Reform’s Tice says people should stop tackling climate crisis and ‘enjoy’ heat

Nurses, medical experts and green campaigners reject party deputy leader’s dismissal of efforts to reach net zero

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

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

Asked about the recent extreme heat, Tice told a press 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 the smarter thing to do is to adapt to it than think arrogantly that you can stop it.”

He added: “When it’s a bit warm, let’s enjoy it. And if it means that English wine and sparkling wine gets better and better, fantastic. That means we can take on the French – fantastic. Let’s celebrate some of these things rather than just be sort of doom and gloom about it.”

Bridget Phillipson, the Labour party chair, said: “Richard Tice’s comments are tone-deaf. With wildfires raging across the UK and drought threatening water supplies and food security, comments like these don’t just raise serious questions about his judgment – they also expose where his interests really lie.”

Tice’s comments came amid a record-breaking summer during which temperatures have risen above 35C several times, causing thousands of deaths, millions of hospital visits and costing the UK an estimated £4bn in economic output.

The government has estimated that 2,877 people died as a result of high temperatures during the May and June heatwaves – double the figure for the whole of last summer.

The climate breakdown has been linked to the increasing frequency of wildfires , which are burning larger areas across many parts of the world. The so-called firewave the UK witnessed weeks ago was the most widespread the country has seen, with the combination of wet winters and prolonged heatwaves exacerbating the risk.

New figures published in the Lancet on Tuesday reveal older people are affected by the heat at lower temperatures than previously thought, while medical professionals say they are struggling to deal with the surge in patients.

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

“Or to the thousands of patients lining corridors every day as extreme heat causes severe illness among the vulnerable, older people and even those without pre-existing conditions.

“Climate change is a public health emergency that’s getting worse in front of our eyes. The nursing profession doesn’t want out-of-touch interventions, but action to reduce emissions and make NHS and care facilities safe to work and be cared for in.”