Johnson’s coalmine quip shows he thinks the climate crisis is a joke | Ellie Mae O’Hagan

The prime minister was asked about his plans for transitioning away from fossil fuels. He chose to distract, not answer

Allow me to let you in on a little secret. Many people working in politics and the media openly discuss the fact that Boris Johnson's gaffes are entirely calculated. I once met someone who used to work for him and they told me that before he appears in the media, Johnson ruffles his hair to ensure he appears more dishevelled than he actually is.

This ruse has been useful to our prime minister throughout his political career. It has helped him to climb the greasy pole without facing any consequences for accusations of serial lying, allegations of bigotry or his involvement in the planned assault of a journalist. And it is what we must bear in mind when we consider his latest comments on the closure of British coal mines.