Reform UK end 'net zero mandates' as members reject man-made climate change call
'As the earth is round and as the sky is blue, man-made climate change exists'15:08, 29 Jul 2026Councillors in Walsall this week were asked whether they believe in man-made climate change after Reform UK. . .
'As the earth is round and as the sky is blue, man-made climate change exists'15:08, 29 Jul 2026Councillors in Walsall this week were asked whether they believe in man-made climate change after Reform UK moved to scrap the council’s climate emergency declaration. At a full council meeting on July 27, Reform leader Elaine Williams and deputy leader Nicky Barker submitted a Notice of Motion seeking to rescind the authority’s 2019 climate emergency declaration, in which previous councillors pledged to take action to tackle global warming. READ MORE:Inside the 'unhappy' West Midlands town where locals say there's 'no money left'The pair described the declaration as performative and argued it had delivered no benefit for Walsall taxpayers. Their motion also called for a review of council resources to ensure investment is ‘targeted on practical interventions’ and for an assessment of internal spending and policies linked to the declaration. Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of the Walsall Community Independents (WCI), was one of the councillors who put forward the original climate change emergency declaration in 2019. At this week’s meeting he put forward an amendment to Reform’s motion which asked all council members to say whether they believe in man-made climate change or not. The amendment stated: “This council believes unequivocally that, as the earth is round, and as gravity exists, and as the sky is blue, that in the same certainness, man-made climate change exists and is having a significant impact on global warming with life-limiting consequences across the world. ”The amendment was voted down by all Reform councillors present except Councillor Alan Fleming and Councillor Karen Griffiths who both abstained. Councillor Aiden Clarke, Reform ward member for Bloxwich East and Blakenall Heath, said: “This Reform administration was elected to deliver common sense fiscal discipline and frontline value for tax payers. Not to chase unachievable virtue signalling targets. “Today we are formally cancelling net zero mandates and ending the climate emergency declaration. “The council signing up to empty promises with zero plan to pay for them is proven by the Climate Emergency UK Independent Audit where Walsall Council scores a miserable 23 per cent overall. ”Councillor Irene Henery, Reform member for Rushall-Shelfield, added: “I think you can all remember a time when the climate scientists were telling us we were heading for the ice age. “Now they’ve flipped it and tell us that we’re going to fry. I get that this summer has been a little bit warmer but I don’t think it’s a climate emergency. ”Councillor Nawaz said: “What a load of tosh. Man-made climate change exists and our impact on this planet is having a devastating effect. “You don’t need to declare a climate emergency or remove it to help people with the cost of living or housing. You can still do all of that. And you don’t have to bring it to the council as well. As the administration your cabinet has the power to declare or undeclare anything. “You talk about virtue signalling. This is what this is. It’s saying Reformers don’t believe in man-made climate change. For me it’s quite clear man-made climate change exists, and we are seeing devastating consequences across the world. ”Councillor Khizar Hussain, deputy leader of WCI, said: “Scientists and educated people have told us it’s a real issue. “This negative step from the administration, I think, is given from the central office as it’s a duplication of what’s going around in the country. I feel sorry for them because the central party is controlling the timetable. ”Councillor Hajran Bashir, WCI member for Palfrey and the Delves, said: “Climate change remains one of the biggest challenges facing our communities, the economy and environment. “Local councils have a crucial role to play through planning policies, housing improvements, tree planting, active travel initiatives and support for low carbon technologies. We have a responsibility not only for today’s residents but also the future generations. ”Councillor Simran Cheema, ward member for Willenhall, added: “Whilst I appreciate the intention that council resources are used effectively and that we focus on the practical measures to support residents, I am concerned about rescinding Walsall’s climate emergency declaration. “Climate change is not an ideology or political slogan. It’s a scientific fact. The NHS recognises climate change as one of the greatest threats to public health this century and as a local authority we have a duty to respond to these challenges and help where we can. ”Councillor Adrian Andrew, leader of the Conservative group, said: “I don’t think withdrawing the declaration or not is going to make one iota of difference but what I would suggest is sending this to scrutiny in order to come up with a proper strategy in how this council can address some of the issues of climate change. ”Article continues belowBelow is a list of all 30 councillors in Walsall who voted against the amendment to accepting the existence of man-made climate change at the meeting on July 27. The list is made up of 29 Reform councillors and one independent, Councillor Bella Simon. All nine Conservative members who were present abstained from the vote and all seven members of WCI present voted in favour. Independent member Ashfaq Ahmed and the council’s only Labour member Councillor Simran Cheema both also voted in favour. Councillor Elaine Williams, Short Heath, leader of Walsall CouncilCouncillor Nicky Barker, Bloxwich West, deputy leader of Walsall CouncilCouncillor Ann Ault, PelsallCouncillor Tabbi Wilberforce Awotwe, Harden, Goscote and RyecroftCouncillor David Bailey, Darlaston SouthCouncillor Mick Barker, Bentley and Darlaston NorthCouncillor Rohan Beecha, Short HeathCouncillor Ian Benton, Aldridge North and Walsall WoodCouncillor Peter Burton, Darlaston SouthCouncillor Stuart Chapman, Rushall-ShelfieldCouncillor Aiden Clarke, Bloxwich East and Blakenall HeathCouncillor Carl Creaney, New InventionCouncillor Josh Dixon, BrownhillsCouncillor Matt Eason, Beechdale, Leamore and ReedswoodCouncillor Jenny Goodall, Darlaston SouthCouncillor Peter Harrison, WillenhallCouncillor Irene Henery, Rushall-ShelfieldCouncillor Lisa Jones, Harden, Goscote and RyecroftCouncillor Stuart Lathe, Beechdale, Leamore and ReedswoodCouncillor Paul Lunn, Bentley and Darlaston NorthCouncillor Lesley Lynch, Aldridge North and Walsall WoodCouncillor Aysha Nizamoglu, BrownhillsCouncillor Jim Parsons, PelsallCouncillor Daniel Rollinson, New InventionCouncillor Tony Sadla, Bloxwich WestCouncillor David Sambrook, Bloxwich East and Blakenall HeathCouncillor Scott Simmons, Beechdale, Leamore and ReedswoodCouncillor Bella Simon, Short HeathCouncillor Pete Sutton, BrownhillsCouncillor Richard Tapper, Bloxwich East and Blakenall Heath