UK's Brown Names Opposition Donor as Green Adviser
Date: 10-Sep-07
Country: UK
Author: David Clarke
Johan Eliasch, a Swedish-born businessman who runs sporting
goods maker Head and who bought a swathe of Amazonian rainforest
to stop it being logged, is expected to present a review next
year, Brown's official spokesman said on Friday.
"He will conduct a review reporting to the prime minister
examining financial mechanisms to promote sustainable forestry
and investment in low carbon energy sources," he said, adding
that Eliasch would look at the use of carbon credits.
The move is a blow for opposition leader David Cameron.
Eliasch quit as Conservative deputy treasurer earlier this month
and party records show he has been a major financial backer,
recently lending Cameron's party 2.6 million pounds.
Cameron has come under fire from within his right-of-centre
party for spurning traditional party values to try and seize the
centre ground of British politics from the ruling Labour Party.
When first appointed, Cameron put environmental issues at
the centre of a policy push to woo new voters.
But since losing his opinion poll lead when Brown took power
in June he has espoused more traditional Conservative policies
such as curbing immigration and being tougher on crime.
When Eliasch quit as deputy treasurer earlier this month,
newspapers reported that it was Cameron's shift to the right
that had unsettled the businessman.
Eliasch is ranked by the Sunday Times as the 211th richest
person in Britain in 2007 with a fortune of 361 million pounds.
Head specialises in making racquet sport and skiing equipment.
Eliasch has long campaigned for workable mechanisms to
prevent climate change. He says he bought part of the Amazonian
rainforest to preserve its flora and fauna and thereby play a
part in curbing rising levels of carbon dioxide.
His company has formed a partnership with environmental
charity Cool Earth, whose mission is to protect rainforests, and
pledged to save 7,000 acres of mature rainforest each year.
The appointment also fits in with Brown's pledge to form a
government of "all the talents". Brown said this week he wants
to move away from old-style factional politics and seek support
from all sections of Britain.
While no opposition lawmakers were named in his cabinet,
Brown has enlisted advisers from across the political spectrum
and Eliasch is the third leading Conservative to be given a job
by the prime minister in a week.
On Monday, Brown said he was setting up standing commissions
to look at issues such as security, carers for old people
sustainable rural communities and children with special needs.
Two will be run by Conservative lawmakers and a third will
be chaired by a member of the opposition Liberal Democrats.
A spokesman for the Conservative Party said Eliasch would
not be renewing his membership given his new role in government.
(Additional reporting by Sophie Walker)
