George Eustice

Mapped: Boris Johnson's Cabinet and the Tufton Street Lobbying Network

Read time: 14 mins

Richard Collett-White and Mat Hope | February 13, 2020

By Richard Collett-White and Mat Hope • Thursday, February 13, 2020 - 21:46

Boris Johnson Tufton Street map

Boris Johnson has retained a core of ministers linked to a lobbying network pushing to weaken the UK’s environmental regulations in his first cabinet reshuffle since the general election. But the day also saw a number of high-profile sackings, potentially weakening the network’s influence in Downing Street.

While there are few outright climate science deniers in Johnson’s cabinet, a number of ministers have strong ties to groups based in and around Westminster's Tufton Street, with many special advisers (SPADs) being alumni of organisations attached to the address.

Environment Secretary George Eustice: A Farmers' Favourite With a Patchy Record on Climate Action

Read time: 3 mins

Sophie Yeo | February 13, 2020

By Sophie Yeo • Thursday, February 13, 2020 - 17:59

George Eustice

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed a pro-Brexit former farming minister described as a “real countryman” with a patchy voting record on climate action as new Environment Secretary. 

Cornish MP George Eustice has been given the role after working as a junior minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) since 2015. So, unlike some ministers taking up new roles today, he will already be well acquainted with the issues and debates associated with the brief. He replaces Theresa Villiers, who was removed during the morning’s ministerial cull.

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