The U-turn represents a victory for an unlikely coalition of disparate groups launched in October. The grassroots website 38 Degrees started a petition which, by last night, had attracted more than 531,000 signatures. One poll suggested 84% of the country opposed the sale.
Cameron indicated at prime ministers questions that he was backing away from the sell-off when Ed Miliband asked him if he was happy with his flagship policy on forestry, which could have raised £350m.
The short answer to that is no, Cameron said to laughter, and shouts from Labour MPs of timber. But he denied that the government was embarking on a U-turn. It is a consultation that was put forward. Weve had a range of interesting responses to this consultation. What is important is that we should be making sure that, whatever happens, we increase access to our forests, we increase biodiversity and we dont make the mistake that was made under the last government where they sold forests with no access rights at all, he said.
The government has been under intense pressure since Spelman unveiled the plans last year and earmarked the Forestry Commission for substantial reform. She has faced intense criticism from Tory MPs who have been confronted by angry constituents who believe the government is showing a lack of sensitivity to a key part of the fabric of the nation.
Yesterday Miliband mocked Cameron over the plans. The Labour leader said: Even he must appreciate the irony: the guy who made the tree the symbol of the Conservative party flogging them off round this country. He says they are consulting on this policy. They are actually consulting on how to flog off the forests, not whether to sell off the forests. Is the prime minister now saying that he might drop the policy completely?
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