Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 22m

And the public can and must be allowed to challenge laws that are improperly made, or contravene other laws. Commentators like to talk about the ‘activist lawyers’ but it’s usually members of the public who initiate such cases, because they care about an issue, place or community

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 25m

Wrong in so many ways, I’m afraid. The public rightly gets to be consulted (after all - companies do). We’re signatories to the Aarhus Convention on access to environmental data & justice. MPs rightly talk to their constituents - unless they want to get booted out again. Scrutiny makes better laws.

1

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 43m

I’d love politicians to be political and have political philosophies - I’d also like them to make laws consistently and for those laws to be subject to oversight by the judiciary and public

1 1 3

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 46m

They are - just didn’t get that from the tone of your extract. Hope the full piece wholeheartedly rejects the government’s desire to limit Judicial Review - most pieces about ‘lefty activist lawyers’ are simply cover for that objective

1 1 1

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 56m

Exactly. Given that the *Supreme Court* found in @sarahfinch.bsky.social’s favour, what’s the issue here Duncan? Should inconsistent application of law not be tested? Perhaps we shouldn’t have an independent judiciary? If judges don’t think JRs have merits they don’t grant hearings

1 2

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 4h

Sad to see that two No10 advisors, Muneera Lula & Carys Roberts, have left Downing Street - both champions of the environment & equality:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Two more Keir Starmer aides exit troubled No10

Muneera Lula and Carys Roberts have both quit as policy advisers to the Prime Minister, it has been revealed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

7 5 31

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

Miles King @milesking.bsky.social · 5h

Same story - 2 very different takes.

Reeves claims she unblocked a development being held up by a "microscopic snail or something", while Natural England claim they and the EA negotiated an agreement with Southern Water, to reduce water abstraction from the snail's habitat.

3 14 24

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

Campaign for National Parks @campaign4parks.bsky.social · 22h

Over 200 charities, businesses & organisations have signed our open letter to Keir Starmer asking him not to weaken the laws protecting National Parks and Landscapes.

We're so thankful to everyone who added their name 💪

This letter represents millions of people and shows that #NationalParksMatter

Over 200 charities, businesses and organisations have signed our open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer asking him not to weaken the laws protecting National Parks and National Landscapes.

17 63

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

Kate Jennings @keasdenkate.bsky.social · 23h

Very happy to add my name to @guyshrubsole.bsky.social's and > 200 others calling on @Keir_Starmer to put a stop to rumoured moves within Government to weaken the laws protecting England's #NationalParks and National Landscapes. #NationalParksMatter www.cnp.org.uk/wp-content/u...

9 19

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

Thousands take legal action over ‘widespread pollution’ of Rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk - alleging that Welsh Water & two corporate chicken producers are responsible:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Thousands take legal action over ‘widespread pollution’ of three UK rivers

Environmental group seeks damages from Welsh Water and two chicken producers, alleging responsibility for pollution in Wye, Lugg and Usk

www.theguardian.com

1 26 88

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

The Protected Landscapes Duty only applies to public bodies & statutory undertakers - I’m assuming you’re a private landowner?

bsky.app/profile/guys...

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

The Protected Landscapes Duty has only existed since 2023 and only applies to public bodies & statutory undertakers. It is not the whole body of planning law as applied by NPAs and I don’t believe it has had the effects you’re talking about

1 2

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

The Protected Landscapes Duty has only existed since 2023 and only applies to public bodies & statutory undertakers. It is not the whole body of planning law as applied by NPAs and I don’t believe it has had the effects you’re talking about

2 3

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

2/ More info on the threat to the Protected Landscapes Duty: www.cnp.org.uk/about/our-wo...

Here's the joint letter I've signed along with 170 other green groups & environmentalists: www.cnp.org.uk/wp-content/u...

1 6 22

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

Plans to weaken protections for national parks will have ‘disastrous consequences’, say environmentalists

Pleased to have signed @campaign4parks.bsky.social's letter urging Ministers to drop plans to remove the Protected Landscapes Duty on public bodies 1/

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Plans to weaken protections for national parks will have ‘disastrous consequences’ say green groups

Exclusive: Letter from 170-plus organisations calls on government to drop proposed changes to planning law

www.theguardian.com

7 58 110

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

Hi John - besides the guides and books that have been published by the Open Spaces Society, you might like to try Peter Linebaugh’s books - Stop, Thief! and The Magna Carta Manifesto.

1 1 1

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

The UAE is an authoritarian autocracy, a petro-state with no income tax for citizens, to bribe them for the lack of democratic voice or free speech

It is 85% migrant, a segregated society with a ban on integration in principle and practice, few rights, equal opportunities, nor voice for incomers

79 420 1.4K

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

All these people really want is to pay no taxes and be treated with floor scraping deference. Everything else is just bullshit in pursuit of that goal.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

Party donor Nick Candy says "I cherish the values we grew up with here in the West. But today you are more likely to find the values we grew up with in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.’

Via Sam Leith in the Spectator
www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

33 310 1.2K

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

‘So, Mr Candy / Tice / Farage, what values attracted you to the low-tax, oil-rich regimes of the Persian Gulf?’

bsky.app/profile/sund...

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

Party donor Nick Candy says "I cherish the values we grew up with here in the West. But today you are more likely to find the values we grew up with in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.’

Via Sam Leith in the Spectator
www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

3 12 62

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

BBC Newsnight @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social · 1d

“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?”

“Because that’s what they are”

@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.

#Newsnight

130 680 2.1K

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

Jenrick says he admires Heseltine. Bet he won’t actually listen to him though.

bsky.app/profile/andr...

Andrew Sparrow @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social · 1d

Michael Heseltine suggests axing Climate Change Act would be 'act of unforgiveable irresponsibility' by Tories - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

2 3 53

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

Andrew Sparrow @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social · 1d

Michael Heseltine suggests axing Climate Change Act would be 'act of unforgiveable irresponsibility' by Tories - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

7 35 140

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

(This anecdote about Coffey has been told to me by multiple sources and confirms the old adage that even a stopped clock is right twice)

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

I’d expect nothing less from the ASI. Robbie Moore should read some actual legislation and learn that Natural England has been able to compulsorily purchase land since 1949 (but rarely used the power). I’m disappointed Coffey didn’t mention that she wanted to end all intensive farming on the Fens:)

1 1

Reposted by Guy Shrubsole

Adam Bell @adambell.bsky.social · 1d

This is really good. Nothing about the CCA has obliged the Government to go down the centrally planning route the Conservatives now decry. Moreover, the Conservatives were in office for all but two of the first 17 years of the CCA. /1

Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

FACTCHECK: What the Climate Change Act actually means for the UK – and what is a load of old nonsense

Really enjoyed putting this together with colleagues, inc learning new things about the fascinating backstory to the Act

Feat. OG authors of the Act & more

www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-wh...

1 7 17

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

And on agriculture and land use - not to be forgotten!

1