After Lord Austin criticized the BBC for “overdoing the weather,” Huw Edwards advised him to “give it a break.”
The seasoned journalist informed the former Labour MP through Twitter that News at Ten viewers were “much more exercised” by climate change and the severe temperatures on Monday night than by the Tory leadership contest.
“BBC News at 10 is slightly overdoing the weather,” wrote Lord Austin.
Before moving on to the trifling and trivial matter of who would be in charge of the country in the next four years, we spent the first 23 minutes discussing the heat.
Oh, give it a break, Edwards responded in a wry way. We have yet to receive the results, and they are still focusing on 4 applicants.
While everything is going on, viewers are telling us that they are FAR more concerned about climate change and weather extremes. What the heck?
At 12.50 p.m. this afternoon, London Heathrow Airport recorded a record-breaking 40.2C (104.4F), which sparked horrific flames across southern England.
Lord Austin retorted, “Keep going. I didn’t say it wasn’t a significant story or that it shouldn’t be the top subject on the news.
I also didn’t doubt the importance of climate change.
I merely considered the possibility that dedicating 23 minutes of a bulletin that is less than half an hour in length would be considered “somewhat overdoing it.”
What’s intriguing about this, though, is how the BBC—an organization I have frequently defended in Parliament—reacts to even the most insignificant complaint or query.
Gently pondered, said Edwards, “eh? I start to wonder how you can use patronizing sarcasm if someone says, “Before we got on to the minor and meaningless matter of who might end up leading the country!” Oh my Lord.
But what’s interesting about this is how the BBC, an organization I have frequently defended in Parliament, reacts to even the most trivial criticism or query.
Firefighters have described the fires destroying homes and buildings in London as “total hell,” with 1,600 cries for help, the evacuation of families after at least five properties were destroyed, and two individuals being treated for smoke inhalation in hospitals.
As a result of the UK’s “tinderbox” dry conditions, which have led wildfires to pose a threat to houses, animals, and people, hundreds of fire teams are currently battling roaring inferno throughout Scotland, Wales, and the rest of England.
Fire departments in London, Hertfordshire, and Leicestershire declared major incidents after receiving tens of thousands of calls, so residents are warned not to contact unless there is an emergency as automatic fire alarms won’t trigger a response.
The Met Office reported that at least 34 regions of the country beat the previous national record for the UK of 38.7C today, with the new record being set by Coningsby, Lincolnshire, which reached an extraordinary 40.3C (104.54) and witnessed highs of 40.2C as well (104.4F).
Scotland saw its hottest day ever, reaching 34.8C (94.64) at Charterhall, and Wales may surpass its previous high of 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire, established yesterday.
An ‘Azores High’ subtropical pressure system that is pushing further north than usual and a jet of hot air from north Africa and the Sahara, both of which experts attribute to climate change, are to blame for the excessive heat.
Forecasters indicated an absolute maximum of 43C (109F) is possible later; therefore, England’s highs today are on par with those of the hottest places in all of Europe.
Additionally, the UK is hotter than Barbados, Jamaica, and the Maldives.
Nearly 15,000 homes in the North East lost power at around 2 p.m. as a result of the “severe heat,” when electrical equipment overheated due to the record-breaking temperatures.
In addition, roads have been stopped as a result of fires that started today on important highways like the M25 and M1.
Exceeded the previous record high for the UK of 38.7C (101.7F) in Cambridge in July 2019. 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent in August 2003 is in third position, and 38.1C (100.6F) yesterday in Suffolk is in fourth.
In other parts of England this afternoon, the temperature reached highs of 39.9C (103.8F) at Charlwood by lunchtime, 39.6C (103.3F) at Kew Gardens in West London, 39.3C (102.7F) at Wisley in Surrey, and 39.2C (102.6F) at both Chertsey in Surrey and Northolt in West London – all of which were higher than the all-time high for the UK set in 2019.
As wildfires, excessive heat, and pressure on the water supply begin to affect Britain, the UK is also being warned that these temperatures may soon become the “new normal.
“These conditions have long plagued Europe.