Chris Packham expressed his disappointment over the lack of discussion about climate in Rachel Reeves ' new Budget. On Wednesday (October 30), the Chancellor unveiled a debut budget plan that includes £40 billion ($51.8 billion) worth of tax rises to plug a hole in the public finances.
Ms Reeves also detailed increases to capital gains tax and private school fees, a freeze on fuel duty and the abolition of the controversial "non-dom" tax regime. The politician announced a number of changes in the government's budget, however, failed to mention anything about the current climate, leaving Springwatch presenter Packham "extremely disappointed". Speaking to Times Radio, the 63-year-old said: "Well in fact Rachel Reeves didn't even use the words climate or nature in the whole of the budget which was extremely disappointing given our climate breakdown situation, biodiversity loss.
He continued: "But what I would have liked to have seen and I'm sure many others was you know more money going into DEFRA, more money going into those statutory agencies like the Environment Agency and Natural England so that they have the resources to do the work we want them to do." Packham also called out Ofwat, the body responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, claiming it has "failed abominably" in carrying out its duty. The naturalist declared: "We are all pretty intent that we'd like to see Ofwat torn up and started again.
I mean Ofwat .
