More than two-thirds of Defra staff moved to Brexit-related roles

. Staff redeployed as ex-government adviser says Brexit is bad for environment . More than two-thirds of all staff employed directly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are working on delivering Brexit, according to official figures released by the government. The response to a freedom of […]

What does Brexit mean for Environmental Legislation in the UK – Guardian Podcast

    One of the things that you get out of our membership of the EU is an enormous amount of regulatory stability. It takes a very long time to create environmental legislation, but then it is very difficult for governments, in a whimsical way, to change it. Now from […]

Chinese firm with military ties invited to bid for role in UK’s nuclear future

By Adam Vaughan This piece was published by The Guardian     China National Nuclear Corporation on government list of preferred bidders for development funding for next-generation modular reactors   Tom Burke, chairman of the environment thinktank E3G and a former British government adviser, said there were legitimate concerns over the company. […]

Tribute to Jo Cox – ‘Where we see intolerance we must drive it out of our politics’

    Here is the full text of David Cameron’s speech. I first met Jo in Darfur in 2006 where she was doing what she was brilliant at, which was looking after and saving the lives of vulnerable refugees. And here we are today commemorating her life that’s been lost. […]

It’s a cruel deceit to blame all our problems on immigration

By Owen Jones   Brexiters cynically attribute social ills to incomers. Those who believe them may soon face a harsh truth     Our country is simmering with anger and frustration. There is no shortage of social grievances that, long unaddressed by politicians, are a source of considerable bitterness. But […]

If we’re to win the climate struggle, we must remain in Europe

                    Concerted EU diplomacy helped secure a landmark agreement at the Paris climate change summit. We should not leave the field just as the battle is turning. Our security and prosperity depend on a successful response to climate change, the most urgent […]

Our own bad habits have brought Britain to the brink of Brexit – The Guardian

By Martin Kettle This article first appeared in The Guardian   Whether voters decide to leave or remain, we must address failures in our media, culture and politics     Trust the people, that’s what I always say to myself. By and large, over the long term, they will do the […]

In Starbucks and on Tinder, campaigners seek out the young vote – The Guardian

  By Jessica Elgot This piece was first published in The Guardian Thursday 19 May 2016    Only 51% of young people say they are sure to vote in the EU referendum, as activists blame poor timing and uninspiring rhetoric     Half a million young voters are to be targeted […]

Youth vote targeted for registration before EU referendum – The Guardian

  By Toby Helm, Harriet Agerholm and Rebecca Ratcliffe This piece was first published in The Guardian on Saturday 14 May 2016    On campuses and in cafes across the UK, groups are organising to ensure that young Britons turn out on 23 June                 […]

Within the EU, Britain can take the lead on tackling climate change

  This piece first appeared in The Guardian       Letter from John Gummer, Chris Huhne, Adair Turner, Craig Bennett, Tom Burke, Amy Cameron, Michael Jacobs, John Sauven, Matthew Spencer, James Thornton and Crispin Tickell       Britain has shown great diplomatic leadership on climate change and successive […]