Essex Reform scraps net zero – but what happens next?

Almost exactly a decade ago, during the Brexit referendum campaign, Michael Gove made one of the most memorable remarks of the era when he declared that “people in this country have had enough of experts”. The comment was made in response to economists warning that Brexit would leave the UK poorer. For supporters it was a rejection of an out-of-touch establishment. For critics it became a symbol of a growing willingness to dismiss expert evidence when it proved politically inconvenient.

Essex Reform scraps net zero – but what happens next?. Almost exactly a decade ago, during the Brexit referendum campaign, Michael Gove made one of the most memorable remarks of the era when he declared that “people in this country have had enough of experts”. The comment was made in response to economists warning that Brexit would leave the UK poorer. For supporters it was a rejection of an out-of-touch establishment. For critics it became a symbol of a growing willingness to dismiss expert evidence when it proved politically inconvenient. That history came to mind during Essex County Council’s first full meeting under Reform UK control. One of Reform’s first significant policy announcements yesterday was the effective cancellation of the council’s net zero agenda. Council leader Peter Harris described net zero as “net stupid zero” and t...