In his new book, Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain, Monbiot argues that Raynsford’s role as cheerleader for construction means that he cannot be neutral over planning policy.
The minister denied the claims in a speech at a fringe meeting of last week’s Labour Party conference, saying they were the work of a conspiracy theorist.
Raynsford said: “If I went to a social housing scheme or opened a children’s nursery Monbiot would probably still see a conspiracy.”
However, Monbiot told Building this week: “This is not a conspiracy theory. This is a straightforward account of what Nick Raynsford has actually said.
“He makes it very clear that his loyalties are in promoting the construction industry even when this role conflicts with his role as regulating it.”
Raynsford makes it very clear that his loyalties are in promoting construction
George Monbiot
Monbiot, who is a columnist for the Guardian, also attacked industry figures such as Tony Merricks, the anti-cowboy tsar and Balfour Beatty director, Amec chief executive Peter Mason and Lord Rogers. Monbiot singled them out for being “industry fat cats” who also served on government taskforces.
He said: “I do not blame construction firms for wanting close relationships with government. But as someone who is worried about the quality of the environment and whether it is meeting the needs of poorer people, I am very concerned about this relationship.”
The DETR denied that there was a conflict of interest in Raynsford’s dual role. It said: “In promoting the industry, we are trying to make it as efficient and competitive as possible. Just because we are sponsoring schemes to do this doesn’t mean we are biased.”
In his book, Monbiot claims that former Conservative environment secretary John Gummer and construction minister Tony Baldry worked tirelessly to promote construction but adds: “While this conflict of interest budded during the Conservatives’ term of office, under Labour it has blossomed.”
