Farewell to the Cameron green agenda? |

Wednesday 2nd December 2009 | 14:59

Farewell to the Cameron green agenda?

Insiders predict that green issues will increasingly move down the Tory agenda as the election approaches

Such scenes are unlikely to be repeated

Shortly after becoming Conservative leader, David Cameron sought to reclaim the green agenda for the Conservative party, arguing that ‘the most surprising thing is that we on the centre right ever allowed the environment to appear to be something that was not for us.’

But there have recently been indications that not all of his party are happy to go along with this agenda. David Davis wrote in today’s Independent that ‘the ferocious determination to impose hair-shirt policies on the public – taxes on holiday flights, or covering our beautiful countryside with wind turbines that look like props from War of the Worlds – would cause a reaction in any democratic country.’

And as the election approaches, the feeling among most MPs, journalists and other political insiders is that Cameron’s ‘green agenda’ will become progressively less central to his message.

Over two thirds of the PoliticsHome Phi100 panel – which includes senior politicians from all the main parties as well as leading media commentators, political editors, strategists and think tank directors – predict that green issues will become a less integral part of Cameron’s message as an election nears.

This view is taken by majorities of panellists across the political spectrum: right-leaning panellists are equally convinced as their political opponents that Cameron's green agenda will fade.

‘Trustafarians’

A right-leaning strategist said ‘Climate change, in a recession, is mainly of concern to rich trustafarians who can afford to pay all these green taxes!’

A non-aligned thought leader agreed, saying ‘it's the economy....’

A media panellist believed that ‘it hasn't been central anyway for a couple of years’.

Going against the grain, a Tory MP protested: ‘It is one of a number of important policy platforms; it may not be spoken every day but the Conservative Party's position is clear and will be maintained.’

Leave a comment...

heckmonwyke

18:09 |
02 Dec 2009
Recommended
1

At last so when will zac get the sac, but is it like the promise about the EU referendum,that never will be.Will it be put on the back burner to appear again after Dave is elected or if the tories are elected. Perphaps we will get an idea after Copenhagens,global warming hot air fest.By the tories comments on the out come if there is one.

alan

09:06 |
03 Dec 2009
Recommended
4

When I hear the preposterous YEO mouthing off about Global Warming I want to give him a good shake.Why should anyone with a brain listen to this charlatan?

Global Warming is a nonsense created by the political class to control the people. It is the modern day Eugenics!

A Williams

09:53 |
03 Dec 2009
Recommended
3

After the leaded emails and data exposing the scientific malfeasance by the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit, one of the leading bodies arguing for AGW, distancing themselves from the Man Made Climate Change movement may well be a good move as the science behind it is being shown more and more every day to be highly suspect.

R Richards

19:35 |
03 Dec 2009
0

I am with Mr Griffin of the BNP on this one, we are being conned.

James Frankcom

02:45 |
08 Dec 2009
Recommended
1

What a load of rubbish the other comments are. Climate change is obvious to anyone who notices the weather here, and blatant to people in other places. Once in a thousand year storms are happening almost every year. If the scientists are right (and they are almost unanimous in this opinion) then we MIGHT be able to moderate the worst effects for the sake of our children and grandchildren. If they are wrong the worst that can happen is that we clean up our industries and make them more efficient, as well as reducing our oil dependency thus starving lunatics in Arabia of money, and we might just save the rainforests, global biodiversity and threatened indigenous people. People will always be taxed, so at least this is for a good cause.

liz

16:40 |
08 Dec 2009
0

Climate change is clearly the biggest challenge the global community is facing - the science proves it, and anyone who disputes this is burying their head in the sand. Any world leader who ignores it does so at their country's peril, as soon we will all have to face the effects.

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