Plymouth leader responds to climate change criticism

He has "systematically talked" about it

Plymouth City Council leader Councillor Richard Bingley has insisted he is concerned about climate change and does take the coronavirus pandemic seriously. 

Cllr Bingley (Cons, Southway) was responding to concerns about his appearance on a YouTube programme recorded in June 2020 in which he suggested people should adapt to “living in barren, sandy landscapes” and described covid as “a mildly severe flu pandemic.”

In the video, which appeared on the YouTube channel of right-wing think tank New Culture Forum (NCF) and was posted on the website of the climate science denial group Net Zero Watch (NZW), he also said the reaction to the pandemic was “a social media mass crisis response.”

Cllr Bingley can also be heard saying: “There’s too much cycling going on.”

Now Mr Bingley has responded to the comments he made in the recorded discussion with James Delingpole, London editor of the far-right Breitbart website and outspoken climate change denier Dr Benny Peiser.

In a statement Cllr Bingley says: “In the programme I clearly state that climate change is a fundamentally major issue. 

“Since joining the council I have systematically talked on the increased severe weather events and impacts of climate change. 

“On becoming leader, I appointed Plymouth’s first dedicated cabinet member for overseeing our climate change agenda.”

Cllr Bingley also insisted he does take the impact of coronavirus seriously and that his comments were made long before the full impact of the pandemic was realised.

“The programme was at the start of the pandemic and pre-production we had been making historical comparisons to other mega-crises throughout history,” he says.  

“I expressed concern at some elements of social media activity. 

“Indeed, subsequently, 40 very eminent psychologists, co-signed a letter to Parliament’s public administration and constitutional affairs committee warning of the dangers of such macabre messaging, without providing mortality rates for other causes. 

“At [the] last full council, upon elected leader, I fully endorsed the excellent and heroic work of all volunteers and health officials, in responding to this terrible pandemic.”

At the time of the recording, Cllr Bingley was living in London.  He was elected as a councillor for Southway in May 2021 and became leader of Plymouth City Council following a vote of no confidence in the former leader, Cllr Nick Kelly (Cons, Compton) last month. 

He has also faced criticism over insulting comments made about other councillors and Tory colleagues which were revealed in a recorded telephone conversation.