Reform still casts doubt on climate science. Do its supporters agree?

Within minutes of Richard Tice addressing the Reform UK conference, a banner appeared behind the party’s deputy leader declaring, “Collect £5m, burn the planet.” Organisers quickly removed it, and Tice continued his speech.

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Collect £5m, burn the planet.

The incident came on the second day of the conference, after an undercover investigation alleged that party officials had plotted to evade the law on foreign donations. But the audience’s attention soon returned to climate change, an issue on which Tice has repeatedly encouraged people to enjoy the summer’s five successive heatwaves and record drought.

Many Reform members at the Birmingham venue appeared to agree. Jeanette Bowden, from Bexley, said she had enjoyed the summer heat and did not believe people needed to be told to look after themselves.

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I enjoyed the heat this summer.

Her partner, James, offered a further challenge to mainstream climate science, saying carbon dioxide levels had been much higher in the past. His claim, the article noted, lacked scientific backing.

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I don’t think people need telling to take care of themselves.

The conference showed the tension within the party’s climate politics. Scepticism about climate science was common among supporters, yet some also criticised Labour for failing to protect people in Britain from hot weather.

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Carbon dioxide was much higher in the past, it was 10 times higher than this during the ice ages.