Scoop: Letter from Elsewhere: What I heard John Key Say

In Parliament in May 2005, I heard John Key say, "The impact of the Kyoto Protocol, even if one believes in global warming—and I am somewhat suspicious of it—is that we will see billions and billions of dollars poured into fixing something that we are not even sure is a problem."

In November 2006 I heard John Key say, "I firmly believe in climate change and always have."

In May 2007 I heard John Key say, "I’m going to speak about the biggest environmental challenge of our time: global climate change. The National Party will ensure that New Zealand acts decisively to confront this challenge. The scientific consensus is clear: human-induced climate change is real and it’s threatening the planet. There are some armchair sceptics out there, but I’m not one of them."

In May 2007 I also heard him say, "Right now the only way farmers can significantly reduce their emissions is by selling their stock. Farmers all over the world are going to need a better way than that to be ‘climate-friendly’, so New Zealand should get ahead of the curve by pushing along research and development in this area."

In 2008 I heard John Key say, "The definition of environment is too broad, which allows costly and time-consuming arguments over irrelevant issues…National will simplify the [Resource Management] Act by limiting the definition of environment to natural and physical resources, and prohibiting objections with respect to trade competition.

Then in October 2008 I heard him say National would scrap the $700 million Fast Forward science and agricultural research scheme, and drop the 15 % tax credit for business research and development.

Rush Limbaugh: The man who's always Right - Telegraph

Limbaugh thinks there is a war going on between people like him who want small, efficient government and people who want a powerful state that decides who gets what. 'And they use hoaxes like global warming to advance their agenda of higher taxation and bigger government.'

Oh dear. You don't have to agree with his red-meat views to find them insightful. They represent, after all, the authentic voice of conservative, and neo-conservative, America. But there is one issue about which I think he is dangerously wrong. Global warming. After all, I point out, 98 per cent of the world's leading scientists in this area don't think global warming is a hoax.

He stares at me. 'Nigel, man-made global warming is a 100 per cent, full-fledged, undeniable hoax.'

That's his opinion. 'No, it's not even arguable in terms of science.'

Of course it is, I say, and he's being deliberately provocative to say it isn't. 'We don't have the power to make cold weather warm. We can't make warm weather cold. We can't produce rain clouds. We can't steer hurricanes, we can't produce diddly squat and the idea that only advanced democracies are doing this with their automobiles is absurd.

Global warming is a religion. It has what all religions have which is faith, because no one can prove their religion. It has a Garden of Eden element, destruction brought by humanity then redemption for our sins by paying higher taxes and getting rid of our cars and planes.'

Does part of him go after a subject like that just to wind people up?

'No, I believe it. I hate people who feel rather than think. Most people feel they don't matter. When they are told they can save the planet, well, that gives their lives meaning. These stupid ribbons – breast cancer, Aids awareness, they say – "I care more than you." ' He drums his fingers on the table again.