Storm Desmond: is climate change to blame?

Government faces questions over cuts and failed flood defences as the clean-up operation continues

Storm Desmond flooding, Carlisle
(Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

All the evidence points to climate change as a key cause of the record-breaking rainfall that sparked severe flooding last weekend, the Met Office's chief scientist Dame Julia Slingo has said.

Storm Desmond has wreaked havoc across the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland killing at least two people and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes.

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