Number 10 wanted to surprise people with Mr Sunak's policy change. Photo: Simon Walker/Number 10 Downing Street
MPs were packing their bags and leaving Westminster for a three-week break when the news broke.
It was a quiet day in Parliament, with few expecting any important news ahead of the Tory conference. October is the place for important political statements.
Stranger's Bar, usually filled with MPs discussing the gossip of the day, was eerily empty. Many deputies have already gone home.
But at 6pm, politicians of all parties were stunned by a BBC report that Rishi Sunak was considering relaxing some of his key Zero commitments.
It was a huge story if it was true. The Prime Minister not only brought back the ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, but was also set to soften his plans to ban oil and gas boilers.
Journalists were frantically calling their contacts in Downing. Street to see if it was true, but unusually no one answered the phone.
Behind the scenes, there was confusion about how to deal with the leak. Number 10 wanted to surprise people with a change in policy, but that was now impossible.
It wasn't until 6:20 p.m. that there was no response — just a dry quote from a government spokesman refusing to comment on the speculation.
Government source denies panic after the news leak, but decisions had to be made quickly.
“Of course, the leak raised eyebrows, but plans for changes were in place and there were several options for when the announcement would be made,” the source said.
“We would have done it.” we preferred to talk to the stakeholders first and announce it properly, but we were able to adjust our plans. We want to go ahead and explain that.»
Brendan Clarke-Smith said the policy change «is something I'm passionate about Greetings'
Meanwhile, members of Parliament still in Westminster, as well as people from all parts of the country in their constituencies, began to receive news. Brendan Clarke-Smith, skeptical about environmental policy, was drinking a pint of beer in the local pub in front of his parents' house. on the evening at his son's school.
The MP for Bassetlaw said it came out of the blue.< /p>
“I don’t think people were expecting the sudden announcement and obviously we We'll hear more about the exact details later, but it's something I warmly welcome, and it's very much in keeping with the public mood,» he said.
MPs who called for a change in policy communicated their change of heart to each other.
Mr Clarke-Smith said: “It has been warmly received by colleagues I have spoken to and he has managed to get a fair resolution.” a balance between making strong commitments and not straitjacketing ourselves with things that are not necessary or beneficial to our constituents.”
Liz Truss was stumped. As recently as Monday, she called for a delay in the ban on petrol and diesel cars.
A source close to the former prime minister said she was pleased with the news and was awaiting confirmation.
“Of course. it would seem that when a compelling argument is well formulated, it in turn is popular among the party.“Taking into account what Liz said about net zero on Monday is encouraging. It will be interesting to see what other changes we see from Number 10 in the coming weeks/months as the party prepares its election agenda.»
Former promotions secretary Simon Clarke was said to be a «flamboyant» man; in the news Photo: Victor Shimanovich/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
But on the other side of the fence there was deep anger. Simon Clarke, the former Leveling Up secretary, was passionate.
At 7.15pm he tweeted demanding the Prime Minister stick to all his environmental commitments.
“I'm absolutely clear: ensuring zero balance should not be a hair shirt,” he said. “But it is equally clear to me that it is in our environmental, economic, moral and (yes) political interests as Conservatives to make sure we lead on this issue rather than abandon it.”
Downing Street was still saying nothing, and other departments were acting in a very disciplined manner — sending out nothing more than a polite speech from a government spokesman.
But at 20:34 the situation changed when Number 10 WhatsApped journalists with a quote from Mr. on Sunak, which all but confirmed the story.
Although he did not comment on any details, he said the net-zero emissions commitments must be met «better, more proportionately.»
“For too many years, politicians in governments of all stripes have not been honest about costs and trade-offs,” he said. And he also confirmed rumors that he will soon give a big speech on the environment.
In New York, ministers arrived for the UN summit on climate ambitions.
As Graham Stewart, Minister for climate change, reacted to the news that the UK is abandoning some of its commitments, which will be fulfilled in the conference room, unknown.
Former Energy Secretary Chris Skidmore said it was «potentially the biggest mistake of his [Sunak's] premiership»; Photo: JULIAN SIMMONDS for The Telegraph
Industry is also caught in the trap, as is the environmental lobby.
Car manufacturers have said delaying a ban on petrol and diesel cars could prevent drivers from switching to electric cars.
And Friends of the Earth said the change would be “morally unjustifiable.”
As the night wore on, anger among Tory MPs in the party's environmental wing grew increasingly angry at what they saw as a betrayal.
And, as happens in such times, conservation shifted to the side future prime minister.
One told Sky News the move was «anti-business» and added, unprompted: «I'm seriously considering a letter of no confidence.»
Sending a letter to Sir Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 Committee. It is a way of triggering a vote on the future of the Conservative leadership if enough letters are received.
Speaking on Newsnight, Conservative MP and former energy secretary Chris Skidmore, who is not believed to have put in a letter — said: «This is potentially the biggest mistake of his premiership, and I don't say that lightly.»
«We've seen in the past when David Cameron decided to stop green crap when he What's it called , in fact it is costing homeowners an extra £5 billion every year as a result of this decision not to invest in more insulation and decarbonise our heating systems, and we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.»
Not yet it is unknown whether the anger will subside. However, the emergence of a huge split among MPs between pro- and anti-Green measures is not a good backdrop for Mr Sunak's first conference as Tory leader.
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