I have never bought into the whole global warming issue. I have stated many times both here and on my radio shows that I believe global warming is a natural phenomenon and happens in cycles over thousands of years. I am what could be termed a true sceptic.

In today’s news reports we see that the global warming debate again raises its ugly head after the devastation brought about the typhoon in the Philippians which has killed thousands and wiping out hundreds of thousands of homes. Now the news today of the Tornado devastation in America’s Midwest. The death toll so far has reached six and one Illinois town is left totally destroyed after massive string of 60 twisters wreak havoc. Listeners to Radio 4's Today programme were given an unmistakable but totally bogus message last week: that catastrophic storms such as Typhoon Haiyan are linked to global warming – and are set to increase. The same claim, which has no scientific basis, was echoed by David Cameron, who said there was 'growing evidence' that warming was responsible for storms. That’s what the BBC and Cameron are saying but what are the scientists actually saying:

THE FACTS

1. A study based on data from the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre and the Japan Meteorological Agency shows the number of typhoons making landfall in the Philippines has declined since 1990. 2. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – hailed by greens as the ultimate arbiter – does not agree tropical storms have become more intense or frequent, but says the opposite. Their special report last year said: 'There is low confidence in any observed long-term (40 years or more) increases in tropical cyclone activity (ie intensity, frequency, duration).' Its authoritative Fifth Assessment Report added in September there have been 'no significant observed trends in global tropical cyclone frequency over the past century'. 3. The reason Bangkok is suffering serious floods isn't rising sea levels but the fact the city is built on soft clay – the weight of its skyscrapers is causing subsidence of up to 2in a year. Local expert Anond Snidvongs says: 'The rise in sea level is not that great and climate change only plays a fairly small part – about one-fifth – in the current scenario.' 4. There have been very few Category 5 storms like Haiyan in the Pacific since 1991. A study published this year by the American Meteorological Society states in the North Pacific 'overall tropical cyclone activity shows a significant decrease' since 1998. 5. This year has been the quietest Atlantic hurricane season for decades. No Category 3 or stronger storm has made landfall in the US since Katrina in 2005 – the longest hurricane 'drought' on record. 6. A new study published last week said the rate of sea level rise has diminished by 44 per cent since 2004, to just 1.8mm per year – 18cm (7in) per century. The reason is the 17-years-and-counting global warming 'pause', which was not predicted by computer models. Meanwhile, Japan last week joined Australia in renouncing its target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Benny Peiser, director of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, said both Mr Cameron and Today seemed 'totally unaware of both the science and changing international realities. Every scientist is adamant that the typhoon has nothing to do with global warming.' The photograph I show of the Polar Bear clinging on for life on a small chunk of ice has been used by the so called global warming experts demonstrating that the ice caps are melting. My question here is ; can’t Polar Bears swim????