PM: Thatcher gave the UK an 'early start' on climate change, by closing the coal mines

Boris Johnson is reported to have said that Margaret Thatcher deserves credit for closing the UK's coal mines in the 1980s, and that it was her 'forgotten legacy' in the fight against climate change.

Controversially he is said to have laughed, adding 'I thought that would get you going'.

The PM made the comments during a briefing to newspaper journalist while on a trip to Scotland to visit off shore wind projects.

[catmonarchist]

Genghis khan reduced man made emissions by over 10% . Maggie looks like an amateur by comparison

[fordprefect]

I remember her labeling environmentalists as 'Green Terrorists' back in the day.

[StoutProper]

He thinks we’re all stupid, all we did was import German and Chinese coal to go in our coal fired power stations which thatcher didn’t close

[AngelTiel]

And Hitler gave the world a head start on the global population crisis I suppose...

[mrgrant]

When Boris was writing columns in the daily telegraph he helped the newspapers sell less papers and saved trees🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

[lupooflunarorigin]

Laughable. The UK still used the same amount of coal, they just shipped it in from countries where wages were cheaper

[EastT]

Exporting UK’s industrial production to China made no difference to ‘climate change’. Made a difference to corporate profits however, and created systematic long term unemployment and low wages.

[proffzzix]

It had nothing to do with climate change and more to do with killing an industry that had caused previous Tory Gov'ts problems. I suppose causing the death of manufacturing and steel making in UK was part of the strategy. BJ shows a total lack of understanding what the loss of the mines did to communities in this country which are still suffering in many areas

[thugzfunny]

They are actually laughing at us now.
I can’t be the only one that sees this is wrong

[clivethomas]

My community was decimated by Thatcher when she closed our coal mine.

[GreenMorningDragonProductions]

Oh riiiight. Did she also put us at the vanguard of veganism by stopping school milk?

[RD-jrnv]

Rule number 1. When on the political rocks, don’t praise thatcher.

[deanlowdon]

Surely even Boris doesn’t believe Thatcher closed the coal mines because of climate change!? 😂

[biggusdickkus]

True tory sensitivity coming out there, thousands of jobs lost, village life ruined.. And it's just a joke to them.

[pauldg]

Hmm Boris laughs. This ladies and gentlemen is what happens when a totally inept clown becomes the leader of the government.

[calastyphon]

Is everyone stupid or what? Boris did not say that Margret Thatcher intended to help the environment by closing the coal mines, he merely stated the fact that it did help the environment.

[RobinHood-qyvt]

A daily reminder that YOURE the carbon that these psychopaths want to reduce.

[bigears]

It's never about the climate, it's all about raising taxes. Don't fall for the lies.

[TheCrimsonAvenger]

Thatcher ridiculed the unemployed after destroying British industry and investing abroad.

[paulhoskin]

UK 63 million
China 1.3 billion
India 1.3 billion
I don't think our efforts at climate change will made any difference