‘Back-stabbing’ accusations have been thrown around during a furious outburst from one councillor while discussing climate change.

Opposition parties discussed the progress of Wokingham Borough Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan at a meeting this week that started amicably but soon took a dramatic turn.

Executive member for climate emergency and resident services, Liberal Democrat Cllr Sarah Kerr, started the meeting by thanking council members for “unanimously” declaring a climate emergency in 2019. 

This move saw the council pledge to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030.

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“Unbelievably, we still live in a world of climate change deniers and sceptics, so to know that this crucial agenda has the full support of Wokingham Borough Council politicians is a fantastic base upon which to build.” she said. 

However, Cllr Kerr’s predecessor, Conservative Cllr Gregor Murray, objected to the report and accused an “anonymous Judas” of stabbing the council’s climate officers in the back during the furious outburst. 

He spoke of Wokingham’s place in the top 10 out of 400 councils following a six-month review of their climate action plans by an organisation called Climate Emergency UK.  

“The jubilation rightly felt across the officer group quickly fell to heartache, resentment and despondency though when an anonymous person decided that it wasn’t acceptable to them that Wokingham had performed so well. 

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“The mysterious individual, who I have reason to believe is in this chamber tonight, contacted Climate Emergency UK and provided them with so-called evidence that has not been shared anywhere else that resulted in Wokingham being downgraded to 22nd overall.” 

Cllr Murray said officers felt being downgraded by an “anonymous Judas” was a “stab in the back”, suggesting the individual “should be ashamed” of themself. 

“Personally, I don’t understand how you can show your conceited face to the officers, they deserve so much better,” he added. 

Speaking out against Cllr Murray, the executive member for children’s services, Liberal Democrat Cllr Prue Bray, said she was “gobsmacked” by the idea that “not being honest” about what was in the plan constituted a “betrayal of the council”. 

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Cllr Murray interrupted to claim that “no officer lied” in the submission to Climate Emergency UK, which prompted Cllr Bray to clarify that she was “not accusing any officer of having lied”. 

“I just can’t believe you are prepared to play games of the nature that you’re playing and I’m very sorry that you’ve changed the tone and spoken as you have,” she added. 

Cllr Bray continued by saying she supported the findings of the latest report, which summarised the borough’s current carbon profile and the council’s performance for the last year, as well as recommending gaps that need addressing. 

“It’s still not a finished work it’s a work in progress but, if we don’t make some progress soon, we are going to be in real trouble as a planet,” she added.  

Labour’ Cllr Andy Croy said the latest recommendations were “much more honest” but also suggested that a “more ambitious approach” is required.