Where’s Boris Johnson over Yorkshire floods summit? – The Yorkshire Post says

EVEN THOUGH the Government has now set a belated date for a floods summit, albeit nearly a year after Boris Johnson first made just such an undertaking to victims, it still needs to demonstrate that it is not selling affected residents down the proverbial river.
By YP Comment
Published 30th Sep 2020, 11:50 BST
Boris Johnson took time out from the election campaign last November to meet flooding victims in South Yorkshire. Photo: James Hardisty.Boris Johnson took time out from the election campaign last November to meet flooding victims in South Yorkshire. Photo: James Hardisty.
Boris Johnson took time out from the election campaign last November to meet flooding victims in South Yorkshire. Photo: James Hardisty.

That much is clear after Defra appeared to pre-empt tonight’s Commons debate on flooding, which is being led by Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis MP, by confirming that Environment Secretary George Eustice will chair a virtual meeting of key stakeholders on Thursday week (October 8). At least Mr Eustice will be fully appraised of the issues, like affordable insurance and uneven distribution of national funds, if he responds in person to Mr Jarvis rather than leaving it to to Rebecca Pow, his junior Minister.

This newspaper, for one, will be keeping a watching brief because it is far from clear that Defra grasps the seriousness of the situation after Boris Johnson decreed, erroneously, that the South Yorkshire floods were not a national emergency.

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They were and it’s only a matter of time before this area counts the cost of future floods, hence why the PM should try and find the time to make a short opening address to the summit to set out his own expectations. That will certainly help to concentrate minds.

Boris Johnson promised to chair a Yorkshire-wide flooding summit when he visited the region last November.Boris Johnson promised to chair a Yorkshire-wide flooding summit when he visited the region last November.
Boris Johnson promised to chair a Yorkshire-wide flooding summit when he visited the region last November.

It’s also noted that meeting will only cover South Yorkshire. Yet the original agreement was for a region-wide summit because river catchment areas need to be considered in their entirety and every part of this county is at risk. It’s not too late for Ministers to also recognise this.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

Related topics:George EusticeDan JarvisYorkshire PostBoris JohnsonYorkshireGovernmentRebecca PowDEFRASheffield City Region

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