Video
Zac Goldsmith hits back at claims he is a ‘turd that won’t flush’
Zac Goldsmith is sworn in as a member of the House of Lords. Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park will retain his post as Environment Minister while sitting in the Lords. Photograph: House of Lords/PA. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Environment minister Zac Goldsmith has defended his appointment to the House of Lords - despite losing his seat in the House of Commons a month before.
In his maiden speech from the despatch box, Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park said: "I know my appointment to this House wasn't everyone's cup of tea.
"One political rival described me as a 'turd that won't flush' - a phrase my children are very unlikely to let me forget.
"But equally I know many of those heroic people engaged in the battle to protect this extraordinary planet and the species it holds are cheered by having another voice in Parliament and it is an enormous privilege."
Lord Goldsmith lost his Richmond Park seat to the Liberal Democrats in the election.
You may also want to watch:
In a debate on fishing policy, the former MP said he had been given a "surprisingly warm welcome" in the Lords but he would miss working directly for his former constituents.
Lord Goldsmith told peers the environment had preoccupied him for as long as he could remember, and dominated his work in the Commons, adding: "I'm enormously grateful that I'm able to continue doing so full time as part of a government that has made tackling these issues a top priority."
Most Read
- 1 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 2 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 3 Television drama to focus on Boris Johnson's first year in Downing Street
- 4 Comedian wins praise after shaming No 10 during Dancing on Ice appearance
- 5 Boris Johnson claims Labour supporters using Universal Credit vote to incite hatred
- 6 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 7 The polling that signals the plight of the Union
- 8 Progressive alliance could see Labour win 351 seats at next election, new analysis reveals
- 9 Dominic Raab 'not convinced' collapse of fishing businesses would be result of Brexit deal
- 10 Michael Gove among 14 Tory MPs revealed to have joined banned Parler app
He said the damage that humans were doing to the planet was "self-evidently" the most important issue for politicians to tackle.
The appointment of Lord Goldsmith and culture secretary Nicky Morgan to the Lords prompted Labour claims of cronyism and "jobs for mates" of the prime minister.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
