Cabinet reshuffle raises climate questions
Sajid Javid was offered to stay on as Chancellor by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on condition he fired his advisers.
Such an offer was not one that he felt comfortable accepting, stressing that ‘no self-respecting minister’ could do so. The former Local Government Secretary’s departure from Number 11 only increases the apparent tensions growing between the Prime Minister’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings and cabinet ministers.
Andrea Leadsom, Theresa Villiers and Julian Smith also fell victim during the reshuffle, having all stood against the party line at some point in the recent past - Villiers notably for being against airport expansions. The new Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, has been a vocal supporter of the expansion of Heathrow Airport and increasing the number of airport runways in the South East of England, while George Eustice’s appointment as Environment Secretary raised eyebrows given his record on climate change votes.
Following the devastating flooding that has caused problems across the UK in recent weeks, plus COP26 taking place in Glasgow this November, the climate issue should be top of ministerial priorities, not neglected as the Prime Minister removes difficult ministers from their roles. Sharma was recently appointed as President of COP26, despite having generally voted against measures to prevent climate change. Let’s hope progress is not halted because of Johnson’s reshuffle.
Michael Lyons, editor
