'Ignorant pommy weather girl': Lib MP doubles down after 'schooling' on breakfast TV

Liberal MP Craig Kelly has hit back at critics after he was lambasted on British television as a climate denialist.

The Liberal member for Hughes, NSW, appeared on morning TV in England defending the prime minister for holidaying during the recent bushfire crisis and denying the link between heightened bushfire danger and climate change.

The appearance has created a firestorm in the already politically-charged debate in Australia and comes less than 48 hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison tried to reassure the public that his government does not deny the science of climate change.

However Mr Kelly has dug his heels in, calling a meteorologist who dressed him down on air as an “ignorant pommy weather girl” in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning.

Good Morning Britain weather presenter Laura Tobin accused the MP of being a climate denier.

“You have the second highest carbon emission on earth and you are burying your head in the sand. You're not a climate sceptic - you're a climate denier,” she said.

He also claimed there was no evidence to suggest a long-term trend towards a warming climate.

During the TV appearance, Mr Kelly repeated the disputed claim that high fuel loads were mainly to blame for the scale of the fires.

There was no evidence of warming, Kelly says

"You have to look at the science and what our scientists are telling us," he said. He also claimed there was no evidence to suggest a long-term trend towards a warming climate.

Mr Kelly also happens to be the chair of Parliamentary Friends of Coal Exports.

Scientists have disputed claims a lack of hazard reduction burns have led to the size of the bushfires, with ex-fire chiefs blaming the effects of climate change.

Despite being scolded by presenter Piers Morgan who told him to “wake up”, Mr Kelly has continued to double down on his dubious claims.

"You are facing now one of the greatest crises you have ever faced, and there is you... who still doesn't think this has anything to do with a heating up planet," Morgan said.

"Climate change and global warming are real and Australia right now is showing the entire world just how devastating it is."

Mr Kelly claimed Morgan "didn't want to hear the facts" and "the weather girl had no idea what she was talking about".

Ms Tobin, who has a degree is physics and meteorology took issue with the suggestion.

Mr Kelly also defended his appearance on ABC radio this morning, shrugging off suggestions that he embarrassed his government.

“You were schooled by a weather reporter,” host Tom Tilley said to Mr Kelly.

“The weather girl had no idea what she was talking about,” the Liberal MP responded.

Accused of embarrassing Coalition

Asked whether he thinks he embarrassed the Coalition government, and its leader, who has recently repositioned himself as more concerned about the affects of climate change, Mr Kelly remained defiant.

“Don’t you think you embarrassed the prime minister rather than defending him?” Tilley asked. “What do you think your colleagues will make of your performance?”

Mr Kelly said he was simply doing his job during a national crisis and accused others of trying to score political points during the ongoing disaster.

“We have had these disasters in the past. Everybody’s got behind the leader. Unfortunately, during this disaster, we’ve seen people trying to exploit it for political advantage.”

Prior to last year’s federal election, Mr Kelly looked set to lose pre-selection for his seat but was saved when Scott Morrison intervened to ensure he held his position.

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