The Peter McCormack Show — Episode #054

Guest: Lois Perry
Topic: Net Zero, Government Lies, and the Future of Britain
Date: February 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Peter McCormack hosts activist and commentator Lois Perry for a candid, wide-ranging discussion on Net Zero policy, UK government dysfunction, civil service bloat, widespread public disillusionment, and the shifting landscape of British politics. Lois shares her perspectives as a vocal critic of Net Zero, her campaigning journey, the reality behind energy policy, and her involvement with the Heartland Institute. The episode traverses topics including media trust, public apathy, government corruption, and the rise of the Reform party—punctuated by memorable anecdotes, cultural references, and Lois’s distinctive Essex wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Net Zero Policy and Government Hypocrisy

• Critique of Current Policy: Lois argues the UK's Net Zero commitment has not reduced fossil fuel use, only shifted its production offshore, making Britain poorer (00:00, 05:41).
  • “We’re not using any less gas or oil, we’re not using any less at all. And we’re importing it all and we’re paying absolute fortunes because of it...” — Lois (00:00)
• Economic Consequences: She highlights soaring energy prices, half of which are attributed to carbon tax, and emergencies where the UK paid record sums to avoid blackouts (21:09, 22:19, 23:26).
  • “At the moment we’re paying £110 on average per megawatt hour of electricity. Now, £60 of that is actually carbon tax. It’s just madness.” — Lois (00:07)
• Renewables Paradox: Discussion on inefficiencies—UK pays wind companies to turn off turbines while struggling for backup power, missing market incentives for scaling practical energy solutions (25:26, 32:06).

2. Political and Media Culture

• Government Dysfunction & Civil Service Growth:
  • Rapid expansion of the civil service is contrasted with historical benchmarks—exposing modern inefficiency and lack of accountability (15:53).
  • “The UK government employs over half a million...That’s grown over a hundred thousand in the last five years.” — Lois (15:53)
  • Procurement waste highlighted with comical examples, e.g., £200,000 spent studying Star Wars's impact on the environment (16:43).
• Media Distrust and BBC's Legacy:
  • Lois and Peter critique modern media—especially the BBC—for lacking transparency, failing public trust, and suppressing dissent on issues like Covid and climate change (36:12, 37:28).
  • “We don’t trust you anymore.” — Lois (36:38)
  • The pair discuss cultural nostalgia for the BBC and its recent irrelevance, referencing long-suppressed reports and lost confidence.

3. Public Apathy & the “Enough is Enough” Mood

• Societal Disillusionment:
  • Existential dissatisfaction with “uni-party" politics—both Labour and Tories seen as globalist, unrepresentative, and out of touch. The Overton Window has shifted: what was once quietly discussed is foregrounded in public debate (04:31, 05:06, 15:14, 36:04).
  • “It’s gone from people being a little bit ashamed...to saying, hold on, why the fuck aren’t you voting reform?” — Host (04:31)
• Desire for Change: Hope is pinned on alternatives like Reform, which are seen as “untainted” by legacy political baggage and more connected to real business and everyday experience (19:08, 19:11, 62:19).
  • "Maybe that’s what we need, a bunch of people who haven’t got the experience to come in, who aren’t trapped by legacy and history...” — Host (13:14)

4. Debate, Free Speech, and Institutional Censorship

• Suppression of Dissent: Lois recounts being “cancelled” and ejected from COP26 for contrarian environmental views (43:05), and describes how public discourse around Covid vaccinations and Net Zero is policed rather than debated (06:14, 48:40, 97:11).
  • “They can’t— you can’t have debate. Because if you have any debate it exposes a load of old tosh...”— Lois (43:05)
  • “You were not allowed to have a different opinion, and then suddenly now...the accurate [opinions].” — Lois (06:14)
• Regulatory Shifts: Changes to Ofcom rules mean official climate policy now goes unchallenged in UK broadcast media—a unique situation not applying to other subjects (96:43).

5. Heartland Institute and Libertarian Values

• Lois’s Activism: Describes the move from her own organization ‘CAR26’ to leading Heartland Institute’s UK/Europe branch—bringing a US-style free-market, liberty-centric approach (41:43, 97:30).
• Mission: Promote open debate, liberty, minimal government, and challenge Net Zero orthodoxy (97:30); Lois projects Heartland’s influence on shaping US policy under Trump and its aspiration to shift UK discourse.

6. The Future of British Politics & the Rise of Reform

• Reform Party Dynamics:
  • Discusses the practical challenge of building Reform’s organizational infrastructure and the hope among their supporters for a political reset (63:33, 62:19).
  • Leadership profiles—Nigel Farage and others—are lauded for real-world business acumen and connection with regular voters versus career politicians (19:15, 61:36).
• Challenges Ahead:
  • The scale of organizational work needed for Reform’s parliamentary ambitions; the likelihood of surprise if they entered government with limited experience (11:25, 13:14, 64:23).
• Media and Public Sentiment:
  • Anticipation of media attacks if/when Reform succeeds, mirroring US coverage of Trump—a dynamic already visible in UK political panels and media (13:35, 65:18).

7. Social & Cultural Observations

• Woke Ideology and Generational Change:

  • Lois notes her daughter (and many teens) are fatigued with “wokeness,” referencing school experiences and peer attitudes (84:21, 85:48).
  • Critique of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) frameworks in schools and corporations—examples include Starbucks being sued for allegedly unlawful discrimination in hiring (88:34).
  • "All this woke is the whole framework...is starting to collapse now.” — Host (88:06)

• Growth of Regulation & Decline of Private Enterprise:

  • Host and Lois observe governmental hostility to private business, growing regulation, and consequences for economic growth and personal freedoms (78:01, 78:05, 90:01).

• Anecdotes & Dark Humor:

  • Lois and Peter discuss societal double standards, dark British humor as a coping mechanism, and high-profile legal inconsistencies (76:09, 78:09, 80:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On UK Energy Madness

  • “CO2 is life...the whole CO2 being a pollutant thing, I think, is an actual bad joke by a globalist sitting in a cave, stroking a white cat, laughing at us.” — Lois (21:09)

• On Government Growth

  • “Contrast this with the 15,000 civil servants who ran the British Empire when it covered 25% of the world in 1854...the UK government employs over half a million now.” — Lois (15:53)

• On Media and Trust

  • “We saw on our social media...tens of thousands of people protesting outside the BBC...and they weren’t reporting on it...We don’t trust you anymore.” — Lois (36:12–36:38)

• On Political Farce

  • “At least the Tories used to hide it...This lot, they don’t care.” — Lois, on open political corruption (35:13)

• On Reform Party Appeal

  • “Maybe that’s what we need, a bunch of people who haven’t got the experience to come in, who aren’t trapped by legacy and history, like Elon Musk.” — Host (13:14)

Key Timestamps for Reference

• 00:00–07:00 – Lois critiques Net Zero, discusses imports, energy pricing, and civil service dysfunction
• 15:53 – Civil service bloat vs historical benchmarks
• 21:09–23:39 – Breakdown of energy costs, blackout emergency pricing
• 36:12–38:06 – BBC distrust, media suppression of stories
• 41:43–47:43 – Lois’s activist journey, forming and moving from CAR26 to Heartland Institute
• 62:19–65:23 – Reform Party’s rise, polling, and political climate
• 78:00–80:11 – Legal double standards (Hugh Edwards, BBC scandals)
• 84:21–85:48 – Wokeness fatigue among youth; school experiences
• 88:34–90:01 – DEI lawsuits and corporate pushback
• 97:11–97:30 – Ofcom rule change: climate “consensus” and media bias
• 103:06 – Lois on her mission with Heartland and the broader liberty movement

Tone & Language

True to the show’s brand, the episode is direct, irreverent, and free from political correctness. Lois’s style is humorous, bold, and grounded in personal stories; Peter balances with pragmatism and curiosity. The exchanges are raw, informed by skepticism of institutions and a populist, libertarian thread.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

This conversation serves as an accessible microcosm of Britain’s current political turbulence—a rare blend of policy critique, inside anecdotes, and cultural commentary. It decodes why record numbers are disillusioned with mainstream politics and media, exposes the economic realities behind the green agenda, and highlights new-right activism shaping the public mood. The episode is a must-listen for those grappling with disinformation, seeking new ideas for political engagement, and curious about the next chapter in UK public life.