Star comment: Owen Paterson is the correct man for job
Shropshire and countryside communities generally have been crying out for there to be somebody in a relevant role in Government who is of them, understands them and has a finger on the pulse for rural issues.
With North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, a square peg has now been put in a square hole.
An apprenticeship as Northern Ireland Secretary is the toughest going in British politics, and Mr Paterson has distinguished himself by his calm authority.
In David Cameron’s reshuffle, he now becomes Environment Secretary. The full title of this post gives the clue as to why he is particularly suited to it – Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Unlike those who achieve government office and find themselves in roles in which they have no background or experience, Mr Paterson has a lifetime’s experience. In the political sense, his involvement in agricultural issues dates from the time he was first elected in 1997. Later, as shadow minister for agriculture, fisheries and food, he highlighted the growing crisis in the dairy industry caused by bovine TB.
What he brings to the table is understanding and knowledge, but also some good, old-fashioned, Shropshire common sense. These are qualities to be valued in issues such as the debates over wind farms, alternative energy and power pylons across the countryside.
A right winger, expect some friction with his Lib Dem colleagues in this increasingly intemperate coalition agreement. He can be trusted to speak his mind without fear and favour.
Despite reaching the higher echelons of government, he has continued to fulfil his role as a local MP, being prominent in various local campaigns.
His promises to be one of Mr Cameron’s most successful appointments.
Somebody in the heart of government will now be batting for the countryside, which is good news for Shropshire and Mid Wales.
Comments for: "Star comment: Owen Paterson is the correct man for job"
James
'some good, old-fashioned, Shropshire common sense'
Any chance of a definition of this utterly meaningless expression beyond the usual 'what I and my fellow right-wing nut-jobs think is the truth'?
Paterson will be a disaster, as will Hunt (now Health Secretary and a private health-care fanatic), Laws (Minister in the Education Department, having previously resigned over an expenses fiddle - great example to our youth he'll be then) and the new Justice Secretary, who doesn't believe in Human Rights. Oh and Osborne's staying as Chancellor. Last one out turn the lights off....
Adam
James - You'll be a Labour voter then!?
Exactly what makes you think that Paterson will be a disaster?
James
Well I'm no Tory, that's for sure. My 'good old Shropshire common sense' tells me never to trust the blighters. The real joke here is that when Cameron was cycling to the office and putting little wind generators on his roof, there were promises of this being a 'green government'.
So they appoint Paterson, who is a fanatical free-marketeer from what I can make out - anti-environmental regulation, anti-renewables but emphatically FOR a third runway at Heathrow. His family connections aren't promising either, as he's related by marriage to a climate-change sceptic.
I don't deny anyone the right to hold those views but they do suggest he's not actually that interested in the environment. Thus making him the Environment Secretary is a bit like a school appointing a primary school teacher who's told you he/she is indifferent to kids.
Huw Peach
The Conservatives were voted in on a 'Think Green. Vote Blue' ticket, and rapidly declared with their LibDem coalition partners that they were going to be the 'greenest government ever'.
This appointment is a very good example of why people don't trust anything that politicians from the 3 main parties say.
David Cameron: 'man or mouse'?
I would say that, after the recent revelations about ice melt in Greenland and the Arctic, a man would have the inner steel to stick to his election promises and take on the powerful interests denying climate change and pushing aviation expansion.
Instead we've got a mouse, who looks as though he is going to make yet another unprincipled U-turn.
Greens will be watching Mr Paterson's every move.
john
I feel sorry for the countryside now Paterson has been appointed.Hell clear the way for building on green belt land.A disaster for the environment.
Cybernaut
"Somebody in the heart of government will now be batting for the countryside." For farmers, yes, but not for the environment.
David
It would be useful where there is "Shropshire Star Comment" to see who is making this comment - is it the view of an individual who works for the Star or the staff of the paper as a whole ? Not attributing a "view" article like this detracts from the whole exercise.
Moderator
Hello David, the Star comment is sourced from the paper's leader column on page eight each day. It will usually be written by a senior features writer after consultation with the editor.
James
It's also usually written by someone who prefers 'common sense' to actual thought.
Peter
It's pretty clear that in recent weeks, with the revamp of the online copy, the Star has moved significantly to the right.
Its political stance was never balanced, but this crop of leader writers have clearly been delivered in a van from Conservative Central Office.
Defra man
Your Star comment may be right - but a competent advocate of food and farming in the body of Jim Paice lost his job as Minister of State to make way for a bearded liberal to act as Paterson's number two - so all in all staus quo remains.
Grey
How can a man who supports fracking, airport expansion and the slashing of environmental regulations possibly be the right man for the job of environment secretary?
Fred the Red
Re-shuffle all the condem's off a cliff. Still blaming Labour for the deficit yet it's still on the rise under Cameron. More expense fiddlers moved into the cabinet, be warned all members of the Condems think only of therselves