Clacton: MP in 'climate change' row (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Clacton: MP in 'climate change' row

12:12pm Friday 23rd October 2009 in News

CLACTON MP Douglas Carswell has been criticised for labelling the consensus that climate change is man-made as “lunatic”.

Ivan Henderson, Labour's parliamentary spokesman for Clacton, hit out at Mr Carswell for comments made on his blog.

Mr Carswell defended Australian geologist Ian Plimer’s controversial book about climate change, Heaven and Earth, in which he says global warming is not caused by man.

“It makes me wonder if belief in climate change serves the purpose of a secular religion to some,” Mr Carswell wrote on his blog.

“It puts mankind at the centre of creation, while Plimer seems to be suggesting our position is far more humble and peripheral.”

Mr Hendrson questioned whether in Mr Carswell’s views the millions being spent on wind power, at sites such as Gunfleet Sands off Clacton, and other renewable energies was a waste of time.

“In recent debates in the House of Commons all parties recognised the need for action, but Douglas Carswell’s views are rather naive, but are also extremely dangerous,” said Mr Henderson.

“There is a world-wide consensus that says we need to take urgent action on this issue.”

Mr Carswell defended his position, stating that he was prepared to say what he thinks, not what the party and Westminster lobbiests want him to say.

“I have thought long and hard about it and in my view the climate is not changing because of human activity,” he said.

“We know that it was a lot warmer in the middle ages. In Essex, we know a variety of grapes were grown, it was that much warmer.

“I read a book this summer which details less than half of one percent of all CO2 in the atmosphere and surface of the earth is caused by man.”

He said the “dangerous obsession with climate change” has already led to electricity bills being increased by 25 per cent, which is expected to rise to 60 per cent in five years' time.