‘We are not asking others to do things we will not do ourselves.’...
Weekend retreat: Blair Castle, which has 20 bedrooms and a heated outdoor swimming pool
- Climate Minister buys a castle with 16 bathrooms… and a massive carbon footprint(Daily Mail, Nov. 18, 2011):
He is the climate change minister who pledged to ‘lead by example’ in the fight against global warming.
But Charles Hendry is facing accusations of hypocrisy after buying himself a 20-bedroom castle – with a potentially massive carbon footprint – as a second home.
Blair Castle in Ayrshire, which went on the market for £2.5million, has three storeys, 16 bathrooms and a heated outdoor swimming pool set in 260 acres of beautiful countryside.
It is a recipe for a huge carbon footprint, even before factoring in Mr Hendry’s drive from his Sussex constituency, which is a 965-mile round trip.
The 52-year-old minister has been criticised for his purchase of the luxury home, as his portfolio includes encouraging homeowners to cut their energy use.
In a speech last September, he said: ‘We have pledged to be the greenest government ever. We must lead by example. Leadership from government departments is something we cannot – and will not – shirk.