Britain is an incredibly unequal society. We talk about that all the time.

unequal incomes, unequal in terms of access to opportunity, housing, you name it.

But it's nowhere more unequal than in land ownership. Take England. 1% of all the people in England own 50% of the land. And in some cases the ownership goes back for the best part of a

thousand years. And that heritage forms the backbone of an argument as to why they legitimately own that land, why they should own that

land where the best custodians, the best stewards will conserve things better than anyone else.

After all, we've had it for so long already.

But that isn't quite true because when you look at the facts about biodiversity for instance,

Britain is in a very bad place. One statistic really stands out since

the 1930s we've lost 97% of wildflower meadows. Biodiversity is in collapse and the truth is

there's been a cover-up by the establishment as to their culpability.

At today's guest is I think probably the most important voice at this intersection of land ownership and climate change.

He's written a new book, The Lie of the Land. It is a must read. It's going to be a great

Christmas gift for all those relatives and friends who you want to radicalize.

He's written two great books already, but this, for my money is as best yet.

Guy Shropsol, welcome to Down Street.

Thanks very much for having me.

Really great to meet you.

Great to meet you.

We have so many friends in common.

Yes. Your co-conspirators at Right to Rome. Indeed, yes, John

Moses, who I think you've previously done an interview. He's done stuff, he's written stuff,

he's done all sorts of stuff with us, yeah. And Paul Pauslin as well?

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