To be taken seriously and to ultimately defeat the left’s statist approach, Badenoch and Coutinho need to quickly set out a credible alternative plan.
Intergenerational fairness and stewardship are not just buzzwords to be thrown around to give the impression that we care. They are our principles. They must guide any conservative wanting to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.
Any climate policy that depends on curtailing liberty is a betrayal of conservatism and, bluntly, must be rejected.
Views from TaxPayers’ Alliance, Growth Commission, Conservative Environment Network, Centre for Cities, and others.
The idea that we must choose between a strong economy and protecting our environment is outdated and wrong. The future that I believe in is one where these two aims go hand in hand, driving innovation and driving opportunity.
Number 10’s change of heart should be considered a win for all those in the Conservative Party who have long been devoted to the beaver cause.
How did Reform end up with such a ridiculous energy policy? Perhaps they should blame the Tories. Conservative policy on these issues has lurched so far to the Right lately that, in an attempt to outflank us, Reform may have gone overboard.
The Chancellor is talking the talk so far, recognising the environment and growth go hand in hand.
Beavers have a lot to offer the UK. We should embrace the prospect of them roaming in our landscape, safe in the knowledge that, if something goes awry, a plan is already in place to deal with them humanely.
By choosing to make environmental achievements a taboo topic, the Conservative Party shot itself in the foot.
The rhetoric made it nearly impossible for the party to get any credit from pro-environment voters – despite deserving it. We must also put forward a positive, conservative plan for the environment.
The Conservatives shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk about one of their most substantive areas of achievement while in government.
With the general election looming, it is time for a more practical approach to what we want to achieve from planting trees. Accordingly, the Conservative Environment Network has launched a manifesto for our trees, woodlands, and forests.
Historically, the Conservatives have been the party of the countryside. However, recent by-election results show increased competition for the rural vote, particularly for the agricultural.
Oversight, accountability, and reform are essential. Some past spending has raised legitimate concerns but a serious governing party should be unapologetic about internationalism as a tool of soft power, national security, and not retreat into isolation or protest politics.