Yahoo News Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud's shock at being reported to Met Police
Kevin McCloud gets his chance to grill Michael Gove over building regulations
Kevin McCloud revealed he was reported to the Met Police in a preview for Channel 4’s The Great Climate Fight, saying: “He’s also reported me to the Met Police. For what? For impersonation of myself?”
The Grand Designs presenter, 64, was shocked to discover that he had been reported to the police after he tried to get a press ticket to a book launch with Michael Gove and MPs in Westminster.
McCloud was determined to attend the book launch because the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities refused to meet or answer any of his questions about housing.
In a piece to camera, he said: “I’m going to this event in Westminster. It’s a book launch with Michael Gove and MPs. It’s because he refuses to meet, answer any questions.
“Then I got this email from the organisers of the event, ‘Good afternoon Kevin I see you booked a ticket for the book launch on Monday, further to a discussion with Channel 4 news, they have not have a record of you working as a freelancer there, I have cancelled your ticket.’"
Kevin McCloud reported to police
A shocked McCloud then revealed he has been reported to the police.
He added: “He goes onto say, not only has he cancelled my ticket, he’s also reported me to the Met police. For what? For impersonation of myself?
“On properly checking, they said I can come. I now have my press pass. For God’s sake! I just want to ask somebody a question.”
In filming The Great Climate Fight, McCloud was determined to have two outcomes: first to get Gove to agree to a meeting and second to immediately lift the blocker on local councils setting their own housing standards.
“All it takes is a word from him,” he said in the voiceover.
Kevin McCloud challenges Michael Gove
After a 30 minute speech, the TV presenter finally gets his chance to ask a question to Gove with everyone at the book launch listening.
He said: “Kevin McCloud, Channel 4. I just recently met with Lancaster Council who have had their very ambitious targets for building regulations actually rejected by the planning inspectorate - so can I ask you to make a really clear statement here on whether local authorities can continue to set their own building standards.”
Gove agreed they should be doing more “to support that”. “I’ll come with you to Lancaster if you would like me to,” he said. “Together we can finally sort it.”
To make sure the politician was true to his word and booked the meeting, McCloud lurked around outside to ambush Gove.
“They are very upset," McCloud said. "With the dysfunctionality of the planning inspectorate."
Gove agreed to meet Lancaster and to go there, however the meeting fell through.
“Little did I expect that encounter would be our last,” he said. “He evaporated into thin air. I found it so frustrating. Surely ministers ought to be prepared to answer the questions of national importance, about the policies they are responsible for.”
In the show, McCloud as well as Mary Portas and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall take their personal fight to the heart of government and demand change to bring about a greener economy.
Watch The Great Climate Fight on Channel 4 at 9:15pm
