Published in the ENDS Report (Issue 422, p42), in March 2010. All elections create uncertainty about the future of public policy – this one more than most. The unpopular leader of a tired party is facing the smooth, sometimes slick and yet to be tested charm of a young pretender. […]
The need for a credible climate technology policy
Published in Green Alliance publication Conservatism in a changing climate: Security, prosperity and a low carbon future. Published in February 2010. Climate change will transform the prosperity and security of 60 million Britons. This is true whether climate policy succeeds or fails. If it succeeds the transformation will be in […]
Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Environment profile low at party conferences
Published in ENDS Report (Issue 417, p54), in October 2009. Conference speeches by party leaders take on a special significance just before a general election. Their purpose is no longer simply to rally the faithful but to reach over the heads of party members and speak directly to the electorate. […]
Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Labour’s environmental rhetoric fails to convince
Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: The case for rethinking green governance
Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Now’s a good time to sort out green governance
Published in ENDS Report (Issue 408, P58), in January 2009. There has been much media speculation over whether – along with jobs, mortgages and over-inflated bonuses – the economic crisis has also killed green. However, there was no sign of this in the outrage over the government’s decision to go […]
Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: All ‘joined-up’ for another move of the deckchairs?
Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Argument is one thing, government is another
Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Infrastructure wars – the real battle begins
Published in the ENDS Report (Issue 398, p55), in March 2008. When the railways were built in the nineteenth century their developers faced the problem of acquiring the land where they could go. The solution was robust. Over 250 private bills were driven though Parliament usurping existing property rights for […]
Business needs clear government policy on the environment
Published in the House Magazine, June 2007. Crushed hopes have been a hallmark of Labour’s ten years in office. Across a wide range of public policies the best of intentions, commanding widespread public support, have too often not brought the intended outcomes. This is especially true on the environment. When […]