emphasise drastic reductions in the size of the civil service – a 13% cut or 68,500 full-time equivalent roles – should it form the next government.
Reform UK politicians like Robert Jenrick have also called for the complete defunding of regulators like Natural England within the first 100 days of taking over government.
Other nature policies would also be weakened and amended under recent Reform proposals, including the Habitats Regulatons and biodiversity net gain.
But hostile nature policies could be “a real electoral Achilles heel” for Reform UK, according to new polling from More in Common. Andrew Fowler, the pollster’s engagement and research associate, speaks to the Eco Chamber this week about why 80% of Reform voters' support of nature is at odds with its leadership.
PLUS
Natural England chiefs champion growth alongside the regulator’s nature remit. The policy agenda set for parliament this Autumn. And Scotland’s plans for an all-in-one environmental watchdog.
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Natural England has taken a bruising in political circles in recent months, but particularly in the last week, after the Conservative Party outlined plans to abolish the watchdog were it to be in government.
Speaking live from the conference in Birmingham, ENDS Report editor Jamie Carpenter breaks down the most important green policy announcements from the party’s leader, Kemi Badenoch, and her shadow cabinet.
The Labour Party Conference has concluded.
On this week’s podcast, environmental lawyer Alexa Culver from RSK Wilding gives her view on why Natural England’s first EDP, set for the Norfolk Broads, is riddled with flaws.