UK Climate Deniers Ridley and Paterson Join the Campaign to Leave the EU

onJan 6, 2016 @ 00:01 PST

Matt Ridley and Owen Paterson are the latest climate deniers to come out in favour of the UK leaving the European Union.

The coal baron and former environment minister have both joined the group Business for Britain, which will launch a pro-Brexit campaign in the north east of England today.

The two join Lord Lawson, ex-chancellor and head of the climate denying Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), who announced in October that he would lead the Conservative campaign to leave the EU.

UKIP’s Nigel Farage – famous for saying he has “no idea” about climate change – has also given his support to the Grassroots Out campaign group, which plans to target “ordinary” voters in the lead up to the referendum.

The news comes as Prime Minister David Cameron announced yesterday that ministers will be allowed to campaign for either side of the EU referendum once a deal is reached on Britain’s relationship with the EU.

The referendum is set to be held before the end of 2017.

By Kyla Mandel

Kyla is a freelance writer and editor with work appearing in the New York Times, National Geographic, HuffPost, Mother Jones, and Outside. She is also a member of the Society for Environmental Journalists.

uk/Who Funds Nigel Farage? Mapping His Millions

BySam Bright

onApr 18, 2026 @ 09:58 PDT

Live tracker of the Reform leader’s personal income.

Series: Defending Democracy from Dirty Money

Series: Defending-UK-Democracy

uk/Nigel Farage Has Personally Accepted £675,000 from Foreign Sources

BySam Bright

onApr 18, 2026 @ 09:40 PDT

A-third of the Reform leader’s income has come from overseas interests since he became an MP.

Series: Defending Democracy from Dirty Money

Series: Defending-UK-Democracy

‘Get Rid of MAHA’: Trump Alliance Cracks as Climate Denialists Turn on RFK Jr.’s Movement

ByRachel Santarsiero

onApr 17, 2026 @ 06:54 PDT

At the Heartland Institute’s annual climate conference, fossil fuel allies warn MAHA’s push on regulating chemicals and plastics could threaten the oil industry — exposing a growing rift inside Trump’s base.