Lib Dems call for COBRA meeting as Britain braces for second heatwave

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to hold an urgent COBRA meeting on this week's soaring temperatures.

The party is calling on the Government to ensure proper resilience measures are in place to protect the health service and key national infrastructure which can be acutely affected by heat, with rising hospital admissions and travel delays potentially impacting large areas of the country.

Amber alerts covering Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West are in place until Wednesday morning, with a yellow alert for the North West covering the same time frame.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

“The Government must convene COBRA to ensure it is not caught flat-footed as temperatures rise. We need urgent coordination to protect lives, keep essential services running, and ensure our NHS isn’t overwhelmed.

“We’re already experiencing the second heatwave this month alone, and extreme weather events are on the rise. This impacts everyone, from the health of the elderly and vulnerable, the safety of children in our schools and the security of our crops.

“The Government must be taking proactive steps to secure national infrastructure and build resilience in the face of this onslaught of heat.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

More than 10,000 people died before their time in summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Reported by the Guardian here.