Reform council leader criticised for denying climate change is man-made

The leader of Reform UK-run Derbyshire County Council has been criticised for denying that climate change is man-made, as the authority rolls back policies aimed at tackling its causes.

Alan Graves defended the council’s decision to scrap its climate change committee and remove references to climate targets and net zero as priorities in its environmental strategy.

The comments came after a summer of extreme weather, with Graves telling BBC Radio Derby he believed the decision to abolish the committee was justified because he does not “actually believe that it is man-made.”

“But more importantly, the UK is responsible for less than one percent of the world’s global environmental problems. So whatever we do it will impact very, very slightly. I also believe the country is doing a great deal about climate change,” he said.

John Whitby, Labour MP for Derbyshire Dales hit back, noting how climate change is a huge concern for the people of Derbyshire.

“The climate crisis is the biggest concern for my constituents. We’ve all seen the devastating impact extreme weather has had on our farming communities.

“Addressing man-made climate change must be a priority for all politicians. To ignore the facts is a dereliction of duty in public office. Reform can’t be trusted on the climate.”

Graves’ remarks also drew plenty of ridicule online, with many questioning the basis for his rejection of the overwhelming scientific evidence that human activity is driving global warming.

One commenter wrote: “He’s done all his research from one YouTube clip we’ll be thrilled to know. What’s his plan to grow food on an over heating planet…. A move to Mars perhaps.”

Another asked: “What resources does he have that are better than those of the scientists who study climate change? Do we think that the fact his party gets huge donations from fossil fuel providers might influence his claims?”

Another joked: “Is he a flat earther too?”

“Blind leading the blind,” one person wrote.

A further comment accused Reform of promoting a position that serves the interests of the fossil fuel industry, saying: “They know climate change is real. However it conflicts with their fossil-fuel funded narrative. Even Richard Tice stated he believes climate change is happening, but says we should see the positives rather than ‘doom and gloom’, such as we could beat the French in wine-making!”

The controversy comes as Derbyshire County Council reshapes its approach to environmental policy following Reform UK’s takeover of the authority.

The council’s new strategy removes climate change from the centre of its policy-making. The authority has also scrapped its dedicated climate change committee.

Councillor Carol Wood, who has overseen the new strategy, has also seen her cabinet title changed. A role that previously included responsibility for net zero has been streamlined to cabinet member for environment, while continuing to cover areas including clean energy.

Let’s not forget that this is the same county that, in August 2019, became the focus of international news. Following an unprecedented amount of rainfall that experts put down to climate change, a dam wall at Toddbrook Reservoir in the Derbyshire village of Whaley Bridge collapsed. Fifteen hundred residents were evacuated, as the authorities told them their homes were at risk of being washed away if the rest of the dam failed. Derbyshire Police declared it an “unprecedented crisis.”

Indeed, as John Whitby MP says, climate change is a leading concern for the people of Derbyshire.