It wasn’t so long ago that people complained that not enough former prime ministers chose to stay on as MPs. However, Rishi Sunak is fast discovering the downside to having one’s predecessors stick around.
Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are reportedly planning to back an attempt led by former Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke to overturn the current restrictions that effectively ban onshore wind farms. After Sunak cancelled Truss’s plans to relax the rules, Clarke, who served under Truss, is tabling an amendment to the Levelling Up Bill.
The Tory battle over planning has been waged for years now
That piece of legislation is fast becoming the battlefield for a war between the two Tory tribes on planning. Clarke’s attempt comes after Theresa Villiers led her own rebellion to scrap house-building targets. She managed to force the government to delay a planned vote after 50 Blue Wall MPs signed her amendment to make house-building targets only advisory.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in