Janet Street-Porter has slammed the government’s response to the ongoing UK heatwave, which she claimed they are ‘not taking seriously.’
Today, the nation has recorded temperatures of 40°C degrees for the first time ever, with the heat only set to rise.
Last night was the UK’s hottest night on record, according to provisional Met Office figures.
However, the UK is not used to seeing these temperatures, and it’s caused chaos across the transport network and beyond.
On today’s Loose Women, Janet, Brenda Edwards, Coleen Nolan and Kaye Adams reacted to the extreme heat, and questioned the government’s response.
Janet began: ‘The inner-city, at the moment, is not bearable and the houses we live in are not constructed for this heat.
She went on to share how it ‘annoys’ her that politicians ‘don’t seem to be taking it seriously.’
‘They’re electing our next Prime Minister and is this anywhere on the agenda?’ Janet asked.
Over the weekend, it was reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would be set to miss a Cobra meeting on the heatwave, so he could host a leaving party at his Chequers residence instead.
A Tory source told Sky News: ‘The invitation comes from Mr and Mrs Johnson.
‘It is their farewell bash at Chequers this weekend. Partners and children are all invited.’
Brenda weighed in: ‘I’m just really surprised that with mother nature how it is, we can’t deal with rain, we can’t deal with snow, and now we can’t deal with heat.’
Kaye went on to note how this is due to the fact the UK has generally had a ‘moderate climate’ up until now.
‘Now, what they’re telling us, is that we’re moving into a new phase, that we will see extremes.
‘We have built this country on the basis that we have a moderate climate, but we don’t have a moderate climate anymore,’ the show anchor added.
The four panelists all agreed that the weather has caused them to feel more concerned about climate change, with Brenda sharing: ‘I’ve been aware of it from where everyone’s been talking about.
‘But it’s the one thing the politicians don’t seem to want to talk about. We’ve been watching Prime Minister’s Questions, the change of the weather was kind of on a backburner.’
Kaye pointed out some advice has suggested Britons spend more time in cooler places, like churches, supermarkets and libraries, to shield themselves from the heat.
But Janet wasn’t having any of it, telling her fellow stars: ‘This is laughable. So we deal with climate change by popping along to Tesco and Sainsburys and asking, “Can you stay open all night so I can sleep next to the freezer?”
‘It’s absolutely mad!’
As the heat continues, travel chaos is expected on the transport network today after the sweltering heat suspended flights at two airports, because their runways had apparently ‘melted’.
Forecasters are urging people to stay in the shade during the hottest hours – 11am to 4pm – and to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV.
