Prime Minister and Hampshire MP get heated over BBQ ban

Boris Johnson and the Test Valley's Caroline Nokes debate the issue

Published 20th Jul 2022

There's a warning the continued warm weather still poses risks of more wildfires.

Emergency crews were called to several across the country yesterday (Tuesday 19th July) - on what was the UK's hottest day ever.

We've also seen blazes on Salisbury Plain over the last week, the New Forest remains on an amber wildfire alert and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has urged caution.

One regional service said the number of open fires could have tripled this week, with the Met Office warning that most of England was at an exceptional risk of them.

The London Fire Brigade has called for a ban on disposable barbecues, as they attended more than 1,000 dry grass fires caused by them since June.

Hampshire MP Caroline Nokes has taken the issue to Prime Minister’s Questions, paying tribute to the fire fighters and asking the Prime Minister to ban disposable BBQs and Chinese Lanterns.

In response, Boris Johnson said ‘the key thing is for people to behave responsibly, it’s clearly insane to put a BBQ on dry grass’.

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