Michael Gove has just been announced as the new Minister for the Environment. As head of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs he is responsible for animal welfare and environmental health.
And yet, he has voted in favour of the unscientific and cruel badger cull, against banning tail docking of working dogs, against banning painful beak trimming of hens, against fracking controls, against renewable energy and against climate change prevention measures.
His voting record shows how inappropriate this role is for him:
- Against requiring an environmental permit for fracking
- To increase taxes on electric generated from renewable sources abroad
- Against allowing carbon dioxide emissions limits to be set on all power stations
- Against reducing carbon dioxide emission limits of new homes
- Absent on a vote to ban subsidies of onshore wind turbines
- Was absent on all of the 2008 Climate Change Bill votes
- Against requiring the UK Green Investment Bank to explicitly act in support of the target of reducing UK carbon emissions to 20% of 1990 levels by 2050.
- Against setting a target range for carbon dioxide produced per unit of electricity.
As the Minister in charge of our environment we need someone who will put animals and the environment first. Sign now to demand a more suitable person be given the role of Environment Secretary.
If you have an idea of a better MP for Environment Secretary please say in the comments.
Image credit: policyexchange
