Two Hounslow councillors have come under fire over comments about climate change as London faces drought conditions following an exceptionally hot summer.
Cllr Darshan Nagi, a Conservative cllr for Hounslow East, described climate change as a “natural process” in a Facebook comment. The comment was made beneath a Brentford Today post about Hounslow Reform leader Cllr Tony Brown reposting comments on X which described the “climate emergency” as a “big hoax”.
Cllr Nagi wrote that climate change had been happening since the Ice Age and would continue, adding criticism of organisations campaigning on climate change and government charges linked to environmental policies.
The comments remain publicly visible on Facebook.
Cllr Jack Emsley, leader of the Hounslow Conservative Group, said Cllr Nagi’s comments did not represent the position of the wider group or Conservative policy.
In a written statement, Cllr Nagi said his original comment had been “clumsy” but rejected the suggestion that he believed climate change was not real. He said: “The comment on Facebook doesn’t represent the view of the party or the Conservative Group. I was trying to convey that climate change is a big process that won’t be stopped by one country alone pursuing net zero. I appreciate my comment was quite clumsy, but at no point have I said climate change isn’t real.”
Cllr Nagi said his criticism was directed at policies he believes focus too heavily on raising revenue rather than mitigating the effects of climate change.
Cllr Brown was also asked about posts he had shared on X, including comments describing climate change as a hoax and suggesting scientists were “hiding something”. He said his position was “quite nuanced” and argued that reposting or liking content did not necessarily represent his definitive view.
However, the LDRS established that Cllr Brown had reposted the comments, rather than simply liking them. X does not allow users to see other people’s likes.
Cllr Brown said economic growth and prosperity were important to enabling societies to respond effectively to climate change. He also criticised the cost of net zero policies, arguing that high industrial electricity prices could damage the UK’s competitiveness. He said declarations of a climate emergency could be “more performative than substantial” and risk wasting public money.
The comments have drawn criticism from Hounslow Reform cllr Salman Shaheen.
He accused the Conservatives of “burying their heads in the sand” over the effects of climate change.
Cllr Shaheen said: “Don’t Look Up was meant to be a warning, not a guidebook.”
He pointed to Hounslow Council’s work on climate resilience, including plans to prepare for heatwaves and flooding, tree planting and measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
The council is also developing a Hounslow Heat Network and Strategic Energy Partnership, while installing solar panels on school rooftops.
Cllr Shaheen said these projects could bring green investment and jobs into the borough while reducing costs for businesses and residents.
The political row comes as London faces significant water shortages.
A hosepipe ban has been introduced across London following an exceptionally hot summer, with rivers and water levels lower than normal.
Parts of the capital experienced up to 42 consecutive days without measurable rainfall by August 2026.
The conditions have intensified debate over how councils and governments should respond to rising temperatures, water shortages and the longer-term effects of climate change.
