New ministers know ‘absolutely nothing’ on environmental issues

In the environment and energy areas of the new government the coalition between Conservative and Lib Dems has meant MPs have been put in charge of departments completely new to them.

The role of energy and climate change secretary, which when the Lib Dems were in opposition, was the job of the party’s prominent left-winger Simon Hughes.

But, Mr Hughes’ has been left out of the energy role in the new Government with Chris Huhne stepping into the post.

Lord Redesdale, who is also the chairman of the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association, said the new crop of ministers know ‘absolutely nothing’ of the environmental departments they’ve been put in charge of.

And speaking as he chaired the first half of the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum Seminar – Food Packaging and Waste Innovation, Anaerobic Digestion and nanotechnology he said Mr Huhne was expecting a different role.

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He said: “The whole issue waste, energy security, energy supply and renewable is something that has hit the new Government squarely between the eyes.

“And the new ministers are honestly great experts in this field, knowing absolutely nothing about anything, as is the lot of politicians who are given a brief that they weren’t quite expecting.

“I’m not saying that particularly about Chris Huhne, he is a friend and I used to work for him, and he was expecting home affairs – but DECC is good.”

Lord Redesdale first entered House of Lords in 1991, he was created a life peer as Baron Mitford, of Redesdale in the County of Northumberland in 2000 at the age of 33 becoming the youngest life peer ever.

Luke Walsh