PIERS Morgan has slammed the leader of the city’s Green council after he was caught flying to COP26.
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty is under mounting pressure to resign after it was revealed he flew to the climate change conference on Friday.
Cllr Mac Cafferty apologised for taking a plane from London to Glasgow on the same day he criticised the government for a "lack of action" over climate change.
Piers was quick to criticise Cllr Mac Cafferty’s actions, as well as others in attendance at COP26.
The Newick-born TV presenter tweeted: “Is there ANYONE at #COP26 who's not a flaming eco-hypocrite?”
After completing the 460-mile journey, Cllr Mac Cafferty made a speech on cutting carbon emissions and appeared at a protest march, led by Greta Thunberg, calling for world leaders to stop temperatures rising.
The politician, who co-chairs Brighton and Hove City Council’s carbon neutral working group, yesterday admitted the blunder after The Argus questioned how he travelled to Scotland.
Cllr Mac Cafferty, leader of the city’s Green Party, unreservedly apologised for taking flight for around 1 hour 20 minutes - saying he had been worried his train might be cancelled.
He told The Argus: "In the Friday evening just gone, I took a flight from London to Glasgow to attend COP26 where I had been invited to represent the city at a presentation of the Glasgow Declaration on Saturday morning.
“This decision to fly was a major failure of my judgement which goes against my political group’s pledges and principles, and I unreservedly apologise.”
The blunder comes just days after Cllr Mac Cafferty claimed in his weekly Argus column that Brighton and Hove was "leading the way on climate and social action".
Green MP Caroline Lucas was also in Glasgow for the conference but confirmed to The Argus that she had travelled by train.
Cllr Mac Cafferty said he had been “concerned about the unreliability of the rail network” which previously left people struggling to get to COP26.
At the end of last month, operators from the east and west coast mainlines advised against people travelling from London to Glasgow amid stormy weather across the UK.
Cllr Mac Cafferty added: “I reluctantly took this very difficult decision because I was concerned about the unreliability of the rail network following the well-publicised difficulties experienced by many people wanting to travel by train to Glasgow the week before, when trains were cancelled.
“I was concerned that this would happen again, and I felt it was important not to miss the opportunity to attend the important presentation on behalf of the city, lobby world leaders and share with others the innovative work taking place in Brighton and Hove.
“I paid for my own transport and all associated costs. I am not getting paid for any of the speeches I am making or meetings I am attending, and I am otherwise working from Glasgow.
“Transport contributes a large portion of carbon emissions, all significant journeys we make have an effect on our climate. I will be offsetting the carbon cost of my journey.
“I will be taking my return journey on train. Again, I apologise unreservedly.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel