Boris Johnson Has Been Replaced By A Block Of Ice For Climate Debate

Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage have been replaced by two blocks of ice for tonight's climate change debate.

Producers at Channel 4 had the sculptures made after the Prime Minister and the leader of the Brexit Party refused to appear on the hour-long environment special.

They have said they represent 'the emergency on planet Earth'.

Johnson and Farage were set to face the leaders of the other five major parties - Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the LibDems' Jo Swinson, Green Party leader Sian Berry, Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP, and Plaid Cymru's Adam Price - to discuss their approach to the climate crisis.

PA

Johnson had offered for Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to appear instead, but the request was rejected by producers.

Speaking about the debate, Ben de Pear, editor of Channel 4 News, said: "These two ice sculptures represent the emergency on planet Earth, not in any human form but are a visual metaphor for the Conservative and Brexit parties after their leaders declined our repeated invitations to attend tonight's vital climate debate."

In a last ditch attempt to have the government represented in the debate, Johnson actually sent Gove down to the television studios, but he was refused entry.

Even the Prime Minister's father Stanley offered to step in, but he too was snubbed.

Sharing a photograph of the pair on Twitter, de Pear said: "In a last ditch attempt ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ has sent his two wing men best friend ⁦@michaelgove⁩ and dad Stanley Johnson to argue their way into a programme intended only for leaders. they were lovely and charming but neither are the leader #climatedebate."

He later added: "Just to be clear I went and asked all the party leaders if they would appear with @michaelgove and they all politely declined so he left. This was always a leaders debate and only a leaders debate."

Clive Lewis, Labour's shadow treasury minister, slammed the Prime Minister for failing to take part in the debate.

He said: "Boris Johnson is a coward and a bully. He thinks he is born to rule and is so used to getting his own way that he turns nasty when anyone dares challenge him. Britain deserves a prime minister that has enough of a backbone to face up to scrutiny."

Topics: Environment, Interesting, Politics

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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