Nature is being blamed for Britain's sluggish economy

Bad news for bats: the government is considering further changes to planning regulations in order to boost economic growth. Specifically, Rachel Reeves - desperate for the UK economy to grow and provide more jobs, homes and tax revenues — wants to relax the rules on wildlife and the environment, hence some headlines about bats, newts and snails.

- SEAN O'GRADY

What does the chancellor want?

To keep her job. That means getting Britain’s wayward public finances under control, which means making the economic pie bigger so that tax receipts start rising without having to hammer workers and businesses every year with tax rises. She’s not prepared to allow any flying mammals, rare amphibious creatures, fish or a few wildflowers to get in the way.

Retained EU rules designed on the precautionary principle that a developer must prove there will be no net harm will go, and there'll be a cull in the list of “protected species”. She wouldn’t admit as much, but this is very much what Leavers would call a “Brexit freedom”. Not much of a bonus for bats, though.

Aren’t they doing this already?