UK Tory Leader Re. Warming - "We'll Benefit From Warmer Weather For Tourism, Agriculture" - Mirror

[hatrack]

THE Tories green crusade was exposed as a sick joke yesterday as John "Vulcan" Redwood insisted we must welcome global warning. Redwood, chairman of the Tory economic policy group, first said we should be "sceptical" about scientific evidence that shows the Earth is heating up. And then he said even if it is true we should not worry as "we'll benefit from the better weather for tourism, agriculture and outdoor sports".

His astonishing comments will be deeply embarrassing to leader David Cameron, who today unveils radical plans for new green taxes designed to reduce air travel. The Tory leader wants to slap extra taxes on holiday flights and put VAT on domestic plane trips.

Cameron has been going to extreme lengths to convince voters the Tories care about the environment - at the weekend he was ostentatiously strolling around in shoes made from recycled car seats and firemen's trousers. But Redwood, who got his nickname over his resemblance to Star Trek alien Mr Spock, has blown his boss's efforts out of the water with his online diary claims.

He rubbished the idea that pollution was causing global warming, calling it a "swindle". And he added: "Things are not entirely as the consensus supposes." He also mocked concerns over gasguzzling cars by saying: "Visits to Mars by space probes detect global warming there - but have not yet discovered the 4x4s causing it." Environment Minister Ian Pearson said the comments were insulting to millions worldwide already feeling the devastating effects of climate change.

EDIT

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_headline=exclusive--vulcan--global-warming-is-good&method=full&objectid=18739555&siteid=89520-name_page.html

[mainegreen]

1. Show that man some geography, and then tell him about the gulf stream. n/t

[Javaman]

3. Maybe he meant skiing on the british glaciers? lol nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Note it's not *the* leader who said this - it's a senior Tory

who has a well-deserved reputation as an economically hard right loony. He has fallen for the highly dubious "Great Global Warming Swindle" documentary on British TV a few days ago.

Cameron is certainly talking the talk on the environment (he's annoyed the airlines by proposing taxes on fuels, for instance) - which is why this is 'embarrassing' for him. As with all politicians, not too much value should be placed on his words alone, of course.