Freak Out!

​It will come as a great relief to many people, particularly those whose homes have been devastated by flooding, to learn that these latest floods are merely ‘freak events.’ That is at least the assessment of George Eustace MP, a former public relations executive who now holds in Johnson’s Cabinet the position of Environment Secretary. He described the flooding as such when interviewed on the BBC Ten O’clock news last night. What were once described as once in a hundred year events now seem capable of happening twice a week. Nothing to do with changing weather patterns brought on by climate change. Just ’freak’ events. I wonder if the insurance industry shares the same view? What a shame Eustace wasn’t tasked with presiding over this year’s climate change talks, he could have reassured everybody not to worry too much. Never mind that what climate scientists predicted 10 or 20 years ago is now coming to pass. Winters they said would see less snow and more rain. Never mind ’red walls’ we’ll need flood walls.