"The Tory party's intellectuals are clambering on the "global warming isn't caused by mankind" bandwagon with as much enthusiasm as they used to oppose the Maastricht treaty or speak up for apartheid South Africa."

That reprehensible sentence is unworthy of Jackie Ashley but she writes it in today's Guardian.

"Dear Ms Ashley,

Five things:

1. I am open to the possibility that the climate is changing and it is man-made.

2. We should improve energy efficiency and diversify energy supplies but I do not believe that we should turn the UK economy upside down in order to reduce our carbon footprint when I think it highly likely that small changes made here will be overwhelmed by what happens in India, for example (where 30% of people have no electricity), and China.

3. If we want to improve the welfare of the world's poorest we are better focusing on giving them clean water; fighting malaria, HIV/AIDS; and, in particular, lifting trade barriers.

4. A richer world is much more likely to cope with extreme weather events.

5. I have never supported apartheid and resent what you wrote this morning.

Tim Montgomerie"