Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has condemned the Labour government for what he terms a dereliction of duty regarding this summer’s extreme heatwaves. He urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to implement urgent measures to mitigate risks from wildfires and droughts, which Polanski described as the greatest national threat since the Second World War.
To combat rising temperatures, Polanski proposed establishing publicly accessible cool zones and providing financial aid for household insulation. He criticized Burnham for failing to convene an emergency Cobra meeting and urged him to halt new oil and gas drilling, specifically opposing the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields in Scotland. Additionally, he advocated for nationalizing the water sector to spur reservoir investment and requested firefighting helicopter support.
In response, Labour representatives dismissed these criticisms, highlighting that local Green Party members have historically obstructed clean energy and infrastructure projects, including solar farms and reservoirs. A Labour spokesperson argued that the party is focused on delivering necessary upgrades and suggested that Green politicians should support these initiatives rather than opposing them. Meanwhile, Burnham has proposed a franchise-based model for the water sector, similar to Greater Manchester’s bus network, to increase public oversight without full renationalization.
