Boris Johnson vows to guard newts threatening plans for pool at his nation manor

Boris Johnson has vowed to do “no matter it takes” to guard newts in his backyard – although they might cease him from constructing a brand new swimming pool at his nation manor.

The ex-prime minister has even promised to construct “little newt motels” for the amphibians if crucial.

After Mr Johnson sought permission in June for the brand new pool at his Oxfordshire nation manor, an ecologist suggested planners to reject the plans as a result of they might threaten native populations of nice crested newts.

In 2020, whereas nonetheless in No 10, he blamed “newt-counting” purple tape within the planning system for delays in housebuilding.

However now, relatively than preventing the objection, Mr Johnson has taken the ecologist’s warning to coronary heart, saying: “Shield these animals we should, or posterity is not going to ­forgive us.”

“Immediately, within the UK, we British have performed greater than nearly another human inhabitants to exterminate different members of the animal ­kingdom and sterilise our panorama,” he wrote in his newest Day by day Mail column.

The previous Tory chief, who was compelled to give up No 10 after an inquiry into the Partygate lockdown scandal concluded he had misled Parliament, stunned many whereas in workplace with a raft of eco-friendly insurance policies.

It was below him that the federal government produced an formidable animal-welfare motion plan – dropped by Rishi Sunak.

Mr Johnson wished the brand new pool for his Grade II-listed Brightwell Manor.

Native authorities ecologist Edward Church final month warned of “an inexpensive chance” that nice crested newts could possibly be affected by the plan.

Nevertheless, Mr Johnson wrote: “If it seems that our backyard is so honoured and so lucky as to be the house of some newts – nice crested, ­palmate, no matter – I need you to know that I’ll do no matter it takes to guard them.

“If we’ve to construct little newt motels to deal with them of their journeys previous the swimming pool, then we’ll…

“We are going to excavate new ponds by which they will breed.”

He mentioned if crucial he would dedicate the complete swimming pool to newts, and “insofar as I dig a pool, it will likely be a newt pool and never a pool for human beings”.

The UK had fewer species of amphibians and reptiles than another nation in Europe, he mentioned.

“If I’m fortunate sufficient to share my backyard and even my ­swimming pool with newts, I’ll rely myself much more blessed than I already am,” he added.