Latest news with #PaulHolmes
The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Fears of damage to nature from Labour planning reforms overblown, minister says
Mr Pennycook dismissed concerns several times, including calling them 'misrepresentation', 'patently false', and saying some critics had 'flagrant misconceptions' of what the Bill would do. Campaigning groups, including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and Marine Conservation Society have warned they believe the reforms will significantly weaken environmental law. They said it could allow developers to effectively disregard environmental rules, and increase the risk of sewage in rivers, flooding and the loss of woods and parks. It came as Labour faced a potential rebellion in the voting lobbies on Monday over the fears. One Labour MP encouraged the Government to 'rescue something positive from the wreckage of this legislation' as he tabled an amendment. However, Mr Pennycook said the current 'status quo' between the environment and development was not working. In turn, he said, proposed changes would lead to a 'win-win' for both. He said: 'The nature restoration fund will do exactly as its name suggests. It will restore, not harm nature. It is a smart planning reform designed to unlock and accelerate housing and infrastructure delivery while improving the state of nature across the country.' He later told MPs: 'I feel obliged to tackle a number of the most flagrant misconceptions head on. 'First, some have claimed that driven by a belief that development must come at the expense of the environment, the Government is creating a licence for developers to pay to pollute. A cash-to-trash model, as some have dubbed it. In reality, the nature and restoration fund will do the precise opposite. 'I have been consistently clear that building new homes and critical infrastructure should not, and need not, come at the expense of the environment. It is plainly nonsense to suggest the nature restoration fund would allow developers to simply pay Government and then wantonly harm nature.' Mr Pennycook said the money would be given to Natural England, which would develop plans on how to better preserve nature. In response to a question from shadow housing minister Paul Holmes about the capacity of Natural England to take on the responsibilities, Mr Pennycook said: 'We've been perfectly clear that this new approach is not a means of making unacceptable development acceptable.' He continued: 'Another claim put forward has been that the Bill strips protections from our protected sites and species, allowing for untrammelled development across the country. Again, I'm afraid this amounts to nothing less than wanton misrepresentation.' Green Party MP Ellie Chowns (North Herefordshire) said the Office for Environmental Protection warned the Bill reduces environmental safeguards. 'This Bill constitutes a regression on environmental protection,' she said. Mr Pennycook said: 'The Government's view that the Bill is not regressive. Environmental delivery plans (EDPs) will secure improved environmental outcomes that go further than simply offsetting harm as required under current legislation.' Suggestions that the Bill would allow for the destruction of irreplaceable habitats or create irretrievable harm to them were 'patently false', he told MPs. The Conservatives accused the Government of 'greenwashing', over its plans. Mr Holmes said: 'While developers may cheer the ability to pay into a nature restoration fund instead of taking direct responsibility for mitigations, we should ask, is this really restoration, or is it greenwashing?' Mr Pennycook said the new laws were needed to 'speed up and streamline' Labour's housing target of 1.5 million homes, clean energy goals and aim to approve at least 150 'major economic infrastructure projects'. Labour MP Chris Hinchliff described the nature restoration fund as a 'kernel of a good idea', but added: 'The weight of evidence against how it has been drafted is overwhelming.' The North East Hertfordshire MP said his amendment 69 will give 'ministers the opportunity to rescue something positive from the wreckage of this legislation, ensuring environmental delivery plans serve their purpose without allowing developers to pay cash to destroy nature'. He added: 'It would ensure conservation takes place before damage, so endangered species aren't pushed close to extinction before replacement habitats are established, and it outlines that conservation must result in improvements to the specific feature harmed, protecting irreplaceable habitats like chalk streams.'
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Rayner warns MPs not to underestimate her over 1.5 million homes target
Angela Rayner has warned MPs not to underestimate her when it comes to the Government's pledge to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament. 'Underestimate me at your peril,' the Deputy Prime Minister said, after shadow housing minister Paul Holmes claimed 'she won't achieve it'. Mr Holmes pointed to research by estate agent Savills which forecast the Government will build 1.2 million homes by March 2029 'at most', falling short of its target. Speaking in the Commons, he said: 'The Deputy Prime Minister has repeatedly stuck to her commitment that 1.5 million homes, including social homes, will be built over the lifetime of this Parliament, despite everybody knowing that she won't achieve it. 'And today, the latest people to say she won't are Savills, who have forecast that the true number she will build over this Parliament is just 840,000 and that means fewer social homes too. 'So will the Deputy Prime Minister confirm that now she has emerged from the dark rooms of the Treasury to capitulate to the Chancellor, more social homes will be built, and 1.5 million new homes will be built by the end of this Parliament? Yes or no?' Ms Rayner replied: 'The Opposition can't have it both ways – one way they're saying we're failing to build the homes, and the other way they're saying we're concreting over the green belt. 'We said that planning reforms alone won't deliver our ambitions, which is why we've committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation. 'I say to (Mr Holmes), like I said to many people in my life, underestimate me at your peril.' Dan Hill, from Savills' research team, said housing completions are 'likely to remain low' over the next few years, with between 160,000 and 170,000 being built annually. He added: 'Even with this, delivery will be constrained by the speed at which the housebuilding sector can expand its supply chains and labour force. This means completions are still likely to fall short of the Government's target. 'At most, we think very significant demand support could push completions to 1.2 million new homes by March 2029.' Elsewhere in the Commons, former prime minister Rishi Sunak pressed the minister to 'commit to supporting more changing places toilets, across the country, so that families have both the opportunity and the dignity that they deserve'. Housing minister Alex Norris said he shared Mr Sunak's 'enthusiasm' for changing places toilets, adding: 'People will not be able to access the amenities on the high street if they don't feel they can leave the home and have those facilities.' As the then-chancellor, Mr Sunak committed to ensuring all new public buildings in England would be required to include changing places toilets for severely disabled people in 2020. Earlier in the session, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said a consultation on leasehold and freehold reforms would begin 'in the very near future'. He had been asked by Labour MP Chris McDonald (Stockton North) about how the Government would ensure leaseholders would pay 'fair service charges'. The minister replied: 'The Government recognises the considerable financial strain that rising service charges place on leaseholders and tenants. Overcharging through service charges is completely unacceptable. 'We intend to consult in the very near future on the measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Act 2024, designed to drive up the transparency of service charges, to make them more easily challengeable if leaseholders consider them to be unreasonable.'
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Millie Elder-Holmes fined $5000 for promoting online gambling
The internet personality Millie Elder-Holmes has been fined $5000 for promoting online gambling. It comes as part of a recent crackdown by the Department of Internal affairs on social media influencers using their platforms for that purpose. In a statement, a department spokesperson said Elder-Holmes was fined after ignoring an earlier warning in April. Elder-Holmes is the daughter of the late broadcaster Paul Holmes and Hinemoa Elder. Individuals can be fined up to $10,000 for promoting online gambling. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
South Wales Guardian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Six-year-old ‘eco warrior' gets warm reception in Parliament as he waves at PM
The boy, Teddy, could be seen sitting on his mother's lap, as Conservative MP Paul Holmes told the Commons of the young boy's 'mission to change the world'. MPs from across the House looked up and waved back at Teddy during Prime Minister's Questions, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Holmes, Hamble Valley MP, said: 'Would the Prime Minister join me in welcoming my constituent, Teddy, who is six-years-old and with his mum Laura, who have come to see us today at Prime Minister's Questions. 'Teddy is a self-professed eco warrior, on a mission to change the world. He started out by saving thousands of plastic chocolate and sweet tubs from landfill, because they're not currently recyclable. 'Will the Prime Minister commit to ask his minister for local government to meet with Teddy and myself to discuss how we make these tubs recyclable? And does he agree with me that no matter how small you are, you are never too little to make a big difference?' The Prime Minister replied: 'Well, can I welcome Teddy on my behalf and on behalf, I think, of the whole House. It is really incredible that Teddy has done so much already and is in the gallery somewhere.' At this point, Teddy began to wave at the Prime Minister, with MPs laughing and smiling in response. Sir Keir continued: 'Many of us struggle for a whole lifetime to make an impact on government policy – Teddy is already, aged six, having an impact, and I'll make sure that he gets to speak to the relevant minister.'
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Six-year-old ‘eco warrior' gets warm reception in Parliament as he waves at PM
A six-year-old 'eco warrior' waved at Sir Keir Starmer from Parliament's public gallery, as his local MP called for sweet tubs to be made recyclable, on his behalf. The boy, Teddy, could be seen sitting on his mother's lap, as Conservative MP Paul Holmes told the Commons of the young boy's 'mission to change the world'. MPs from across the House looked up and waved back at Teddy during Prime Minister's Questions, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Holmes, Hamble Valley MP, said: 'Would the Prime Minister join me in welcoming my constituent, Teddy, who is six-years-old and with his mum Laura, who have come to see us today at Prime Minister's Questions. 'Teddy is a self-professed eco warrior, on a mission to change the world. He started out by saving thousands of plastic chocolate and sweet tubs from landfill, because they're not currently recyclable. 'Will the Prime Minister commit to ask his minister for local government to meet with Teddy and myself to discuss how we make these tubs recyclable? And does he agree with me that no matter how small you are, you are never too little to make a big difference?' The Prime Minister replied: 'Well, can I welcome Teddy on my behalf and on behalf, I think, of the whole House. It is really incredible that Teddy has done so much already and is in the gallery somewhere.' At this point, Teddy began to wave at the Prime Minister, with MPs laughing and smiling in response. Sir Keir continued: 'Many of us struggle for a whole lifetime to make an impact on government policy – Teddy is already, aged six, having an impact, and I'll make sure that he gets to speak to the relevant minister.'
