UKIP chairs Wales climate committee

UKIP is to chair the Welsh Assembly’s climate change, environment and rural affairs committee.

The climate change committee is the only one allocated to UKIP out of the 13 committees divided among the parties based on the number of AMs they have.

In its manifesto for last month’s Welsh Assembly elections, UKIP pledged to axe the £73m Welsh budget for climate change.

Nigel Farage’s party also pledged to put an end to “unsightly” wind turbines in Wales in an effort to prevent developments in rural areas.

The 48-page document made no other mention of energy.

Nominations for committee chairs opened this afternoon, with a secret ballot to be held tomorrow between 12.00-15.00.

A spokesman for Wales Young Greens said the party is “disgusted” that the Welsh Assembly has appointed UKIP as the chair of the climate change committee.

“The UK Independence Party are not the right party or politicians to chair Wales’ climate change discussion.

“For Wales to lead the way in the pursuit of sustainability and fighting climate, Wales needs a forward thinking party to lead the way.”

Image: UKIP leader Nigel Farage (Paul Grover)