I am extremely sad to hear the news about Peter Ainsworth today. My heart goes out to his wife Claire and to his family.
He had been wonderfully kind and supportive to me since I’d been elected. Even now, every time his name comes up with local residents, it’s clear to me how much he touched people’s lives and how highly he was regarded for his work in East Surrey.
In recent years his work on the environment has helped to set us on a path to a greener future. From his work as the Shadow Secretary of State for Defra, to his expert Chairmanship on the Environmental Audit Committee, to his work on the Board of the Environment Agency.
As I said in my maiden speech, he was a green giant of a politician and one who will be missed by many.
