In 2020, I was elected Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Environment, a parliamentary group dedicated to strengthening the influence of parliamentarians on public policy and public debate on the environment and assisting parliamentarians by improving their access to specialist information.
As Chairman, it was a delight to watch this group grow and develop. With the sterling help of the Green Alliance, an independent think tank and charity that works with legislators from all parties to promote ambitious leadership for the environment, the APPG became one of the largest and most active groups in Parliament.
It allowed me access to policy makers of all levels, including the Prime Minister, to pursue my passion for protecting our environment.
In 2022, I stepped down as Chairman to focus on my new role as Chairman of the 1922 Backbench Treasury Committee. I remain a Vice Chairman of the APPG, and regularly host and participate in sessions and meetings of the group.
What is an All-Party Parliamentary Group?
All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.
Personal highlights as Chairman of the APPGE
- Bringing in the Green Alliance as APPGE Secretariat, who have helped develop and deliver an ambitious agenda of meetings, events, and debates.
- Delivering a programme of events that included meetings with the President of COP 26, former Chairman of the Bank of England, the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, several government ministers, and a number of charity/pressure groups & industry experts.
- Attending the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, as part of a programme of APPG organised events for MPs from around the world to discuss and learn from each other how to influence Governments to do more to tackle climate change
- Worked with MPs from across all parties in debates both in the Chamber of the House of Commons and Westminster Hall
- Helped formulate policy with senior ministers, including on contentious issues such as Sewage Discharge.
Personal highlights as a Vice-Chairman of the APPG
- Chaired a number of events with policy makers, experts and ministers.
- Took part in a debate with Director Adam McKay and other MPs following the sucess of his award winning film Dont Look Up.