Robert Buckland Weblog

I have been very saddened to see that the Australian Liberal Party is busy tearing itself apart over climate change.  The ousting of the talented (albeit Republican) Malcolm Turnbull as their leader came after six members of his Shadow Cabinet quit over a deal he wanted to do with the Government accepting a package to set up an emissions trading scheme.  The political effect of this schism will be a dismal showing at the likely Australian General Election and an easy victory for Kevin Rudd, I suspect.  It may well be that the Labor Party knew that such a scheme would prove to be very divisive within the rural heartland of the Liberal/National coalition which is why they have done it now.

The impression being given to the world is that this is a debate about the fundamentals of Climate Change itself, rather than a specific measure that may or may not have a beneficial effect.   In the UK, there are some signs of a more fundamental debate about Climate Change.   My view is that the evidence demonstrates that human activity does affect climate; the issue for me is how best can we mitigate its effects and whether or not the major polluters will take a lead rather than lag behind.

The news that Carwyn Jones has become Leader of the Welsh Labour Party and putative First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government came as no surprise to the pundits.  It is of particular interest to me because I have known Carwyn for twenty years, having debated against him as a student and appeared against him many times as Counsel in Swansea Crown Court.   He is an engaging and likeable person who has done extremely well in a Party that is well short of real talent.  On a personal level,  I wish him well.  On a political level, it will be extremely interesting to see whether or not he can resist returning to the tired old rhetoric of Labour politicians in Wales faced with a potential Tory Government in London.  Moaning about wicked Tories is no longer good enough when Wales has devolved Government.