Steve Barclay, the UK’s environment secretary, has been questioned over his role in a proposed waste incinerator in his constituency, according to information obtained by the BBC. While Barclay opposes the plant, he also will not have any say in the project as Mark Spencer, a junior minister, will make the decision. Officials raised concerns about a perceived conflict between Barclay’s constituency and ministerial roles and the matter was escalated to the Cabinet Office’s ethics unit, who discussed it with Barclay.
The proposed incinerator in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, would be one of Europe’s largest waste-to-energy plants, burning non-recyclable waste for local industrial use. However, it has faced opposition from several local MPs, as well as five nearby councils and campaigners, due to concerns about the increased traffic, air pollution, visual impact, and smell of the project. Initial proposals were submitted in December 2019 and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero approved the plant last month, following a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate.
Moving forward, the scheme will require a permit from the Environment Agency, which is sponsored by Barclay’s environment department. This has raised concerns about a potential breach of the ministerial code by Labour, who has called for Barclay to publish any correspondence he has had with the Environment Agency about the incinerator. While Barclay is one of the government’s most experienced ministers and has held cabinet positions under Theresa May and Boris Johnson, a government spokesperson confirmed that he has been recused from the decision.
While the ethics unit has discussed the matter with Barclay, he remains firmly opposed to the incinerator being built in his constituency. It remains to be seen how the permitting process will develop and whether any further action will be taken in response to the concerns raised
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