Chris Packham and Green Party leader Zack Polanski have launched a blistering attack on Andy Burnham, accusing his Labour Government of an "astonishing dereliction of duty" over its response to Britain's scorching summer temperatures. The comments came at a Green Party press conference in Westminster, laying bare a deep split on the British Left over the future of the country's energy policy.
Packham Warns of Potential 50,000 Deaths
Mr Packham warned that extreme heat across Europe could lead to 50,000 deaths. He said that if such a death toll were caused by "terrorism or a pandemic", the Government would have "cancelled its summer holiday", held emergency COBRA meetings, and launched a Covid-style public information campaign.
His remarks follow claims that Mr Burnham, who is on holiday, told Donald Trump he is "going to open up North Sea oil". The Prime Minister has said he will take a "pragmatic approach" to the issue.
'Talk of Drilling Oil Is Simply Madness'
Mr Packham condemned the prospect of new drilling, saying "talk of drilling oil" is "simply madness" and a "total dereliction of duty in a time of extreme crisis". He warned: "We need Andy Burnham to step up before we [see] our only home burn down."
Mr Polanski warned that rain could lead to flooding because the soil is "baked dry". He accused the "very top of government" of saying "next to nothing" and claimed the "crisis" is "putting lives and livelihoods at risk across the entire UK".
Greens Pressure Government on North Sea Drilling
Mr Polanski hiked pressure on Mr Burnham not to allow new North Sea drilling, including in the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. He also said he was "worried" about the appointment of John Healey, who quit as defence secretary in protest at underfunding for the armed forces, as Chancellor. He said the "climate crisis and nature crisis" were also matters of security and defence.
In a further sign of bad blood between the Greens and Labour, Mr Polanski said one of his "biggest achievements" was his role in "toppling a very unpopular prime minister". He said the Greens' victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election had created a "leadership crisis" for Sir Keir Starmer.
The attack on new drilling comes on the heels of June's Aberdeen South by-election, which saw the pro-extraction Conservatives oust the SNP and the Greens win fewer than 1,000 votes.
