18.10.2022
Liz Truss: economics versus ecology
Photo by: Alexandros Michailidis / iStock
The UK is in turmoil over its options for dealing with the energy and financial crisis. The new prime minister, Liz Truss, has promised to lead the country through the economic crisis this winter, but not in the way most Britons want it to be.
The Prime Minister has prioritised the “pursuit of economic growth” over the protection of nature and the environment. Political and public circles, including ministers from Boris Johnson’s government, former Tory Party leader William Hague, the National Trust, RSPB, Fisheries and Wildlife Trusts have criticised the plan, calling it “environmental vandalism”.
The Liz Truss plan would free up a large area of natural area for commercial use and residential development. The plan has been described in Britain as a “carpet bombing of the whole country” with investment zones. The Trace plan says that environmental legislation could be scaled back to make it easier to develop in areas selected for development. But wildlife advocates are concerned that rare animal and plant species could lose their security guarantee.
At a recent Tory conference, Truss criticised the “coalition against growth”, which included the green lobby. Truss said the Tories were facing a coalition of Labour, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrat party, trade unions and environmental activists. Her plan suggests that economic development is more important for the country now than the environment of the future.
Although Liz Truss took office as prime minister just over a month ago, dissatisfaction with her governance is already taking on significant proportions. MPs have deemed Truss incapable of implementing complex fiscal, welfare and immigration policies. Now a ripe conflict over the environment threatens to become the final frontier.
At the Tory conference, as Truss outlined the reasons for her economic policy, Greenpeace UK’s head of public relations Rebecca Newsome and politician Amy McCarthy raised a banner asking, “Who voted for this?”
Former Conservation Minister Rebecca Powe has spoken out against attacks on conservation organisations. Former environment minister George Eustis said Truss was destroying policies he had championed for years. Now conservation groups have rallied to mobilise millions of their supporters against Conservative policies. According to an Opinium poll, Tory support in the polls is falling, with Truss’ personal rating hitting the lowest it has ever recorded for a British prime minister.
Cover photo: UK Government
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