Dave Timms

Mandelson’s Fifth Column The British government’s business department exists to undermine democracy.

1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...

BREAKING 🚨: UK Government warned Rosebank oil field could break international law over links to illegal Israeli settlements.

New legal advice identifies potential breaches of UK international obligations under the Geneva convention, should Rosebank be approved.

Government admits its approval for Buckinghamshire AI datacentre should be quashed Campaigners hail U-turn during legal challenge over proposed centre an ‘embarrassing climbdown’

Major news yesterday for our legal challenge against the UK Government - the government has admitted that its decision to force through the construction of a new hyperscale data centre in Buckinghamshire contained a “serious logical error”.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

BREAKING 🎉: 57% of Scots want their government to oppose new oil and gas drilling and focus on clean energy.

People want a plan. Scotland has the wind, the skills, and the public support to make that happen.

Reeves considers cut to green levies in effort to reduce cost of energy bills Exclusive: Chancellor hopes to save up to £170 from average bill but industry insiders say move would be ‘disastrous’

To be clear, what is being proposed here is to axe the main mechanism for getting Britain’s homes insulated - which is by FAR the best way to reduce household energy bills in the long term 🤦‍♂️

…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️

‘The place is bleached, a dead zone’: how the UK’s most beloved landscapes became biodiversity deserts National parks, famous for their rich natural heritage, should be at the heart of efforts to protect habitats and wildlife. Instead, experts say they are declining – fast

Only 6% of land in England & Wales National Parks is being managed effectively for nature

Large parts of Dartmoor & Lake District are 'biodiversity deserts'

“We have become used to these landscapes, We’re admiring rocks, not what should be a living ecosystem.”

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

NEW: Getting to net-zero will be much cheaper than thought for the UK – and unchecked global warming far more costly, says OBR

Quick piece / thread with 4 key charts showing, yet again, why climate action is far less costly than inaction

🧵

www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/6

Palestine Action to be banned after RAF base break in The home secretary will move to proscribe the Palestine Action group in the coming weeks, the BBC understands.

Targeting a protest group with terrorism powers in this way is a shocking escalation of the Government’s crackdown on protest and we urge the Home Secretary to rethink

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thread/ More stark warnings about the #PlanningBill today, with OEP branding it a ‘regression’ in environmental law

When will Government take heed and support the amendments needed to deliver for nature, people & a resilient economy?

www.theoep.org.uk/report/oep-g...

Brilliant. We’ll done @libertyhq.bsky.social

1/12
Tony Blair Institute have released a report which is getting a lot of coverage in UK today

It says the drive for net zero emissions is flawed and some media outlets have gone to town

However it’s a bit odd

By odd, I mean there’s a lot of bollocks in it and shouldn't be taken seriously 🧵🧵

🚨Some major errors & misleading claims from experienced presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 Today, when discussing British Steel with Treasury Minister James Murray

I hope these are corrected on tomorrow's programme, and Robinson sticks to the facts in future.

Here's what he got wrong... 🧵

🚨 In Today’s spring statement, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has left a “huge open goal” by neglecting the clean economy as the primary driver for growth in the UK. Meanwhile, devastating cuts to overseas development aid undermine UK security.

Read our rapid reaction👇🧵

Ulez: Cleaner air for Londoners after expansion, study finds London pollution has reduced after the controversial expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, a report finds.

One year on from the expansion of the ULEZ in London, we are delighted to see significant progress made in cleaning up the capital’s air!

This progress will protect the health of everyone who lives and works in the capital, and future generations of Londoners. 👏
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Friends of the Earth campaigners stand outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. They hold placards saying 'Unite for the earth.', 'The fight for our future', 'For people and planet' and 'Friends of the Earth.

The court has reduced some of the lengthy sentences for peaceful protesters driven by the hope of a better future. We're proud to have intervened, with @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social, in this vital appeal over the right to protest and supported the activists in their pursuit of justice.

Image of wildflowers growing with houses in the background

The Prime Minister was wrong to blame nature protection & regulators for stopping development🏡

Leading nature groups have written to Keir Starmer calling for an urgent meeting to discuss how nature & sustainable development can go hand-in-hand👇

wcl.org.uk/docs/2024/le...

📷Cassie Crocker

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP will publish an outline of her proposed Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) on Thursday (tinyurl.com/34cu9k3v), exactly a week after the passing of the great John Prescott. Some thoughts on the need to avoid history repeating itself 🧵