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The Latest Breaking News from Defra

Watchdog investigating whether Defra breaking laws on cleaning up English rivers

Office for Environmental Protection says targets for water quality likely to be missed, and clarifying rules may help

The Guardian - UK

Steve Reed branded ‘Where’s Wally’ as he is accused of ‘ducking scrutiny’

The Environment Secretary also failed to guarantee that his budget won’t see further cuts, ahead of the Chancellor’s spring statement next week.

Evening Standard

‘Polygamous working’ civil servant held multiple jobs, UK investigation finds

National Fraud Initiative report for Cabinet Office identified Defra employee also being paid by DHSC for full-time role

The Guardian - UK

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Richest farmers in England may lose sustainability funding in Defra review

Exclusive: Officials explore restricting incentive to allocate greater funds to farms with less money and more nature

The Guardian - UK

Starmer accused of ‘holding farmers in contempt’ after axing post-Brexit payment

Fury has erupted after an incentive for farmers is cancelled following the ongoing row over the tractor tax on inheritance

The Independent UK

Fury as Defra closes key nature-friendly farming scheme to new applicants

The abrupt move is described as ‘another shattering blow’ to the sector, which is already at loggerheads with Government.

Evening Standard

Ditches and canals are a big, yet overlooked, source of greenhouse gas emissions – new study

It’s a cold winter morning in the bleak and bare arable fields of the East Anglian fens. At the edge of a field, a scientist dips a long pole into a ditch. So, what is a climate researcher doing here?

The Conversation

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‘Slavish’ catch limits ignored scientific advice, say conservationists in case against Defra

Blue Marine Foundation charity asks high court to declare quota decision unlawful amid concern over sustainability of fish stocks

The Guardian - UK

Promise to phase out lead from UK game shooting has failed, study finds

Vow in 2020 aimed to keep shot out of human food chain but study finds most game carcasses still contain lead

The Guardian - UK

Government went against scientific advice in setting fishing quotas, court told

Blue Marine Foundation is bringing legal action saying the quotas contribute to a long-term decline in fish stocks and fishers’ employment.

Evening Standard

Government says it will not ‘water down’ single malt whisky definition

Scotch whisky producers said an application by Defra for protected status for English single malt would be ‘very damaging’ for the Scottish industry.

Evening Standard

Farmers worried if they will make it to 2026 amid ‘cashflow crisis’, says NFU

Union conference dominated by row over planned inheritance tax changes as farmers battle the bad weather and turbulent geopolitics

The Guardian - UK

Warning over ‘devastating’ plans that could change Scotch whisky forever

Mairi Gourgon described Scotch whisky as ‘one of our greatest exports’ as she pledged to raise the issue with Defra

The Independent UK

English malt plans could be ‘devastating’ for Scotch whisky, Gougeon warns

The Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary is to raise concerns over a proposed definition of English single malt with UK ministers.

Evening Standard

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The Fashion Central

Keir Starmer’s government caught at the centre of another corruption scandal

A new controversy has erupted as the UK government faces renewed accusations of manipulating science to justify the mass killing of badgers.

The Guardian - UK

Habitat banks: how law to boost wildlife in England is faring one year in

Developers must now offset damage to nature by achieving a 10% biodiversity net gain – but is buying up pockets of land and rewilding them the answer?

The Guardian - UK

Thames Water chairman accused of conflict of interest over £37m share dividend payment

Defra officials concerned about ‘conflicted position’ of Sir Adrian Montague over dual role chairing holding company

The Independent UK

Dangerous meat could appear in UK’s supermarkets, Tories warn

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins urged the Government to adequately fund food security checks at Dover port.

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The Independent UK

Scheme for developers to boost nature ‘failing’ in first year, campaigners warn

The amount of land delivering ‘biodiversity net gain’ linked to developments is falling well short of expectations, research suggests.

The Independent UK

New bird flu restrictions to cover all of England and Scotland

Strict new rules are now in place

Evening Standard

Bird flu restrictions to cover England and Scotland as number of cases rise

Strict bird flu restrictions have been put in place for the whole of England amid rise in cases

The Guardian - UK

Thames Water rescuers seek clean break before committing fresh funds

Exclusive: Some bidders demand temporary renationalisation to help cut debts and oust bosses

Evening Standard

Government refuses emergency use of banned bee-killing pesticide on sugar beet

Application had been made to use neonicotinoid thiamethoxam to protect sugar beet against damaging virus-carrying aphids.

Evening Standard

Rules to curb harmful underwater noise in offshore wind construction unveiled

The measures aim to reduce the impact that detonating old unexploded ordnance and installing turbines can have on marine animals.

The Guardian - UK

UK failing to match EU in fight against ‘forever chemicals’, say scientists

Experts criticise Defra’s decision not to use OECD definition of PFAS, with one asking if move is ‘politically based’

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