Facing up to flooding facts

The conclusion of today’s Parliamentary report into the latest floods to afflict large swathes of Britain could not be clearer. “Ministers must take action now to avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by the winter floods,” writes North Yorkshire MP Anne McIntosh, who heads the environment select committee.

The conclusion of today’s Parliamentary report into the latest floods to afflict large swathes of Britain could not be clearer. “Ministers must take action now to avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by the winter floods,” writes North Yorkshire MP Anne McIntosh, who heads the environment select committee.

Her assessment is correct. Though Ministers are powerless to prevent all occurrences of flooding, the failure of this Government – and previous administrations – to be more decisive is certainly exacerbating the difficulties in those unfortunate communities that are prone to rising water levels.

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The issue, however, is one of finance, and how David Cameron’s coalition can come to terms with decades of under-investment in flood defences at a time when the Environment Agency is having to shed staff because of financial pressures. Miss McIntosh says “maintenance funding remains at a bare minimum” – but what would MPs cut in order to increase funding on the dredging of swollen rivers or other remedial action?

Until pecuniary matters are resolved, it will be difficult for Defra to start planning for the future and looking at how it can maximise its resources – especially if it is to heed the committee’s call not to turn more farmland into flood plains because of the financial repercussions for the agricultural industry.

However, unresolved questions of finance should not stop Ministers from applying a flood test to every future planning application that is submitted to a local authority. There should now be an assumption that it is up to the applicant to demonstrate that their scheme has adequate drainage and is not going to be built in a flood-risk area. If there is any doubt, the matter should be deferred until a solution can be found. It is the only way forward if attitudes toward the need for flood prevention are to change.

Boris versus Blair

Insults will not solve Iraq crisis

BORIS Johnson’s vicious verbal attack on Tony Blair – the Mayor of London describes the ex-premier as “mad”, “bonkers” and in need of “professional psychiatric help” – takes the conduct of politics to a new low.

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Name-calling is not a new phenomenon, it is now the substitute for policy at Prime Minister’s Questions, but such language does nothing to enhance the credibility of Mr Johnson’s argument. He did not need to question the sanity of Mr Blair to make his point about the legacy emanating from the divisive decision in 2003 to overthrow Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Mr Blair’s weekend critique of the sectarian uprising in Iraq, and the wider turmoil in the Middle East, was certainly ill-advised. He needs to realise that military intervention by the West should not be the de facto response to every crisis, even though the West’s collective failure to halt the tyranny of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria is a lingering scar on the conscience of the world.

As such, three points need to be made as the world comes to terms with gruesome, blood-curdling images purporting to show Isis jihadists executing Iraqi soldiers. First, the use of insulting phrases detracts from the urgency of the need to halt the current bloodshed. Second, Mr Johnson would be the first to throw a hissy fit if such terminology was used against his friend David Cameron. Third, the Mayor needs to be reminded, gently, that he was among those Conservative MPs who voted in favour of the Iraq invasion. If it was so mistaken, why did he not ask more searching questions at the time about Mr Blair’s motives? Hindsight can work both ways.

Harewood’s heart

Estate breathes the countryside

AN EMBLEMATIC location which will be showcased to the world on day one of the Tour de France, it is a magnificent coup that Harewood House is to host the three-day CLA Game Show next summer.

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This historic home is indicative of the importance of the work undertaken by the Country Land and Business Association to protect Britain’s countryside for future generations.

This will be the first time that the event has been held at Harewood since 2003 – extreme weather led the 2007 show being cancelled – but its importance to the rural economy should not be discounted. Upwards of 140,000 visitors are expected to visit the 1,000 trade stands that will showcase the very best in country sports, fashion and food. And the benefits to Yorkshire’s rural economy? A windfall in the region of £30m. As David Lascelles, the Earl of Harewood, said, the Yorkshire countryside is a “living, breathing and working place” which should be cherished by all. We couldn’t agree more.