Michael Gove’s voting record: 12 reasons why Gove is bad for the environment

Environment Secretary Michael Gove arrives at 10 Downing Street in London for a Cabinet meeting. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

Voting records reveal the new Environment Secretary and Surrey Heath MP has voted against many green issues

Chief Brexiteer Michael Gove is back in the Cabinet after being sacked by Theresa May last year.

We take a look at the new environment minister’s voting record when it comes to climate change, wildlife and the environment:

1. 17 Oct 2012: Michael Gove voted against requiring the UK Green Investment Bank to explicitly act in support of the target of reducing UK carbon emissions to 20% of 1990 levels by 2050.

2. On 17 Oct 2012: Michael Gove voted in favour of establishing a Green Investment Bank, strengthening copyright law relating to commercialised works, encouraging employment disputes to be settled outside of tribunals, and other business related reforms.

3. On 3 Jun 2013: Michael Gove voted not to exempt electricity generation plants using carbon capture and storage technology from annual carbon dioxide emissions limits during a commissioning and proving period of up to three years.

4. On 4 Jun 2013: Michael Gove voted against requiring the setting of a target range for the amount of carbon dioxide (or other greenhouse gases) produced per unit of electricity generated.

5. On 4 Jun 2013: Michael Gove voted against allowing financial incentives for small-scale low-carbon generation of electricity to be paid to plants which were previously too big to be eligible.

6. 5 Jun 2013: Michael Gove voted in favour of culling badgers in an effort to control bovine

7. On 4 Dec 2013: Michael Gove voted against allowing carbon dioxide emissions limits to be set in respect of existing stations which fit pollution abatement equipment.

8. On 26 Jan 2015: Michael Gove voted against explicitly requiring an environmental permit for hydraulic fracturing activities.

9. On 14 Jul 2015: Michael Gove voted to apply the tax on non-domestic electricity supplies known as the climate change levy to electricity generated from renewable sources.

10. On 8 Sep 2015: Michael Gove voted to apply the Climate Change Levy tax to electricity generated from renewable sources.

11. On 26 Oct 2015: Michael Gove voted against charging the first year rate of vehicle tax, which varies substantially based on carbon dioxide emissions, for the subsequent two years as well; against a variable rate of vehicle tax based on carbon dixoide emissions for vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2017 and to charge additional tax on vehicles costing over £40,000.

12. On 3 May 2016: Michael Gove voted not to reduce the permitted carbon dioxide emission rate of new homes.