Why did council bosses delete 'we believe in climate change' message?
A Worcestershire cabinet leader made a public statement on behalf of Reform UK saying ‘we believe in climate change’ — only for the post to be mysteriously ‘deleted’.
The county council’s ruling Reform UK administration put out a statement, quoting Cllr Karl Perks, in which he said ‘we absolutely believe in climate change’ but that the net zero timeline is ‘too aggressive’.
However, soon after it was published on July 21, the statement from the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport disappeared from the Worcestershire County Council website, leaving some councillors scratching their heads.
The county council declared a climate emergency four years ago and aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Cllr Perks had previously said: “I think it’s common knowledge that as Reform we do not stand with net-zero.”
Now leaders at the Green Party are asking where Reform UK, and Worcestershire County Council as a whole stand on climate change.
DELETED: The statement from Cllr Karl Perks of Worcestershire County Council’s Reform UK cabinet (Image: Supplied)
Green Party leaders have criticised the content of the message itself and the decision to ‘unpublish’ it while Reform UK’s Ian Cresswell has now released a statement saying the party will lobby ‘to scrap unachievable net zero targets’.
Cllr Alex Mace, city councillor for the Green Party, said the decision to publish then delete the post (which was at odds with previous statements made by Karl Perks) showed ‘inconsistency and incompetence’.
He added: “Do they believe in human causes of climate change or not?”
Cllr Matt Jenkins of the Green Party said: “Claiming you believe in climate change, but don’t agree with trying to fix it, is still climate change denial.
GONE: The statement on climate change has since disappeared from the Worcestershire County Council website (Image: Supplied)
Climate action delay is just the new climate change denial. Our county council target for net zero is 2050, the same as Government, so claiming the target is too aggressive is nonsense.
“Tackling climate change saves money. For example, the county council has replaced all old street light bulbs with new LED bulbs, which have cut emissions and energy costs. Reform are clearly rattled, so we will keep the pressure on.”
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Councillor Ian Cresswell, cabinet member with responsibility for Environment and Communities, said: “The statement my colleague shared was in response to a number of direct questions he was asked at separate scrutiny and cabinet meetings.
“Cllr Perks was keen to share his view to ensure his responses in those meetings were logged and not miscommunicated.
CABINET: Reform UK cabinet members with DOGE boss Zia Yusuf during a visit (Image: Reform UK)
“Our views are not dissimilar and, whilst we are working through the usual annual budget conversations regarding what can be delivered locally, here are our current thoughts:
“We will play a key role in supporting businesses, the community and our country by lobbying to scrap unachievable net zero targets that have no realistic chance of success. Our focus is on how we reduce the burden on the local taxpayers and, where possible through the budget process, release money to maximise services that the Council provides, given the inherited financial limitations.
“With a cost-of-living crisis, high energy prices, and the greatest tax burden since the Second World War, it’s more important than ever that we are wise with setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.
“By moving beyond ideology and focusing on value for money that meets the needs of the environment, business, and local people, we can deliver a fairer future for everyone.”