Lee Rowley, who opposed shale gas exploration in his Derbyshire constituency, has been become a junior minister at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
He was appointed in the reshuffle, along with Greg Hands, the new energy and climate change minister.
Mr Rowley also becomes a government whip. He was previously a deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
He tweeted:
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsA huge privilege to be joining @beisgovuk as Minister for Industry – looking forward to working with @KwasiKwarteng on these priorities in the months ahead https://t.co/OqD8DNS6o6
— Lee Rowley (@Lee4NED) September 17, 2021
Mr Rowley has campaigned in and outside Westminster against Ineos plans to drill for shale gas in the village of Marsh Lane. He objected to the scheme at a public inquiry and at a meeting of Derbyshire County Council’s planning committee.
In parliament, he set up and chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fracking and spoke in debates against the process.
A year ago, he called for the retention of the moratorium on fracking in England:
“The strength of feeling in Marsh Lane, the strength of feeling in Eckington parish and the strength of feeling in North East Derbyshire about fracking, about how we need to retain this moratorium remains as strong as it was.”
The planning permission for Marsh Lane expired last month (16 August 2021) without any work being carried out on the site.
Mr Rowley was elected to North East Derbyshire in 2017, defeating the pro-fracking Labour MP, Natascha Engel, on a second attempt.
Before becoming an MP, he worked in financial services and management consultancy, with posts at Barclays, KPMG, Santander and Co-op Insurance. He was a Conservative member of ~Westminster City Council from 2006-2014.
He was the first member of his family to go to university and has degrees in history from Oxford and Manchester.
Greg Hands
Greg Hands moved to BEIS from international trade.
In a tweet, he described energy, clean growth and climate change as “some of the biggest challenges and opportunities” for the government in the approach to the COP26 climate talks in November.
http://charset=utf-8Trade was a great role, but so is Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
— Greg Hands (@GregHands) September 16, 2021
Energy, clean growth and climate change – some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for the Government as we approach #COP26. https://t.co/yLcCY4w28I
Yesterday, he responded to a parliamentary question from Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire about assessments of the environmental impact of new fossil fuel exploration projects, such as the Cambo oil field of the Shetland islands, in the light of recent climate change reports:
“The development proposal from Cambo is being scrutinised in line with robust regulatory procedures and no decision has yet been taken.
“All previously licensed fields, such as Cambo, are accounted for in terms of projected production and estimated emissions and we are confident that they can be developed, even as we seek to achieve our commitment to net zero by 2050. Domestic production of oil and gas out to 2050 remains below that which we will consume in a Net Zero world, according to the Climate Change Committee’s scenarios.”
Mr Hands replaced Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who was promoted to secretary of state for international trade.
He has been a minister since October 2011, with posts as a whip, deputy chief whip, chief secretary to the treasury and minister for trade policy.
In 2015, he voted for more extensive conditions for hydraulic fracturing and greater restrictions on fracking in protected areas. But in the same year, he voted against explicitly requiring an environmental permit for hydraulic fracturing and not to ban exploitation of unconventional petroleum for at least 18 months or to require a review on the impact on climate change, environment, economy and health and safety [Source: TheyWorkForYou.com]
He was elected Conservative MP for Hammersmith and Fulham in 2005 and has held the redrawn Chelsea and Fulham constituency since 2010.
He was a local councillor in Fulham from 1998-2006 and spent eight years in London and New York trading and marketing fixed income derivatives.
He has a first-class degree in modern history from Cambridge University.
DRILL OR DROP? 
Delighted for Mr Rowley, well deserved recognition for his tireless work against fracking and representing his constituents. And very good to know he will work within BEIS.
I hope the government will now take the huge strides to implement the critical changes, no matter how difficult they may be, to tackle climate change and support a greener economy and future.
Im glad you are pleased !!! There are twice as many wished different !!!
Both have degrees in history – really useful in a highly technical department……?
But they have technical and other experts to advise them. No different to Boris being PM or the vast majority of ministers and MPs. Most departments have wide remits, especially one like BEIS, where economics, commerce etc are important alongside energy policy.
Economics, commerce – also not history? This is not specific to the two mentioned above but most MPs across all parties. Our education system needs better emphasis on technical subjects including engineering. Why did Dyson move his factory to Singapore? We have far too many arts graduates in the UK and bigger efforts should be made to encourage young people to follow technical and science subjects. A Classics degree is no grounding for understanding how to run a country in the modern world. Eton should be closed down. Thatcher was the last PM with a science background and really understood the relevant technical issues.
We should model ourselves on Singapore where ministers have relevant experience in the departments they look after.
Lee Kuan Yew:
The single most important factor to national competitiveness … “The quality of a nation’s manpower resources is the single most important factor determining national competitiveness. It is a people’s innovativeness, entrepreneurship, team work, and their work ethic that give them the sharp keen edge in competitiveness. Three attributes are vital in this competition—entrepreneurship to seek out new opportunities and to take calculated risks. Standing still is a sure way to extinction. . . . The second attribute, innovation, is what creates new products and processes that add value. . . . The third factor is good management. To grow, company managements have to open up new markets and create new distribution channels. The economy is driven by the new knowledge, new discoveries in science and technology, innovations that are taken to the market by entrepreneurs. So while the scholar is still the greatest factor in economic progress, he will be so only if he uses his brains—not in studying the great books, classical texts, and poetry, but in capturing and discovering new knowledge, applying himself in research and development, management and marketing, banking and finance, and the myriad of new subjects that need to be mastered.”
Before extending the benefit of the doubt towards Lee Kuan Yews words. The former architect and prime minister of Singapore. It would be wise to know that LKY had a not so well hidden darker side that is not popularly known. Family history and spoken words do not reach public view. To be aware, though, is to be prepared for future times. This is just one report, you may search for more.
https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/darker-side-lee-kuan-yew
Looking at my parents country of birth today, and looking at events here in England. England was at my parents time a haven of comparative sanity in a world gone mad.
I see little of that haven remaining anywhere in the west. To quote LKY without knowing his darker side, is just what he would have applauded. I know what LKY did to my family and many thousands more. It does not sit well in the true history of Singapore. Nor in the west. You are free still to make your own mind.
But where will you go to escape similar events here if you follow his words unaware of the results?
I believe the point was an agreement with those quoted words, YYLee.
There are many I would not generally agree with, but do agree with some of what they state. There are very few who arrive in power who do not have some elements that appeal, otherwise they would not arrive in power if there is even a smattering of democracy. In terms of havens of sanity, then some within havens have started to search for some elements they disagree with and then suggest that disqualifies the whole, or other elements. On that basis it would disqualify all but themselves, and I do not believe that is healthy, or a haven of sanity.
Having visited a few places in the Far East, and Singapore quite a few times for business and leisure, I would still put Singapore at the top of my schedule if I was visiting the area again.
YYLee, I grew up in Singapore in the 1960s when US troops were coming for R&R etc, China Town was still original etc etc. I have been selective in my quote above. The content of this quote is what I would like to see applied to the UK, or England at least. As the article you linked to notes, no one could disagree that he didn’t get this right?
My parents, who learned and spoke English in Singapore schools as well as native Mandarin.
Secretly called Lee Kwan Yew, “Leek On You”.
Now I can’t see or hear his name without seeing and hearing “Leek On You”. It was my parents sense of humour which disabled the awfulness of the reality of being an independently minded Singaporean under LKY.
The English sense of humour was adsorbed along with the English language. Mandarin also can be very humorous. A dangerous meeting of cultures. You have to have the pictograph images in mind and the subtle sounds and the ear to hear them. My parents still make me laugh every time I speak to them.
Today all of us look at our countries and wider to other countries. We wonder if it was more than just Singaporean people that came to England in those days? Did something deeper and less definable travel too? Your words speak of the very attitude that made it worth leaving their own country to get a way from it.
Leek on You may have the last laugh on all of us.
I share your enthusiasm, Paul, but I did note that the drive towards better maths. skills is paying off now-well, apart from on DoD.
There are many now getting good grades in maths. and economics, even those developing a tennis career at the same time. Much better role models than those who ignore education and call for panic and anger. I suspect the new “management” from the shuffle will expect more focus upon such news, as it would appear there is a strong desire for it from those who pay for news to be presented.
Who knows, there may even be transition that takes into account the physics, maths. and economics. If nothing else, Cop is starting to focus some attention upon that, and some in the Commons are starting to ask questions about that. Mr. Hands and Mr. Rowley will need to supply some answers, or acquire them from their teams. Not sure one answer from an energy company of taking off the Green Levy from energy bills and plonking them on general taxation will be an answer that a Minister can go along with, but who knows? My opinion is that the Generals are not that plentiful when it comes to taxation, and it usually falls upon the privates, as there are more of them, and they do like to see what they are paying for.
Lee Rowley, who won his seat because the previous incumbent supported fracking in the constutuency, arrived after the planning permission was already given. There was little he could do that hadn’t already been done by the massive efforts of the local campaign group. Since then, he has been against fracking in HIS constituency but not elesewhere in the UK, and recently refused to vote against a total ban on fracking. He’s a fair-weather antifracker so watch his deeds not his words or PR photo opportunities.
Why the focus upon that, Deborah?
Fracking has a moratorium, unlikely to be lifted for a long time, if at all. So, how is it relevant? Move on.
Paul, perhaps this may cheer you.
https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2021/02/09/more-young-people-are-taking-stem-subjects-than-ever-before/
Yes it does – thank you KatT. I couldn’t see the ratio STEM vs none STEM?
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/food-shortages-looming-after-factory-closures-hit-production-q8sxcs6m0
Not sure of he is aware of the current crisis facing by the food industry.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58605735
“The government is holding urgent talks with representatives from the energy industry amid growing concern about a spike in wholesale gas prices.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is talking to gas suppliers and others this weekend to hear how wide-reaching the impact of surging prices could be.
High global demand, maintenance issues at some gas sites and lower solar and wind output are blamed for the rise.
The high prices have already led two large UK fertiliser plants to close.”
So wind / solar are not the answer? Clearly we need to decrease gas usage but how? Looking forward to reading the LibDems Geologist’s solution.
Going to be an interesting winter.
Told to ventilate to keep control of Covid.
However, both heating and eating for keeping warm will rocket in price.
Balancing that equation will be a problem. There will be those who, as usual, have no suggestions as to how to balance it, and that will concentrate a lot of minds. Always going to become the issue, not silly gimmicks like causing mayhem regarding insulation, just when the public is being told to keep windows open.
LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
Fracking will NOT be beneficial to the UK , in fact it will be totally the opposite.
Just take a look over the pond to the USA.
Take your pick , of the many articles from professional organizations / bodies of people that state , Fracking is nothing more than a toxic, environmentally damaging, climate changing , debt ridden ponzi scheme and that’s looking at from the USA , a country with almost ZERO regulations.
How can an industry that leaves the tax payer with a debt ridden , toxic legacy be good for any country ??????
Knowing these well documented dangers , you have to ask yourself , what sort of person would want to inflict this sort of damage on ordinary folk ??????
Maybe Fracking company employees, Paid PR agents, private investors .
Jack, you are out of touch. Please keep up. No shale fracking in the UK, there is an indefinite moratorium remember?
PAUL TRESTO
I NEVER said there was any UK FRACKING.
BUT , I have been reading the creeping of fear tactics being administered on this site by certain forum members over the last few days , I was just wanting to put the main issues regarding this industry forward .
Oh Jack!
Toxic legacy?
Well, Jack, perhaps have a word with those in DRC who have a toxic legacy. Not from fracking, but EVs.
Who would want to inflict that on children?
Maybe paid agents, who can’t even keep up with the UK fracking moratorium? Afraid your record is scratched.
Did like my records though, good old vinyl. Looks as if many in UK are currently finding out what gas produces, as well.
(By the way, Jack, there are also many articles from the USA from those who support fracking. And, with oil and gas prices rising, there should be a whole new flush of them. So, fertile ground (if fertilizers can be made) for the renewable company employees, paid PR agents, private investors and exporting countries.)
MARTIN , how you doing old chap ?
Good I hope .
Although I’ve not contributed to the forum page for sometime , I have been reading through the posts . I must admit , yours are still the most entertaining.
Do you dispute the toxic legacy of Fracking ?????
Jack as always , will be more than delighted to enlighten you with the facts , just ask .