...I would have seen the Prime Minister interviewed by John Craven on Countryfile. It is worth a watch. I am not for a moment suggesting that it is a substitute for what I called for in yesterday's blog - a key note speech setting out Mr Cameron's vision for the environment - but it is still pleasing to hear support for the environment from the top of the Government.
As context for the interview, John uses footage of Mr Cameron's 14 May 2010 speech to staff at the Department of Energy and Climate Change where he uttered those immortal words "I want this to be the greenest government ever". He then asks whether, following the Chancellor's autumn economic statement, the intent remains.
Mr Cameron said that he does not see a distinction between environmental protection and economic growth, he suggested that he would no more put the countryside at risk than his own family and that he remains supportive of renewable energy. It is a refreshing to hear him speak publicly of the agenda which figured so prominently when he was Leader of the Opposition.
Of course, I disagreed with his analysis about the planning proposals and think that he is wrong when he suggests that protection afforded to SSSIs is not threatened by the reform (read my blog entry here). But I hope that when he engages in the detail of the policy debate he will be supportive of changes proposed by the RSPB, the National Trust and others.
The second part of the interview will be shown next week and a preview suggests that he will outline his support for reform of the CAP so that more farmers are rewarded for protecting the environment. If Mr Cameron begins to find his environmental voice and fights for policies to match his rhetoric, then 2012 may just be a good year for wildlife.
I must remember to tune in next week.
Did you see Mr Cameron's interview? What did you think?
It would be great to hear your views.
HI Martin,we recorded Countryfile so watched it this evening and in my opinion David Cameron came over as sincere as any politician ever will,they always find the right thing to say.I feel he has taken over at a really difficult time and been left a terrible hand by the previous Government,think he has a very difficult job and I have sympathy for him.Lets face it ,in this country I see very little young and poor as all I see is any youngster more than 8yr old with a mobile stuck to their ear costing £20+ a month contract,no wonder they cannot find £14,000 deposit on a mortgage before they are 40.Talk about a feather bedded generation and some people want to land share taking from workers and giving to idlers.Gardens better than farmland for biodiversity,well not those all concreted or paved over thats for sure they are just part of the flood problem.Time friends of the earth looked at that problem as it affects millions of people.