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[[Category:Labour Members of Parliament]]
[[Category:Labour Members of Parliament]]

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{{Infobox MP
{{Infobox MP
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|image = Official portrait of Barry Gardiner crop 2.jpg
|image = Official portrait of Barry Gardiner crop 2.jpg
|caption =
|caption =
|office = [[Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade]]
|office = Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade
|leader = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
|leader = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
|term_start = 20 July 2016
|term_start = 20 July 2016
Line 13: Line 18:
|successor =
|successor =
|1blankname = Shadowing
|1blankname = Shadowing
|1namedata = [[Liam Fox]]
|1namedata = Liam Fox
|office1 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change]]
|office1 = Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
|leader1 = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
|leader1 = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
|term_start1 = 27 June 2016
|term_start1 = 27 June 2016
|term_end1 = 8 October 2016
|term_end1 = 8 October 2016
|predecessor1 = [[Lisa Nandy]]
|predecessor1 = [[Lisa Nandy]]
|successor1 = [[Clive Lewis (politician)|Clive Lewis]] {{small|([[Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy|Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]])}}
|successor1 = [[Clive Lewis]] {{small|(Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)}}
|office2 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Brent North (UK Parliament constituency)|Brent North]]
|office2 = Member of Parliament<br>for [[Brent North]]
|term_start2 = 1 May 1997
|term_start2 = 1 May 1997
|term_end2 =
|term_end2 =
|predecessor2 = [[Rhodes Boyson]]
|predecessor2 = Rhodes Boyson
|successor2 =
|successor2 =
|majority2 = 17,061 (30.2%)
|majority2 = 17,061 (30.2%)
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|3|10|df=y}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|3|10|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_place =
|party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|party =
|spouse = Caroline Anne Smith
|spouse =
|children = 4
|children =
|alma_mater =
|alma_mater = [[University of St Andrews]]<br>[[Harvard University]]<br>[[Corpus Christi College, Cambridge]]
|website = {{url|barrygardiner.com|Official website}}
|website = {{url|barrygardiner.com|Official website}}
}}
}}
</div>
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'''Barry Strachan Gardiner''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}} (born 10 March 1957) is a British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician who has been the [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Brent North (UK Parliament constituency)|Brent North]] since [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997]]. He served as a junior minister in the [[Northern Ireland Office]], the [[Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry]], the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] and finally in the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]].<ref name=twfy>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/barry_gardiner/brent_north|publisher=Theyworkforyou.com|title=Barry Gardiner:Former Labour MP for Brent North|accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref>
</div>


==Background==
Barry Gardiner, the son of Olympic [[Association football|footballer]], [[John Gardiner (footballer, born 1911)|John Gardiner]]<ref name=barry>{{cite web|url=http://www.barrygardiner.com/index.php/meet-barry-gardiner|title=Barry Gardiner: Meet Barry Gardiner|accessdate=8 August 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910163500/http://www.barrygardiner.com/index.php/meet-barry-gardiner|archivedate=10 September 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> was born in [[Glasgow]], Scotland. His mother trained as a surgeon and was the first woman to win the gold medal for surgery at Glasgow University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrygardiner.com/about|title=About|publisher=}}</ref> He was educated at the [[High School of Glasgow]], [[Haileybury College]] and the [[University of St Andrews]] where he received an [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|MA]]. He then served for two years as full-time Scottish Regional Secretary of the [[Student Christian Movement of Great Britain|Student Christian Movement]].


⚫
'''Barry Strachan Gardiner''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}} (born 10 March 1957) has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for [[Brent North]] since 1997. He served as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Office, the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry, the Department of Trade and Industry and finally in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
In 1983, he was awarded a [[Kennedy Memorial Trust]] scholarship to study Philosophy at [[Harvard University]]<ref name=barry /> under [[John Rawls]], returning to research at [[Corpus Christi College, Cambridge]] for three years from 1984. He also worked as a senior partner in [[shipping insurance]] and [[arbitration]] before his election to [[Palace of Westminster|parliament]].<ref name=barry />

He was elected as a councillor to [[Cambridge City Council]] in 1988 becoming the mayor of the city in 1992,<ref name=parl>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/barry-gardiner/25651 |title=Barry Gardiner: Brent North |publisher=Parliament.uk |accessdate=8 August 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826143934/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/barry-gardiner/25651 |archivedate=26 August 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> the youngest mayor in the city's 800-year history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barry Gardiner |url=http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Brent+North/Barry+Gardiner |accessdate=20 October 2011 |newspaper=The Telegraph |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403073228/http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Brent%2BNorth/Barry%2BGardiner |archivedate=3 April 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> He left the council in 1994.<ref name=parl />


==Parliamentary career==
==Parliamentary career==


===Election===
===Election===
Gardiner contested the [[London]] constituency of [[Brent North]] at the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]] defeating the incumbent [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP [[Rhodes Boyson]] by 4,019 votes. Following his election as MP for Brent North, Gardiner moved from Cambridge to Hertfordshire. He made his [[maiden speech]] on 4 July 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=1997-06-20a.554.2|title=House of Commons debates ..Health Services (London), 20 June 1997|accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref>
Gardiner contested the London constituency of [[Brent North]] at the 1997 general election defeating the incumbent Conservative MP Rhodes Boyson by 4,019 votes. Following his election as MP for Brent North, Gardiner moved from Cambridge to Hertfordshire.


===Committee work===
===Committee work===
⚫
He served on four select committee]]s, the Procedure Committee and the Select Committee on Broadcasting, the Public Accounts Committee and the Joint Committee on Consolidation of Bills.
In the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] he served on four [[Select Committee (Westminster System)|select committee]]s, the
⚫
[[Procedure Committee]] and the Select Committee on Broadcasting, the [[Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|Public Accounts Committee]] and the Joint Committee on Consolidation of Bills.<ref name=parl />
⚫
He was Chair of the PLP Departmental Committee for Culture, Media and Sport and Vice-chair of the PLP Departmental Committee for the Treasury.<ref name=parl />
⚫
He was the Chairman of the Labour Friends of [[India]], and has lectured at the Academy of National Economy in [[Moscow]]. He is a former Vice-chair of [[Labour Friends of Israel]].


⚫
He was Chair of the PLP Departmental Committee for Culture, Media and Sport and Vice-chair of the PLP Departmental Committee for the Treasury.
⚫
===Government and ministerial appointments===
⚫
He became the [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Minister of State]] at the [[Home Office]], [[Beverley Hughes]] in 2002. In 2004 he was appointed the [[Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] at the [[Northern Ireland Office]], moving to the same position at the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] following the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 General Election]]. He moved to DEFRA at the May 2006 reshuffle and left the Government in June 2007.


⚫
He was the Chairman of the Labour Friends of India, and has lectured at the Academy of National Economy in Moscow. He is a former Vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.
The new [[Prime Minister]] [[Gordon Brown]] appointed him as his special representative on forestry in July 2007.<ref name=barry /> He left this role "by mutual consent" on 13 September 2008 after joining other Labour MPs in declaring that an MP should stand against Gordon Brown. He accused Brown of "vacillation, loss of international credibility and timorous political manoeuvres that the public cannot understand".<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/2962377/Barry-Gardiner-latest-MP-to-be-sacked-for-plotting-against-Gordon-Brown.html |title=Barry Gardiner latest MP to be sacked for plotting against Gordon Brown |date=15 September 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2 May 2010 |first1=James |last1=Kirkup |first2=Andrew |last2=Porter |location= London}}</ref>


⚫
===Government and ministerial appointments===
Gardiner was described by [[Andrew Roth]] in ''[[The Guardian]]'' as "One of the best educated and most internationally experienced MPs".<ref name=andy>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/person/1868/barry-gardiner |title=Barry Gardiner: Electoral history and profile |work=The Guardian|accessdate=25 April 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100512065535/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/person/1868/barry-gardiner |archivedate=12 May 2010}}</ref>
⚫
He became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Home Office, Beverley Hughes in 2002. In 2004 he was appointed the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, moving to the same position at the Department of Trade and Industry following the 2005 General Election. He moved to DEFRA at the May 2006 reshuffle and left the Government in June 2007.

===Expenses===
Gardiner's expenses in 2008–2009 were ranked 129 out of 647 MPs whilst his 2007–2008 expenses were ranked 369.<ref name=twfy />
Gardiner claimed for a second home<ref name=twfy /> despite his constituency being near Westminster and his wife worked for him as an Office Manager/Executive Secretary.<ref>{{cite web|author=House of Commons |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/090506/p2memi02.htm |title=House of Commons - Register of Members' Interests |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk |date= |accessdate=19 July 2016}}</ref>
New expenses rules published by the [[Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority]] coming into force after the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 General Election]] allow employment of one relative but replace funding for a second home with a London Allowance of £3,760 for MPs with seats within 20 miles of Westminster.<ref name=BBCexp>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8587661.stm|title=MPs' expenses: Old rules v new rules |publisher=BBC News|date=29 March 2010|accessdate=25 April 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100401125805/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8587661.stm| archivedate= 1 April 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Those who keep their seats and already own a second home will have profits "recouped".<ref name=BBCexp />

The Legg Report requested that Gardiner repay £174.17 for mortgage interest overpaid in 2005–06 though he voluntarily repaid £15,404.07 by April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmmemest/348/348.pdf|title=Review of past ACA payments|author=Sir Thomas Legg|date=2 February 2010|accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref>


===Post-election 2010===
===Post-election 2010===
⚫
In opposition he has served as a shadow minister and shadow cabinet minister in a number of positions. As shadow Environment minister, Gardiner criticised the lack of prosecutions of leading players ten months after David Cameron promised that everything possible would be done to deal with crime relating to the horse meat scandal. "The extraordinary thing is that because of its clout, industry has been able to commit what appears to be a criminal offence – selling the public horsemeat falsely labelled as beef – and just say they are sorry and didn't know".
[[File:Barry Gardiner, 2016 Labour Party Conference 1.jpg|upright|thumb|Gardiner giving his speech at the 2016 [[Labour Party (UK) Conference|Labour Party Conference]]]]

He nominated [[David Miliband]] in the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2010]], but did not nominate anyone in the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2015|2015]] or [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2016|2016]] contests.

⚫
In opposition he has served as a shadow minister and shadow cabinet minister in a number of positions. As shadow Environment minister, Gardiner criticised the lack of prosecutions of leading players ten months after David Cameron promised that everything possible would be done to deal with crime relating to the [[2013 meat adulteration scandal|horse meat scandal]]. "The extraordinary thing is that because of its clout, industry has been able to commit what appears to be a criminal offence – selling the public horsemeat falsely labelled as beef – and just say they are sorry and didn't know".<ref name=felicity>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/22/horsemeat-scandal-guardian-investigation-public-secrecy |title=Where did the 29% horse in your Tesco burger come from?|work=The Guardian |location= London |date=22 October 2013|author=Lawrence, Felicity |accessdate=22 October 2013}}</ref>


===Environmental concerns===
===Environmental concerns===
Barry Gardiner was appointed as Shadow Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries in July 2013. He had previously held the role of Minister for Biodiversity in the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs in 2006 and 2007, and had served as [[Ed Miliband]]'s Special Envoy for Environment and Climate Change between 2011 and 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barry Gardiner appointed shadow minister for natural environment|url=http://www.edie.net/news/6/Barry-Gardiner-appointed-shadow-minister-for-natural-environment/24912/|website=www.edie.net|accessdate=23 September 2015|date=4 July 2013}}</ref>
Barry Gardiner was appointed as Shadow Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries in July 2013. He had previously held the role of Minister for Biodiversity in the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs in 2006 and 2007, and had served as [[Edward Miliband]]'s Special Envoy for Environment and Climate Change between 2011 and 2013.

⚫
In June 2013, Conservative MP [[Tim Yeo]] and Barry Gardiner jointly tabled an amendment to the UK [[Energy Act 2013|Energy Bill]] which proposed establishing by 2014 a [[low-carbon economy|decarbonisation]] target for the UK’s electricity generating sector, to be achieved by 2030. The amendment was narrowly defeated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Decarbonisation amendment defeated in the Commons|url=http://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1185066/decarbonisation-amendment-defeated-commons|website=www.planningresource.co.uk|accessdate=23 September 2015|date=15 June 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, Gardiner gave his support to the first annual [[Hen Harrier Day]] demonstrations in [[Derbyshire]] to highlight the illegal persecution of UK [[Hen harrier|raptors]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hen Harrier Day – some ‘thank you’s|url=http://markavery.info/2014/08/13/hen-harrier-day-thank-yous/|website=www.markavery.info|accessdate=23 September 2015|date=13 August 2014}}</ref>

In January 2015, Gardiner admitted that the push by the previous Labour government to encourage car-buyers to opt for [[diesel engine|diesel]] vehicles in a bid to save the planet was “wrong”, identifying that a “massive problem for public health” had been created.<ref>{{cite news |title=Labour's drive towards diesel cars causing 'massive public health problem,' admits shadow Environment Minister |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/motoring-news/labours-drive-towards-diesel-cars-causing-massive-public-health-problem-admits-shadow-environment-10000843.html |accessdate=23 September 2015 |work=The Independent |location= London |date=25 January 2015}}</ref>

===China===
In February 2017, ''[[The Times]]'' revealed that Gardiner received £182,284 in disclosed cash donations from [[Christine Lee & Co]] since September 2015, which acts as the chief legal adviser to the Chinese embassy. Before this, his constituency party received cash donations from Christine Lee & Co of £22,500 between 2009 and 2015. The paper also revealed that part of this money was used to fund the employment of Daniel Wilkes (son of the firm's founder) in his parliamentary offices. [[Alistair Graham]], former chair of the [[Committee on Standards in Public Life]], called the situation "bizarre" and said "there are clearly questions to be answered".<ref name="Times-4Feb.1">{{cite news|last1=Wright|first1=Oliver|last2=McGrath|first2=Hannah|title=China cash link to Labour MP|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/china-cash-link-to-top-labour-mp-65d3c92j8|accessdate=4 February 2017|work=The Times|date=4 February 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Gardiner has been a supporter of China in his shadow portfolios, in particular surrounding the development of [[Hinkley Point C nuclear power station]], opposing inner-party disputes over criticism of Chinese involvement in the project, despite military and intelligence figures warning ministers that such involvement posed a threat to national security. He urged [[Theresa May]] to tell China that Britain wanted strong investment in infrastructure projects, and described her decision to halt the deal as "politically stupid" and tantamount to "closing UK Plc down".<ref name="Times-4Feb.1" /> Gardiner later criticised May for negotiating a "rip-off deal" over its development.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gardiner|first1=Barry|title=The Conservatives have realised too late that Hinkley Point is a rip-off|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/29/hinkley-point-deal-rip-off-labour-theresa-may|accessdate=4 February 2017|work=The Guardian|date=29 July 2016}}</ref>

===Support for Bombardier===

In October 2017, Gardiner became involved in the issue of the [[Boeing]] complaint to the [[US Department of Commerce]] which claimed that [[Bombardier Aerospace]] was "dumping" aircraft in the US, selling them below the cost of production, thanks to huge subsidies from Canadian governments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://leehamnews-5389.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BBD-Complaint-042717.pdf |title=Petitions For The Imposition Of Antidumping And Countervailing Duties On 100-To 150-Seat Large Civil Aircraft From Canada |date=27 April 2017}}</ref> The Department had suggested that the solution was a 300% tariff on the [[Bombardier CSeries]] being sold to [[Delta Air Lines]] which would produce a significant negative impact on the sale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/business/bombardier-s-cseries-hit-with-another-u-s-duty-1.3622391|title=Bombardier's CSeries hit with another U.S. duty|first=Ross|last=Marowits|date=6 October 2017|publisher=}}</ref> Bombardier is a major employer in [[Belfast]] and a punitive tariff would adversely affect more than 4,000 manufacturing jobs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/28/theresa-may-hints-at-boeing-boycott-in-bombardier-us-tariff-row|title=Theresa May hints at Boeing boycott in Bombardier US tariff row|first=Larry |last=Elliott |date=28 September 2017|newspaper=Guardian |accessdate=26 February 2018}}</ref>


⚫
In June 2013, Conservative MP Tim Yeo and Barry Gardiner jointly tabled an amendment to the UK Energy Bill which proposed establishing by 2014 a decarbonisation target for the UK’s electricity generating sector, to be achieved by 2030. The amendment was narrowly defeated.<
In its complaint against Bombardier, Boeing had made no reference to the multibillion-dollar tax breaks it receives from [[Washington (state)|Washington]] state.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-hiltzik-boeing-washington-tax-break-20170504-story.html |title=Boeing got a record tax break from Washington state and cut jobs anyway. Now the state wants to strike back |first=Michael |last=Hiltzik|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=7 October 2017}}</ref> Gardiner,
as spokesman for the Labour Party, seized on this information and accused Boeing of hypocrisy, insisting that all aircraft manufacturers require government subsidies; he labelled the company "the king of corporate welfare" and a "subsidy junkie". He suggested that Boeing was trying to "crush a competitor".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-11/boeing-a-subsidy-junkie-u-k-s-labour-says-in-bombardier-spat|title=Boeing a ‘Subsidy Junkie,’ U.K.’s Labour Says in Bombardier Spat|date=11 October 2017 |first1=Alex |last1=Morales |first2=Francine |last2=Lacqua |publisher=Bloomberg Politics |accessdate=26 February 2018}}</ref> Boeing replied that their illegal-subsidies complaint against Bombardier is about selling aircraft below the cost of production and not an attempt to hurt a competitor. The company merely wants "fairness" in "following trade rules" as Boeing already claims to be doing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/boeing-is-the-king-of-corporate-welfare-or-boeing-has-never-ever-received-subsidies-you-decide|title=Boeing is the "king of corporate welfare" or Boeing has never received subsidies – you decide |first=David |last=Pugliese |date=11 October 2017|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |accessdate=26 February 2018}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 20:48, 8 June 2018


Barry Gardiner
MP
Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade
Assumed office
20 July 2016
Leader Jeremy Corbyn
Shadowing Liam Fox
Preceded by Position established
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
In office
27 June 2016 – 8 October 2016
Leader Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by Lisa Nandy
Succeeded by Clive Lewis (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Member of Parliament
for Brent North
Assumed office
1 May 1997
Preceded by Rhodes Boyson
Majority 17,061 (30.2%)
Personal details
Born (1957-03-10) 10 March 1957 (age 67)
Website Official website


Barry Strachan Gardiner MP (born 10 March 1957) has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent North since 1997. He served as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Office, the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry, the Department of Trade and Industry and finally in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Parliamentary career

Election

Gardiner contested the London constituency of Brent North at the 1997 general election defeating the incumbent Conservative MP Rhodes Boyson by 4,019 votes. Following his election as MP for Brent North, Gardiner moved from Cambridge to Hertfordshire.

Committee work

He served on four select committee]]s, the Procedure Committee and the Select Committee on Broadcasting, the Public Accounts Committee and the Joint Committee on Consolidation of Bills.

He was Chair of the PLP Departmental Committee for Culture, Media and Sport and Vice-chair of the PLP Departmental Committee for the Treasury.

He was the Chairman of the Labour Friends of India, and has lectured at the Academy of National Economy in Moscow. He is a former Vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

Government and ministerial appointments

He became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Home Office, Beverley Hughes in 2002. In 2004 he was appointed the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, moving to the same position at the Department of Trade and Industry following the 2005 General Election. He moved to DEFRA at the May 2006 reshuffle and left the Government in June 2007.

Post-election 2010

In opposition he has served as a shadow minister and shadow cabinet minister in a number of positions. As shadow Environment minister, Gardiner criticised the lack of prosecutions of leading players ten months after David Cameron promised that everything possible would be done to deal with crime relating to the horse meat scandal. "The extraordinary thing is that because of its clout, industry has been able to commit what appears to be a criminal offence – selling the public horsemeat falsely labelled as beef – and just say they are sorry and didn't know".

Environmental concerns

Barry Gardiner was appointed as Shadow Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries in July 2013. He had previously held the role of Minister for Biodiversity in the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs in 2006 and 2007, and had served as Edward Miliband's Special Envoy for Environment and Climate Change between 2011 and 2013.

In June 2013, Conservative MP Tim Yeo and Barry Gardiner jointly tabled an amendment to the UK Energy Bill which proposed establishing by 2014 a decarbonisation target for the UK’s electricity generating sector, to be achieved by 2030. The amendment was narrowly defeated.<

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