Tory MP Christopher Chope has attacked a move to tackle climate change as “virtue signalling”.
On Tuesday, Conservative backbencher Alex Chalk introduced a bill that would require the UK to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Chalk, the MP for Cheltenham, said his proposed law was “radical, necessarily and unapologetically so”.
He told the Commons the impact of human activity on the climate was “established beyond all reasonable doubt”.
But Chope said MPs supporting the bill were letting their “emotions get the better of them” and questioned if it could achieve its goal.
He said it was an “expensive and extravagant virtue signal” and MPs should “pause for a moment and think about the need to carry out proper cost/benefit analysis before we implement changes in legislation”.
The MP for Christchurch was heckled with cries of “rubbish” from other Tories.
Chope said the Climate Change (Net Zero UK Carbon Account) Bill, should not be simply approved without debate.
He has gained a reputation for opposing legislation proposed by backbenchers.
In February he opposed a bill that would have aided the prevention of female genital mutilation of children.
He also deploying the same blocking tactic to prevent a bill aimed at making upskirting a criminal offence.