Tory peer Zac Goldsmith sacked as environment minister

The minister, loyal to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was made a life peer in 2019 after losing his seat in the House of Commons Mr. Goldsmith is expected to keep his post at the Foreign Office (

Image: AFP via Getty Images

Tory counterpart Zac Goldsmith has been removed as environment minister by new Prime Minister Liz Truss as part of her ongoing government overhaul.

The sacking comes despite Downing Street saying the reshuffle has been halted, with the policy largely halted during the period of national mourning following the Queen's death.

According to Mr Goldsmith, a close ally of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said he was "very sad" to leave his post.

"We have so much more to do to turn the tide here," he wrote in a letter to staff at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

“The UK is, after all, one of the most nature-poor countries in the world. But if Defra continues to get the support you need and deserve in government, you can and you will reverse the trend."

Mr. Goldsmith, who lost his Richmond seat to the Liberal Democrats before being named a life peer, will however retain his second role as a minister at the Foreign Office.

His responsibilities within the department include the Pacific and international environment.

During the Tory leadership race, Mr Goldsmith warned both Ms Truss and her rival Rishi Sunak that if they turned their backs on environmental issues, "not only will they be punished by the electorate, but they absolutely must be punished by the electorate".

Liz Truss began her makeover days before Queen Elizabeth II died (

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UK PARLIAMENT/AFP via Getty Imag)

He added: "It is your duty and our duty, and the duty of everyone else, to punish any leader of any leader of any credible party who does not take these matters seriously because...