At least 30 Reform UK candidates have questioned human-caused global warming on social media, according to a Guardian analysis.
Fintan Hogan reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Many candidates label climate change warnings as a "hoax" or "scam," promoting conspiracy theories involving "global elites" and "the Illuminati."
- Reform UK's only MP, Lee Anderson and the party chair, Richard Tice, also express skepticism about the impact of decarbonization on global heating.
- The party's election contract pledges to eliminate the UK's net-zero commitments, reflecting a broader denial of human-caused climate disruption.
Key quote:
“This is a scientifically illiterate approach. People across the country are suffering from climate change and these candidates are not suitable to represent them.”
— Bob Ward, the policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.
Why this matters:
Reform UK's climate change denial could hinder effective climate action in the next parliament. Their stance reflects a growing trend of skepticism on the political right, potentially undermining efforts to address the climate crisis.
