Reform’s Tice accused of misinformation after urging people to enjoy heat waves | UK Reform

The Reform deputy leader has been accused of spreading misinformation after he dismissed efforts to tackle the climate crisis and urged the British people to bask in the warmth of recent heatwaves.

Richard Tice sparked a backlash from nurses, medical experts and green activists on Monday after he told a press conference that he believed it was “arrogant” to try to stop the climate emergency, while encouraging people to focus on benefits such as better English wine.

Asked about the recent extreme heat, Tice said at a news conference: “Of course, the climate changes, but where is the evidence that net zero is going to stop it? Where is the evidence? There is no evidence.”

“Climate change has always happened. It always will. Maybe it’s smarter to adapt to it than arrogantly think it can be stopped.”

He added: “When it’s a bit warmer, let’s enjoy it. And if that means English wine and sparkling wine are getting better and better, great. That means we can take on the French, great. Let’s celebrate some of these things instead of just being pessimistic about it.”

Bridget Phillipson, chair of the Labor Party, said: “Richard Tice’s comments are tone deaf. With bushfires ravaging the UK and drought threatening water supplies and food security, comments like these not only raise serious questions about his judgement, but also expose where his interests really lie.”

Tice’s comments came amid an unprecedented summer during which temperatures exceeded 35C several times, causing thousands of deaths, millions of hospital visits and costing the UK an estimated £4 billion in economic output.

Climate collapse has been linked to the increasing frequency of wildfires, which are burning larger areas in many parts of the world. The so-called fire wave the UK witnessed weeks ago was the most widespread the country has ever seen, and the combination of wet winters and prolonged heat waves exacerbates the risk.

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Nursing said: “Those calling for people to enjoy the impacts of climate change should say so to nurses collapsing in hospitals where temperatures reach 36 degrees.

“Or to the thousands of patients who line the hallways every day as extreme heat causes serious illness among the vulnerable, the elderly and even those without pre-existing conditions.

“Climate change is a public health emergency that is worsening before our eyes. The nursing profession does not want out-of-touch interventions, but action to reduce emissions and make the NHS and care homes safe to work in and be cared for.”

Simon Williams, public health researcher at Swansea University, said: “It is worrying to see someone so high profile spreading misinformation about climate change and its impacts.

“Particularly for the elderly, heat waves over time make them less able to regulate their body temperature. Even a few degrees either way can have a major impact.”

Meanwhile, the National Farmers Union has said farmers are facing “one of the worst harvests in history”, while firefighters have battled bushfires in Derbyshire, the Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Reform has long campaigned to scrap the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and has promised to end green subsidies if elected.

The party has received tens of millions of pounds in donations from people connected to the fossil fuel industry since its creation in 2019, notably from billionaire Christopher Harborne, who owns a jet fuel brokerage company and whose £5m donation to Nigel Farage is now at the center of a parliamentary inquiry.

He posted in 2024: “We are not in a climate emergency; nor is there a climate crisis. But yes, climate change is real because it has occurred for millions of years and will continue to exist in the future.”

On Monday he called on the government to invest in desalination plants, which he said have worked well in the Middle East, where he spends much of his time. “Where has the discussion been about desalination plants that are used in other parts of the world with much, much success?” said.

“Yes, there is not much water on land in the Middle East. They use desalination plants. We are surrounded by water. It is too difficult to build a reservoir; let’s look at desalination plants.”

Last week, The Guardian reported that Thames Water was preparing to restart the UK’s only inland desalination plant to restart operations later this year, but it will not be ready until winter.

Alasdair Johnstone, head of parliamentary engagement at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “Far from being a pleasant experience, for many this summer will have brought hardship, with 2,877 deaths during the May and June heatwaves, more than 1,100 of which are directly attributable to the extra heat added by climate change.

“Firefighters have been called to more than 1,000 bushfires, which have devastated the landscape, displaced people and destroyed homes.

“The only way to prevent these climate change impacts from becoming more common and severe is to address the cause, which means reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Amy Cameron, program director at Greenpeace UK, said: “Tice’s words show that a party funded by fossil fuel interests will continue to deny the climate crisis for the benefit of its funders even when its impacts are undeniable.

“Reform should try to tell nurses who faint on shifts, farmers who lose their crops, and people who flee their burning homes to enjoy the warm weather and see what reaction they get.”