𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A furious row erupted over net zero on tonight’s Question Time as Reform UK’s head of policy clashed with a former Green Party leader. The fiery moment came as the BBC panel show discussed how the UK can ensure energy independence as prices soar amid the Iran war.

Ex-Green MP Caroline Lucas accused Reform’s James Orr of “lies” after he hit out at the “reckless” net zero push. But Mr Orr branded Ms Lucas’s accusation as an “awful slur” before host Fiona Bruce intervened.

Mr Orr had argued that Britain is “uniquely vulnerable to external shocks all around the world that affect the price of gas and oil”.

He said: “How are we in that vulnerable space, because for years and years the Conservative Party and the Labour Party have committed to the reckless pursuit of net zero which disproportionately hurts those who can afford it least.

“That’s why earlier this week our shadow chancellor Robert Jenrick announced there would be a clean £200 in our energy bills, £85 by zero rating VAT on energy and £115 by scrapping the crazy levies.

“That’s a start, it’s not necessarily exploiting declining fossil fuel fields in the North Sea, although there’s still enough there.

“When the wind doesn’t blow you need gas to back it up and sometimes the wind doesn’t blow and we need to have much stronger energy security and energy sovereignty so we’re immune to wars, geopolitical shocks, over which we often have very little control.”

But Ms Lucas said: “I just despair of the kind of lies James that you are telling to people, it really is not right.”

Mr Orr replied: “These are not lies, that’s an awful slur.”

Ms Lucas had insisted that the Middle East crisis showed the UK needs to double down on eco policies.

She said: “The best way of insulating ourselves is of course to go even further to get off oil and gas as fast as possible as to properly invest in renewables.”