* Leading air pollution campaign groups have written to MPs behind the anti-fuel tax All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Motorists and Hauliers asking them to disown the group, after its official sponsor Howard Cox downplayed pollution as a cause of death of a 9 year old girl and claimed “there is no climate crisis”.
* Jemima Hartshorn, Founder and Director of Mums for Lungs, is among those asking members including Priti Patel and Labour MP Graham Stringer to sever all links with Howard Cox and his lobby group FairFuel UK following recent comments.
* FairFuel UK is the official secretariat for the cross-party – but Conservative-dominated – group, providing administrative support for the meetings and events. FairFuel UK is also the official public point of contact for the group, and conducts much of the research for the All Party Parliamentary Group.
* The letter, which is also signed by Parents for Future UK and Mothers Rise Up UK, cites recent comments from Howard Cox includin repeatedly stating that *“there is no climate crisis”*
* Responding to these comments, the Democratic Unionist Party’s chief whip Sammy Wilson replied: *“I know Mr Cox well and support all of the views which he has expressed”* *”I believe that it is important that we support the transport industry in our economy, it is what makes the economy tick and without efficient transport, both private and public, system [sic] our country would grind to a halt”* *”I am not aware of any unacceptable views which Mr Cox supports and indeed he brings a welcome perspective to the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group.”*
* The All Party Parliamentary Group on FairFuel for UK Motorists and Hauliers has received funding from the HGV and logistics industry and backs cuts to fuel duty, as well as opposing green measures such as the phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales after 2030.
* It is led by Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, who has been dubbed a climate-sceptic by environmental campaigners. Last month, former Home Secretary Priti Patel joined the group as an officer, reflecting the group’s small-state streak.
* All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) have come under increasing scrutiny in recent months as they are typically co-run or sponsored by external interest groups.
* FairFuelUK says it’s a non-partisan campaign, but much of its support in Parliament derives from the climate-sceptic Conservative right.
* FairFuelUK, has been vociferous in its opposition to increases in tax on petrol and diesel and claims that, since 2010, it has “saved drivers over £160 billion in planned tax hikes in duty and VAT” through its campaigning – in other words, costing the Treasury more than the annual budget of the NHS in England.
* FairFuel UK has frequently targeted Labour politicians over policies designed to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. London Mayor Sadiq Khan – who has made tackling air pollution one of his key issues as Mayor – appears to have been targeted with particular hostility.
The climate change denial movement is the most monstrous evil in history. If we all followed what its adherents believe, fossil fuel consumption would continue to expand for the rest of this century and beyond. Billions would die as global average temperatures increased by the worst-case scenario of 6°C or higher. Absolute evil.
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* Leading air pollution campaign groups have written to MPs behind the anti-fuel tax All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Motorists and Hauliers asking them to disown the group, after its official sponsor Howard Cox downplayed pollution as a cause of death of a 9 year old girl and claimed “there is no climate crisis”.
* Jemima Hartshorn, Founder and Director of Mums for Lungs, is among those asking members including Priti Patel and Labour MP Graham Stringer to sever all links with Howard Cox and his lobby group FairFuel UK following recent comments.
* FairFuel UK is the official secretariat for the cross-party – but Conservative-dominated – group, providing administrative support for the meetings and events. FairFuel UK is also the official public point of contact for the group, and conducts much of the research for the All Party Parliamentary Group.
* The letter, which is also signed by Parents for Future UK and Mothers Rise Up UK, cites recent comments from Howard Cox includin repeatedly stating that *“there is no climate crisis”*
* Responding to these comments, the Democratic Unionist Party’s chief whip Sammy Wilson replied: *“I know Mr Cox well and support all of the views which he has expressed”* *”I believe that it is important that we support the transport industry in our economy, it is what makes the economy tick and without efficient transport, both private and public, system [sic] our country would grind to a halt”* *”I am not aware of any unacceptable views which Mr Cox supports and indeed he brings a welcome perspective to the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group.”*
* The All Party Parliamentary Group on FairFuel for UK Motorists and Hauliers has received funding from the HGV and logistics industry and backs cuts to fuel duty, as well as opposing green measures such as the phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales after 2030.
* It is led by Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, who has been dubbed a climate-sceptic by environmental campaigners. Last month, former Home Secretary Priti Patel joined the group as an officer, reflecting the group’s small-state streak.
* All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) have come under increasing scrutiny in recent months as they are typically co-run or sponsored by external interest groups.
* FairFuelUK says it’s a non-partisan campaign, but much of its support in Parliament derives from the climate-sceptic Conservative right.
* FairFuelUK, has been vociferous in its opposition to increases in tax on petrol and diesel and claims that, since 2010, it has “saved drivers over £160 billion in planned tax hikes in duty and VAT” through its campaigning – in other words, costing the Treasury more than the annual budget of the NHS in England.
* FairFuel UK has frequently targeted Labour politicians over policies designed to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. London Mayor Sadiq Khan – who has made tackling air pollution one of his key issues as Mayor – appears to have been targeted with particular hostility.
The climate change denial movement is the most monstrous evil in history. If we all followed what its adherents believe, fossil fuel consumption would continue to expand for the rest of this century and beyond. Billions would die as global average temperatures increased by the worst-case scenario of 6°C or higher. Absolute evil.