The Liberal Democrats have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to convene a cross-party meeting to address the UK’s climate crisis response, particularly in light of escalating extreme weather events. The party’s energy security and net zero spokesperson, Pippa Heylings, and party leader Ed Davey sent a letter to Burnham earlier this month proposing that party leaders discuss long-term protective measures and resilience strategies against current and future climate impacts. According to the Lib Dems, the government’s response to date has been inadequate, with their only noted action being a ban on disposable barbecues.
The UK has experienced five successive heatwaves since May, alongside a drought that prompted the Prime Minister to chair an emergency Cobra meeting earlier this month. Heylings emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning of an impending “super El Niño” with unprecedented scale that could intensify autumn and winter weather patterns, bringing more severe flooding and storms. She characterized this as a “double whammy” of challenges for the nation.
The Lib Dems have proposed that the cross-party approach extend beyond emergency preparedness to address root causes of worsening climate conditions. Heylings suggested that even opposition parties opposed to net zero targets should support efforts to protect constituents from extreme weather impacts. Labour MP Clive Lewis endorsed the call for cross-party cooperation, describing it as essential consensus-building for any significant transition. However, fellow Labour MP Jon Pearce expressed skepticism about Conservative and Reform participation, citing their recent departure from climate consensus and downplaying of climate risks.
The Conservatives declined to comment on hypothetical talks, while Reform UK did not respond to requests for comment. A government spokesperson countered that the UK remains a climate leader, citing investments in reservoir construction and flood defense schemes totaling at least £10.5bn by 2036, along with ongoing work through the National Drought Group to adapt to changing climate conditions.
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