Michael Gove
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Post-Brexit farming support to be based on public goods
The government has proposed a new agricultural subsidy system that will see payments based on the provision of public goods rather than the amount of land farmed. The current system of support for farmers and landowners shaped by the Common… Read More
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PM wages war on plastic in new environment plan
The UK government has said it will eliminate avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042 as part of a raft of measures to tackle plastic pollution. Delivering a major speech to mark the publication of the government’s 25-year environment… Read More
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Microplastics found in mussels in Kent
Research conducted for the BBC in the shores around Kent has raised further concerns about microplastic contamination in the food chain. An average of 60% of mussel samples collected from four of the county’s beaches contained microplastic particles. In Ramsgate… Read More
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Political Print: Gove’s big green vision
DEFRA secretary’s conference speech is full of bold talk on the environment but short on detail – especially when it comes to Brexit. By Nick Hughes. Last week, the Print predicted that Michael Gove wouldn’t be quite so reticent in… Read More
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Gove’s green light for deposit return scheme
DEFRA has launched a four-week “call for evidence” on deposit return schemes for beverage packaging. Ministers have tasked the “voluntary and economic incentives working group” to look at a number of interventions that could reduce littering and improve recycling. However,… Read More
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Political Print: Food’s off the table at the Labour conference
Hopes of the party promoting a bold new vision were dashed with the shadow DEFRA secretary sidelined in Brighton this week. By Nick Hughes. It’s party conference season, hence it’s time for the Print to snap out of its summer… Read More
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DEFRA refuses to publish food prices report
The UK’s largest union has accused the government of suppressing a report on the impact of Brexit on food prices. DEFRA recently rejected a Freedom of Information (FoI) request from Unite to release the findings of the report, claiming that… Read More
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‘No surprise’ if agri-environmental laws weakened after Brexit
Moves to water down environmental regulations relating to food production will need to be closely scrutinised, according to a new report by the UK’s nature regulators. The Land Use Policy Group devised a number of possible post-Brexit policy scenarios for… Read More
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What’s in Gove’s plastic bag of tricks?
The new environment secretary’s praise for the carrier bag tax suggests that a previously regulation-shy government could get tough on waste. By David Burrows. What a difference 5p makes. New DEFRA figures show that seven of the UK’s largest food… Read More
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Mixed reception for new DEFRA secretary Michael Gove
Michael Gove has been appointed as secretary of state at DEFRA, prompting major concerns amongst environmental campaigners and opposition MPs. In a surprise return to the front bench, Gove will take the lead on pressing issues such as air pollution,… Read More