Our climate has changed. We must act now to reduce wildfire risks.

I never thought my campaign on disposable barbecues would end with me sitting on the famous red sofa on BBC Breakfast, talking about the growing risk of wildfires across the country.

But what started as a local campaign in High Peak has become a national one – and I am determined to keep pushing it.

This is an issue I care deeply about. As the MP for High Peak, I have seen first-hand the devastating impact wildfires can have. Hundreds of hectares of precious moorland have been destroyed locally, wildlife habitats lost, and firefighters, emergency workers, gamekeepers and volunteers have spent days battling blazes in incredibly challenging conditions.

High Peak is the constituency at greatest risk of wildfire in the UK. But this is far from just a local problem. Major fires have already hit Suffolk, North Wales and the Cairngorms, while last year was the UK’s worst year on record for wildfires.

Too much of the debate around climate change focuses on reducing potential future impacts. Of course, we must continue reducing emissions, but the uncomfortable truth is that our climate has already changed.

When I hear politicians from Reform and the Conservatives seeking to marginalise the risks posed by climate change, I want to tell them to come to High Peak and see the reality for themselves.

We are experiencing hotter, drier conditions and need to adapt. Reducing the risk of wildfires must be part of that adaptation.

Not every wildfire is caused by a disposable barbecue. But they are one of the most preventable sources of ignition – which is why I launched my campaign calling on retailers to suspend their sale during periods of high wildfire risk.

The response has been overwhelming, and I am delighted that so many major national retailers have now withdrawn disposable barbecues from sale. I want to thank every retailer that has listened and acted.

But we cannot rely on voluntary action every summer.

We also need to think about waste more broadly. Cigarettes and discarded items can provide sources of ignition, while rubbish and fly-tipping can provide fuel. That is why my campaign also intersects with my campaign to stop Reform closing Glossop Tip.

If we want people to dispose of waste responsibly, we need to make it easy for them to do so. Making legitimate waste disposal harder risks more fly-tipping and more rubbish in our countryside. I hope Reform will listen and drop their rubbish idea.

We need a proper national strategy for preventing and tackling wildfires. That is why I am now calling on the Government to introduce a national ban on disposable barbecues in public spaces.

At the moment, restrictions vary between national parks and local authorities. We need a clear national approach to protect our countryside, parks and coastal communities.

Please support my campaign by signing the petition on my website: Petition: Stop Selling Disposable BBQs

We cannot stop every wildfire. But we can prevent many of them. High Peak has already seen what happens when the countryside catches fire. We should not wait for more of our moorland, wildlife and communities to be put at risk before we act.

What started here in High Peak must result in national action to protect the places we love.