Owen Paterson
Owen Paterson is the UK Conservative Party MP for North Shropshire and a former cabinet minister. In the 2015 general election Paterson was re-elected with a majority of 15,828. [1]
Contents
Revolving Door
Having left his role as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in July of 2014, Paterson took on the role of part-time, paid consultant to Randox Laboratories Ltd. Although he had encountered the company in his time in office, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments sanctioned the role given that it would not include governmental engagement.[2]
Northern Ireland Secretary
He was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the incoming coalition cabinet appointed in 2010.[3]
Environment Secretary
He was appointed secretary of state for the environment in September 2012.[4]
Paterson's appointment, according to the Guardian, 'marks a sharp lurch away from the green-minded policies which sheltered in the environment department and a significant weakening of the green voice at the Cabinet table'. In May 2012 for example, Paterson had 'reportedly told the Cabinet that it should end all energy subsidies, such as those for wind and solar power, and fast-track shale gas exploitation'. [5]
He left the Government in July 2014, replaced by Elizabeth Truss[6]
Lobbying against the EU insecticides ban
In April 2013 The Observer revealed that in a letter released under freedom of information rules, Paterson had told the chemicals company Syngenta that he was 'extremely disappointed' by the European Commission's proposed ban on neonicotinoids. Paterson assured Syngenta that 'the UK has been very active' in opposing the ban and 'our efforts will continue and intensify in the coming days'.[7]
According to documents seen by the Observer Syngenta had even threatened to sue individual European Union officials involved in publishing an European Food Safety Authority report that found the pesticides posed an unacceptable risk to bees. [8]
Britain's and Paterson's lobbying was unsuccessful; the Commission passed the landmark ban on 29 April 2013 to widespread public approval.
Special adviser
Paterson's special adviser as environment secretary, Guy Robinson had previously worked at lobbyist Lynton Crosby's UK firm Crosby Textor Fullbrook.
Socialising with lobbyists
In February 2014 Paterson was spotted socialising with Hanover Communications's founder Charles Lewington and former energy minister Charles Hendry at the Intercontinental Hotel bar in Park Lane, London. [9]
Affiliations
Resources
See: Fracking Spads
- Melissa Jones and Andy Rowell, Access all areas: Westminster's (vast) fracking lobby exposed, 29 April 2015.
- guardian.co.uk, Environment secretary's letter to Syngenta on insecticide ban proposals, (obtained under FOI Act) Monday 29 April 2013 10.41 BST
Notes
- ↑ Owen Paterson Express, accessed 18 May 2015
- ↑ Summary of Business Appointments - Rt Hon Owen PatersonGov.UK, accessed 22 September 2015
- ↑ Her Majesty’s Government, Number10.gov.uk, accessed 12 May 2010.
- ↑ Juliette Jowit, Shiv Malik and Haroon Siddique, Cabinet reshuffle: who has moved so far?, guardian.co.uk, 4 September 2012.
- ↑ Damian Carrington, New environment secretary Owen Paterson will worry greens, 4 September 2012 13.43 BST theguardian.com
- ↑ Reshuffle at-a-glance: In, out and moved about, BBC News, 15 July 2014.
- ↑ guardian.co.uk, Environment secretary's letter to Syngenta on insecticide ban proposals, (obtained under FOI Act) published Monday 29 April 2013 10.41 BST
- ↑ Damian Carrington, Insecticide firms in secret bid to stop ban that could save bees, the Observer, 29 April 2013
- ↑ Lobbyists are unconvincing over the minister for fracking, Socialist Worker, The Troublemaker, 4 Feb 2014, acc 24 June 2014
- ↑ Sam Coates & Francis Elliot, The Times, July 17, 2008 ['Tory MPs' use of staff budgets to pay for PR advice 'against rules]
