A Tory MP who leads a group which campaigns against the government’s net zero measures has recruited two members of staff from a controversial organisation that questions climate science.
After the Guardian revealed links between members of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, run by the MP Craig Mackinlay, and the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), further ties between the two organisations have been found.
Politico reported that Mackinlay, an outspoken critic of the government’s net zero policies, has taken on Harry Wilkinson, the head of policy at GWPF’s campaigning arm, Net Zero Watch, in addition to Ruth Lea, a former trustee of the arm, to work in his parliamentary office.
Wilkinson is a critic of consensus on global heating, and has tweeted: “The ‘climate crisis’ is a religious belief, nothing to do with science.” He previously worked for Nigel Lawson, who founded the GWPF and makes claims such as: “I think that climate change is not a threat, it is happening very gently at a fraction of a degree per decade which is something we can perfectly well live with.”
Wilkinson celebrated the news of his appointment, tweeting: “After 5 years of working as a Researcher for Lord Lawson, I am pleased to be able to take a position in Craig Mackinlay’s office. I look forward to supporting his work alongside continuing my role with Net Zero Watch.”
Green campaigners have frequently called the GWPF a leading source of climate change denial, as it has questioned climate research by top scientists, called for green measures to be halted, and claimed the rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has many benefits.
Mackinlay confirmed the additions to his team, adding that Lea, who will be working unpaid, had had a parliamentary pass through association with his office since 2016, but that she had primarily worked with him on Brexit.
He told Politico her work with Net Zero Watch “was wholly unconnected to her original appointment with me and is not related to her continuation as a passholder now. She is largely retired these days and she comes to parliament infrequently.”
The MP for South Thanet said Wilkinson’s continuing employment with Net Zero Watch “is fully disclosed according to parliamentary rules applying to MPs’ employees and his depth of knowledge acquired there is invaluable to my interest and work on net zero issues”.
The Net Zero Scrutiny Group of 19 Tory politicians has been accused of attempting to derail the government’s green agenda, linking it to the cost of living crisis and leading to fears of a “culture war” campaign around net zero. They have recently called for fracking to be resumed and criticised the government’s plans to decarbonise industry, as well as casting doubt on plans to phase out diesel and petrol cars in favour of electric ones.
The group claims it does not contest the reality of climate change, merely the costs of net zero.
