Throwing the Newt Out With the Bathwater.

I must admit that I wholly support Jules Howard who has argued that it is intensely unfair of the UK PM to attack newts for slowing house building in our brave, new world (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/02/boris-johnson-newt-building). Newts, of course, are amphibians and live in freshwater ponds that are one of the most endangered habitats on the planet. It doesn't take much effort to 'count them' but this is only a part of an environmental impact assessment that ought to be carried out before major developments are started (is the PM suggesting that we dispense with these entirely?). Little enough of our 'wild' places survive in this crowded country and they can be a major utility to people living nearby (they can even increase house prices). Let swimming newts lie.