MP Jon Pearce Also Wrote to Retailers This Week

Farmers, landowners, firefighters, the Liberal Democrats, and many Labour MPs are urging a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in England and Wales over wildfire risks amid hot, dry weather. National Farmers Union deputy president Paul Tompkins warned that a single spark could destroy crops, damage machinery, and endanger livestock, with long-term consequences for soil and farm businesses. He urged retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues and local authorities to issue public space protection orders.

MP Jon Pearce also wrote to retailers this week. Most major supermarkets have halted sales, but smaller shops and online outlets still sell them. Wildfires have affected every UK region this year, with over 20,000 hectares burned, including recent fires in the Rhondda Valley, Cairngorms, and near the Sizewell B nuclear plant.

Tompkins called for more moorland grazing, though conservationists caution against over-grazing. The Country Land and Business Association backed the barbecue ban but also urged lifting the ban on controlled burning, with president Gavin Lane saying it clears wildfire-feeding vegetation. Rain brought some relief to northern England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales on Tuesday, while south-east England stayed dry.

A stray match or single spark, and months of hard work can be wiped out in just minutes; crops destroyed and harvest ruined, vital machinery and infrastructure damaged and livestock put at serious risk. Beyond the immediate losses, there could be long-term consequences for soil health, grassland productivity and confidence of farm businesses already facing significant pressures.