The campaign by environmentalists to have a Northern Ireland minister sacked for banning a government climate-change advertising campaign gathered pace today.
Stormont environment minister Sammy Wilson has attracted the wrath of the green fraternity over his insistence mankind is not responsible for global warming.
An online petition - Fire Sammy Wilson - set up by the Green Party, attracted well over 500 signatories in the first 24 hours, according to the party.
Several messages left by those signing the petition said Mr Wilson was “not fit for office”. Others branded him “an idiot” and said he was “making a laughing stock of Northern Ireland”.
Green Party Assembly member Brian Wilson said: “It is clear from the response to the petition that Sammy Wilson has lost the confidence of the public and his views are incompatible to those of Environment Minister. He should resign.”
The party’s European election candidate in Northern Ireland, Steven Agnew, added: “I have been receiving calls from across England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland and farther afield about our ridiculous environment minister.
“He is bringing Northern Ireland into disrepute and damaging our ability to attract investment.”
Mr Wilson, the MP for East Antrim, believes recent climate changes are merely part of every-changing weather patterns of the earth over millions of years.
He branded as “patent nonsense” and banned in the North an advertising campaign drawn up by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in Whitehall which. He said the campaign suggested that by switching off standby lights on TVs people could save the world.
The Green Party has tabled a motion in the Stormont Assembly calling for the minister’s removal from office.
A spokesman for Mr Wilson said he was making no comment on the growing petition.
PA