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Reform council leader criticised on net zero stance

James Grant
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Nadia Lincoln
Local Democracy Reporter Service
PA Media An array of solar panels. There are nine in the picture, with some grass on the ground and trees in the background.PA Media
Martin Griffiths, the new leader of North Northamptonshire Council, has said net zero was not a matter for local councils

A newly elected Reform UK council leader has been criticised over his remarks about net zero targets.

Earlier this week, North Northamptonshire Council's Martin Griffiths questioned the role of local authorities in tackling climate change.

Griffiths, appointed council leader on 22 May, said his party was not made up of "climate change deniers" but believed that net zero was a "global matter" that was "making everyone poorer".

But the leader of the Green Party group on the council, Emily Fedorowycz, said his statements on net zero were "irresponsible" and "dangerous".

Emily Fedorowycz in a beige jumper stood in a church. She has long brown hair and is wearing a lanyard.
Emily Fedorowycz said there were economic benefits and job opportunities in renewable energy

Fedorowycz said there was an "enormous" economic opportunity from climate projects and there would be future costs to residents if targets were ignored.

"Blaming climate action for rising poverty is a deliberate distraction from the real causes: a broken energy system, years of underinvestment in insulation and public transport, and global reliance on fossil fuels."

Laura Coffey/BBC A man in a blue blazer, light blue shirt and blue tie looks at the camera. A glass office building is behind him.Laura Coffey/BBC
Martin Griffiths is the new leader of Reform-run North Northamptonshire Council

Labour MP for Kettering Rosie Wrighting also criticised the comments, writing on social media: "Constituents regularly raise concerns with me about the climate emergency and bills.

"Tackling net zero is vital to both issues, so I am disappointed to read these comments by the new Reform leader of [North Northamptonshire Council]."

Wrighting added: "Councillor Griffiths describes [net zero] as a 'global matter', brushing it off as someone else's problem.

"But local councils have a role to play and I will be watching [the council's] climate approach closely."

House of Commons A woman in a lavender blazer stands up in front of two men in suits in the House of Commons.House of Commons
Rosie Wrighting MP took to social media platform X to criticise the new leader of North Northamptonshire Council

North Northamptonshire Council declared a climate emergency in 2021 and committed to becoming a carbon-neutral authority by 2030.

The council's targets align with the UK's national legal requirement to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.

The Reform administration is expected to lead the council until 2029, shaping local environmental and policy decisions during that time.

PA Media Nigel Farage in a black suit and purple tie stands in front of a podium with "Reform UK" written on it, with its turquoise-coloured branding.PA Media
Martin Griffiths' comments mirror the Reform Party's national stance, led by Nigel Farage

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this week, Griffiths said on other areas relating to the climate and environment, he agreed with wanting to plant more trees and clean up the county's rivers.

The stance taken by the new leader of the council mirrors the opinions of the Reform party at the national level.

Griffiths has been contacted for further comment.

Dr Iain Staffell of Imperial College London said that in the long term, renewables "will be bringing down overall energy bills, and specifically electricity bills, for the UK".

But some analysts have said in the short term, green energy prices could rise due to the rush to secure enough renewables to meet the 2030 net zero goal.

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