Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox came under fire over Brexit, climate change and cuts to local services at a heated public forum last Thursday in Tavistock.

The MP — who is also attorney general — was challenged over his stance backing a no-deal Brexit should the UK fail to reach a deal with the EU to leave on October 31.

He was also called on to defend the Goverment’s proposals on tackling global warming, after being told its pledge to stop contributing to global warming by 2050 was ‘25 years too late’.

Other questions included the current closure of the Minor Injuries Unit in Tavistock and the promised railway from Tavistock to Bere Alston.

The public forum in Tavistock Town Hall on August 8 was among the MP’s summer schedule of visits to villages and towns in his constituency.

Richard Waite asked: ‘The Government has asked for a target of 2050 for climate neutrality but it would be nice to see it happen earlier. And at a local level what could we be doing in Tavistock and West Devon to start making a difference?’

Mr Cox said: ‘I agree with you that it would be very nice to do it early and that we need to ratchet up the intensity of our effort on this great issue, in fact possibly the greatest issue of our time. London will host the next climate change summit and that is going to be a golden opportunity for us to show we are walking the walk as well as talking the talk.’

More could, however, be done, someone suggested, by outlawing fracking and abandoning plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

However, Mr Cox responded that the ‘strong view of business is that we need the runway at the moment’.

Asked by Ian Melville if the Government’s climate change target of 2050 was not ‘25 years too late’, Mr Cox said: ‘We have to do what we can now and do it in a manner that allows people to remain in work while we make the change from an economy based on fossil fuels.’

He said it would be ‘a major challenge’ to meet the Government’s pledge to phase out petrol and diesel cars by 2030’.

Challenged about whether the watchdog being proposed as part of the Government’s Environment Bill would have would have any clout, he responded: ‘The watchdog does have the power to take the current government to court so it is intended to be at least as strong as the measures that are in place now.’

Only one pro-Brexit voice was heard during the evening — with many more being deeply concerned about the likelihood of UK leaving the EU in October on these terms.

Mr Cox said he was supporting leaving without a deal because he thought the Brexit devision had gone on long enough.

‘I’m upset, quite genuinely, that this has caused such division,’ he said. ‘[However] I believe we must leave the EU whatever the circumstances.’ This prompted an angry response from one audience member, who asked ‘how can you say “whatever the circumstances”?’

Mr Cox responded ‘when I say whatever the circumstances, I mean whether we have a deal or whether we have to leave without a deal. I have striven and will go on striving for a deal because I think that is the best way forward’.

He was also asked: ‘If you have a hard Brexit, what happens to those on fixed incomes, on pensions and benefits? It looks like there will be hikes in prices and food shortages in supermarkets. What is the Government doing to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are protected?’

Mr Cox said that work was in progress behind the scenes to make sure that food could be brought in on zero tariffs, with the exception of beef, of which the UK had a plentiful supply.

Another topic raised was the poor quality of much developer housing.

Patsy Bennett said ‘Labour in 2006 introduced a standard for sustainable homes in a bid to reduce the impact of mass housing development.

‘Sadly this was repealed by the Tories in 2015 and resulted in some of the poorest quality housing in Europe. Do you not think that sustainable development should take priority over party funding?’

Mr Cox replied: ‘The reason it was done was to try and encourage more housing because those houses are needed.

‘However, I do believe there is a strong case for ensuring these are built to the highest standard they possibly can be. I am concerned about the poor quality of some of the new housing.’

Mr Cox was also asked about the non-appearance of the promised railway between Bere Alston and Tavistock, which now has a cost put at £70-million.

He said: ‘The Government is committed to running a line as we know between Okehampton and Exeter and that is a start.

‘If we can get that line running at a level that is a national standard then that is at least a start.’