New government: Who’s Who
The new government taking shape so Who’s in charge of the planning-related departments?
Eric Pickles: secretary of state for communities and local government
Official Biog: Pickle’s official biog on his website begins with the following quote by Daily Mail journalist Benedict Brogan: “If you ever start to worry that Dave’s Conservatives are all soft-cheeked trendy toffs, take a moment to admire the girth, the stout cloth, dammit, even the tie-clip of this briny, plain-speaking, subtle, human politician.” Praise indeed. Today’s nationals describe Pickles as “plain speaking” on two occasions. A Tory John Prescott?
Some odd stuff about pickled eggs on wikepedia.
Phillip Hammond: secretary of state for transport
Official biog: Interests include Reading, Cinema and Hill-walking in Scotland. “Philip resolved to stand for Parliament when he realised that the Thatcher/Major era would come to an end with much work remaining undone. He believed that it would take another Conservative Government to successfully build on the economic reforms of the 1980s and deliver real social change in Britain.” Depending on your political viewpoint this is either heartwarming or terrifying.
Wikedpedia trivia: “He has had many business interests including house building and property, manufacturing, healthcare and oil and gas. He has undertaken various consulting assignments in Latin America for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and was a consultant to the government of Malawi from 1995 until his election to parliament.” No mention of train sets.
Caroline Spelman: secretary of state for environment food and rural affairs
Official Biog: “Career: Sugar Beet Commodity Secretary, National Farmers Union 1981 – 1984; Deputy Director, International Confederation of European Beetgrowers, Paris, 1984-1989; Research Fellow, Centre for European Agricultural Studies, 1989-1993; Director, Spelman, Cormack and Associates, Food and Biotechnology Consultancy 1989.” Knows her onions.
Was involved in the ‘nannygate’ scandal in 2008.
Chris Huhne: secretary of state for energy and climate change
Official biog: “Chris was a financial and economic journalist for nineteen years at the Guardian, Independent and the Economist. He also founded one of the City’s largest teams of economists advising pension funds on overseas investments.” Reportedly a multi-millionaire. Opposed to nuclear power but is now energy and climate change minister. Work that one out.
Jeremy Hunt: secretary of state for Culture Olypics Media and Sport
Official biog: A Japanese speaker, Hunt “set up his own educational publishing business, Hotcourses. The company, which employs over 200 people, has become the UK’s largest publisher of guides and websites to help people find the right course or college.”
Good luck to them all. They’ll need it.
What do you think the new government will mean for planning?
