John Redwood

Credentials

• DPhil, St. Anthony’s College (1972). [1]
• MA, Magdalen College (1971). [2]
• Kent College (1968). [3]

Background

John Redwood is a Conservative Party politician and has been the MP for Wokingham since 1987. Between 1993 and 1995, Redwood held the position of Secretary of State for Wales under John Major, before resigning from the cabinet to stand against Major in the Conservative Party leadership election of June 1995. Redwood lost, but stood again in the leadership election following the resignation of Major in 1997, where he was again unsuccessful. [4]

A long-serving Eurosceptic, Redwood wrote in 2011 that it would be best for the Eurozone to “break up,” and since the Referendum has become a member of hard Brexit campaign group Leave Means Leave. Other members include Jacob Rees-Mogg and Owen Paterson, the latter being connected to climate science denial organisation the Global Warming Policy Foundation through Matt Ridley, his brother-in-law. [5], [6], [7]

The links between Redwood and hardline Brexit organisations, as well as climate science denial organisations, are not hard to find. Global Vision, a pro-Brexit group founded by euro- and climate sceptic Ruth Lea, lists Redwood as one of its “Parliamentary Friends.” Global Vision is one of the organisations resident at 55 Tufton Street, the heart of the network of climate science denial and pro-Brexit lobby groups. [8]

Stance on Climate Change

February 11, 2014

In a debate on Sky News about flooding and climate change, Redwood claimed that natural variability, and not man-made emissions, is to blame for the climate changing: [11]

“What we’ve got to do in Britain—a relatively small, but relatively prosperous country—is to make sure that we spend our money wisely and adapt to the conditions as they change.

Climate is always changing, and we had extreme floods apparently along these lines over 100 years ago until 300 years ago. So these extreme events do occur from time to time.”

[…]

“The climate changes for all sorts of reasons, I mean volcanic activity, the jet stream, water vapour in the atmosphere, cloud formation and the sun’s cycles as well as man-made carbon dioxide, which some people seem to think is the only driver of it.”

Key Quotes

February 7, 2022

Remarking on the UK’s continuing gas crisis, Redwood tweeted: [26]

“When will the Business department announce permissions and support for new domestic gas production to generate more tax revenue and less CO2? When will they reduce their penal carbon prices which are forcing U.K. industry out of business, leaving us more reliant on imports?”

January 8, 2022

Commenting on the UK’s gas crisis in light of record-high prices, Redwood tweeted: [25]

“More gas is the answer to a gas crisis. We need it to heat our homes and fuel our factories. We also need it as back up for electricity generation when the wind does not blow or blows too much. Let’s have some more U.K. sourced gas as well as more windmills.”

January 7, 2022

In response to discussions about the government’s net zero plans, Redwood tweeted: “If the government wants us to grow less food, produce less energy and stop making diesel and petrol cars how would it like us to learn a living?” [24]

November 29, 2012

On a blog post for Redwood’s website, he referred to climate change as “global warming theory.” In response to a comment on the same blog post, Redwood wrote: [12]

“If you assume the worst then there is absolutely no point in spending any money trying to prevent inevitable climate change.”

June 13, 2011

In a blog post at his website, Redwood wrote: [15]

“ I was pleased to hear today that a government adviser is thinking of proposing that global warming is removed as part of the national curriculum.”

April 10, 2008

Redwood wrote on his blog: [13]

“Al Gore and The BBC climate change propoganda [sic] machine tell us the science of climate change is settled – all sensible scientists believe in global warming, and think the major cause is human produced CO2.

“This reveals an ignorance of the way science works. Science is never settled. “

[…]

“I was pleased to hear a BBC programme on Sunday pointing out that adaptation to climate change was a sensible response in addition to or rather than trying to cut carbon emissions.”

April 7, 2008

In a blog post, Redwood declared: [14]

“I look out of my window to see my garden frozen solid, covered in frost and snow. It is April 7th, and I have just turned the heating up […] Will the government please give us some accurate figures of temperature trends over the last 100 years, given the disputes we read about over the very simple question ‘Has it been getting warmer or not?’”

Key Deeds

May 2016

Redwood’s signature was one of many on a letter to then-energy secretary Amber Rudd, arguing that the UK setting “radical” climate targets would not reduce overall emissions for Europe, since other countries in the EU would just take less action. [16]

As DeSmog UK reported, the majority of signatories were part of the small and influential network of Eurosceptic and climate science denial groups. [17]

October 2, 2013

Redwood blamed rising energy prices on the climate policies of then-climate change secretary Ed Miliband. He also writes that the future of energy for Britain should include more oil and gas and less “heavily subsidised and very dear” wind energy. [18]

July 2012

In an open letter to the Director General of the BBC, Redwood attacked the broadcasting company for “institutional bias” in matters of the EU and climate change. Redwood claimed that pro-EU opinions are given preference in airtime and were interrupted less, and believed the same was true for those who are concerned about climate change. [19]

October 2010

Redwood was among a small group of politicians who met with climate sceptics on “Climate Fools Day,” hosted by Sammy Wilson MP. [20]

The event was intended to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Climate Change Act of 2008. Prominent climate sceptic blog Watts Up With That described it as a “small enthusiastic, slightly eccentric“ gathering of about seventy people. [21]

Affiliations

• The Selsdon Group — President. [22]
• The Bow Group — Senior Patron. [1]
• Global Vision — Formerly listed as a “Parliamentary Friend.” [8]
• All Soul’s College — Distinguished Fellow (since 2007). [2]
• Pan Asset — Chairman since 2007. [2]
• Economic Competitiveness Review for the Opposition — Chairman since 2005. [2]
• Concentric PLC — Chairman since 2003. [2]
• Shadow Deregulation Secretary of State — 2003 to 2005. [2]
• Shadow Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry —1997 to 1999. [2]
• Secretary of State for Wales —1993 to 1995. [2]
• Minister of State for Local Government and Inner Cities — 1992 to 1993. [2]
• Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry — 1990 to 1992. [2]
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs — 1989 to 1990. [2]
• Norcros PLC — Director, then Chairman (1985 to 1989). [2]
• NM Rothschild And Son — Director (1985 to 1989). [2]
• All Souls College — Fifty-Pound Fellow (1980 to 1987). [2]
• Head, Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, 10 Downing Street — 1983 to 1985. [2]
• NM Rothschild Asset Management — Manager, then Director, Head of Investment Research (1977 to 1983). [2]
• Robert Fleming And Co.  — Investment Analyst (1974 to 1977). [2]

Social Media

• @johnredwood/@sirredwoodmp on Twitter
• John Redwood on Linkedin

Publications

Redwood has written repeatedly on climate change at his blog. For example:

• “What happened to the record temperature?“ August 2, 2018.
• “Politically correct language and decency,” January 7, 2016.
• “The Today programme does more of the same with a Guest editor,” December 29, 2015.
• “Climate change and the roles of the UN,” December 13, 2015.
• “Who is burning coal?” December 6, 2015.
• “Carbon dioxide disasters,” October 2, 2015. 
• “Carbon dioxide and pollution,” September 26, 2015.
• “The need for cheaper energy – and to keep the lights on,” September 10, 2015.
• “Preparing for the Paris climate change conference,” July 8, 2015.
• “Owen Paterson’s global warming speech,” October 20, 2014.
• “Waning interest in global warming by world leaders,” September 23, 2014.
• “Can scientists predict the weather in 50 years time?” May 17, 2014.
• “The long term weather,” March 28, 2014.
• “Debating with George Monbiot,” February 11, 2014.
• “Lots of weather and not much climate,” January 6, 2014.
• “Today’s Guest editors don’t make good programmes,” December 28, 2013.
• “Energy bills,” October 18, 2013.
• “Debating global warming,” September 12, 2013.
• “Tony Abbott wins his ‘referendum on the repeal of the carbon tax’,” September 8, 2013.
• “The Chinese publish materials on global warming,” June 13, 2013.
• “The EU ‘gets it’ but does nothing about it,” May 24, 2013.
• “How the Greens annoy many people,” March 25, 2013.
• “Little support for extension of Kyoto to combat Global Warming,” December 12, 2012.
• “The BBC in overdrive for global warming theory and the EU,” November 29, 2012.
• “All change at the BBC?” November 24, 2012.
• “Some questions for the BBC,” November 12, 2012.
• “A very wet drought,” April 19, 2012.
• “Challenging establishment orthodoxies,” March 10, 2012.
• “All change, climate change?” January 31, 2012.
• “Popular and unpopular greenery,” October 21, 2011.
• “More weather, less climate,” September 4, 2011.
• “Climate change policies and energy prices,” June 13, 2011.
• “Weather and climate,” June 12, 2011. 
• “Global Warming policies and industry,” March 15, 2011.
• “Early spring delayed by wrong kind of snow on the ground,” February 17, 2010.
• “Climate change predictions,” January 18, 2010.
• “Not such a silly question?” January 8, 2010.
• “Parliament misses the mood – again,” January 6, 2010.
• “Follow the science?” January 4, 2010.
• “Why is it so cold?” September 12, 2008.
• “We need practical greenery, not more taxes,” July 20, 2008.
• “The public see sense on climate change – pity about the government,” June 22, 2008.
• “What the government failed to tell us,” April 28, 2008.
• “UK human CO2 output represents 0.0025% of greenhouse gases.” April 10, 2008.
• “Is this what global warming is like?” April 7, 2008.
• “Inflation in a credit crunch – high interest rates will make the crunch worse,” March 10, 2008.
• “Climate change and CO2,” January 25, 2007.

Some of Redwood’s selected publications, listed at All Souls College Oxford, include: [23]

• After the Credit Crunch No More Boom and Bust (Middlesex University Press, 2009), 192pp
• I Want to Make a Difference – But I don’t Like Politics (Methuen, 2006), 244pp
• Superpower Struggles: Mighty America, Faltering Europe, Rising Asia (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005), 194pp
• Third Way – Which Way?: How Should We Pay For Public Services? (Middlesex University Press, 2002), 192pp
• Stars and Strife: The Coming Conflicts between the USA and the European Union (Palgrave, 2001)
• The Death of Britain: The UK‘s Constitutional Crisis (Macmillan, 1999)
• The Global Marketplace: Capitalism and its Future (Harper Collins Publishers, 1993)
• Popular Capitalism (Routledge, 1988)
• Public Enterprise in Crisis: The Future of the Nationalised Industries (Basil Blackwell, 1980)
• Reason, Ridicule and Religion: The Age of Enlightenment in England 1660–1750 (Thames and Hudson, 1976)

Resources

1. “The Rt Hon. Dr. John Redwood MP,” The Bow Group. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/TH7JG
2. “The Rt Hon Dr John Redwood,” All Soul’s College. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/rkud2
3. “John Redwood,” LinkedIn. Accessed December 20, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
4. “About: The Rt Hon John Redwood MP,” John Redwood. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/tfyYH
5. “Making the break,” The Economist, December 8, 2012. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/T4MLJ
6. “Let’s give up our EU veto and opt out instead,” The Telegraph, August 8, 2011. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/1OCIz
7. James Cusick. “Owen Paterson, his sceptic brother-in-law, and how Defra went cold on climate change,” Independent, November 29, 2013. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dRAvO
8. Tom Bawden. “The address where Eurosceptics and climate change sceptics rub shoulders,” Independent, February 10, 2016. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PSL5U
9. “Climate Scepticism in Parliament,” Campaign Against Climate Change. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/sSh4p
10. “John Redwood is a climate change denier,” Flourish.org, December 11, 2009. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/WGgwx
11. “Tom Burke – Sky News – Climate change and floods – 11FEB14,” YouTube video uploaded by user “Tom Burke,” February 12, 2014. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
12. “The BBC in overdrive for global warming theory and the EU,” John Redwood, November 29, 2012. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/wODfu
13. “UK human CO2 output represents 0.0025% of greenhouse gases,” John Redwood, April 10, 2008. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/G3eCB
14. “Is this what global warming is like?” John Redwood, April 7, 2008. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/snyge
15. “Climate change policies and energy prices,” John Redwood, June 13, 2011. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/UHEPG
16. Emily Gosden. “UK climate target will let rest of EU do less, MPs warn,” The Telegraph, May 14, 2016. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/5EYoE
17. Kyla Mandel. “MPs Who Complained About BBC‘s Brexit Coverage Linked to Network of Hardline Euro-Climate Sceptics,” DeSmog, March 23, 2017.
18. “John Redwood MP: Mr Miliband’s policies as Climate Change Secretary led to higher energy prices,” Get Reading, October 2, 2012. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/k0auH
19. “Open letter to the new DG of the BBC,” John Redwood, July 6, 2012. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/vo08x
20. “Cabal of climate sceptics to descend on UK parliament,” The Guardian, October 26, 2010. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/48nIs
21. Anthony Watts. “Who are the Climate Fools? – Climate Fools Day Recap,” Watts Up With That? November 2, 2010. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/VtypS
22. “Rt Hon John Redwood MP,” The Selsdon Group. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KkaDr
23. “The Rt Hon. John Redwood: List of Selected Publications” (PDF), All Soul’s College Oxford.
24. “If the government wants us to grow less food, produce less energy and stop making diesel and petrol cars how would it like us to earn a living?,” Tweet by @JohnRedwood, January 7, 2022. Retrieved from twitter.com. Archived January 7, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/RiVnc
25. “More gas is the answer to a gas crisis. We need it to heat our homes and fuel our factories. We also need it as back up for electricity generation when the wind does not blow or blows too much. Let’s have some more U.K. sourced gas as well as more windmills.,” Tweet by @JohnRedwood, January 8, 2022. Retrieved from twitter.com. Archived January 10, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/OtjRC
26. “When will the Business department announce permissions and support for new domestic gas production to generate more tax revenue and less CO2? When will they reduce their penal carbon prices which are forcing U.K. industry out of business, leaving us more reliant on imports?,” Tweet by @JohnRedwood, February 7, 2022. Retrieved from twitter.com. Archived February 9, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/XBRSh

Other Resources

• “John Redwood,” Wikipedia.
• “Profile: Vulcan in the House: John Redwood – He has enemies in the party, but even they defer to his razor-sharp mind, writes Donald Macintyre,” Independent, July 11, 1993.