RICHARD Tice has been blasted after he urged people concerned about global warming to stop being "doom and gloom" as it could see an improvement in "English wine".
The Reform UK deputy leader acknowledged that climate change is "real", but appeared to suggest the public should enjoy it when it gets warm.
"If it means that English wine and sparkling wine gets better and better, fantastic," he told the Press Association in an interview on Monday.
It comes as the Met Office said around 2700 people are thought to have died from heat-related causes during the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales.
Of those, it is estimated that 42% “died as a result of the extra heat caused by human-induced warming”.
When asked whether he believes climate change is real, Tice said: “Of course climate change is real, but where is the evidence that net zero is going to stop it? Where is the evidence? There isn’t any.
“Climate change has always happened, it always will. Maybe the smarter thing to do is to adapt to it, (rather) than think arrogantly you can stop it.
“I’m old enough to remember 1976 – this feels a bit the same. That was 50 years ago.
“I think 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.”
The SNP have accused Tice of spouting "nonsense".
SNP MSP Karen Adam told The National: “Richard Tice wittering on about climate change being good for his glass of English sparkling wine sums up how out of touch these guys are.
“Reform would ruin thousands of Scottish energy jobs by ending investment in renewables and carbon capture.
“That is the real world consequences of this nonsense – these pub bores couldn’t care less about Scotland.”
Meanwhile, Amy Cameron, Greenpeace UK’s programme director, said: “Tice’s words show that a party bankrolled by fossil fuel interests will keep denying the climate crisis for its funders’ benefit even when its impacts are undeniable.
“Reform should try telling nurses fainting on shifts, farmers losing their crops and people running from burning homes to enjoy the hot weather and see what reaction they’ll get.
“There’s only one way to stop this extreme weather: cutting emissions from fossil fuels. Things will only get from bad to worse if we listen to the politicians being paid to deny it’s even happening.”
