Rishi Sunak is expected to announce that the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be brought forward from 2030 to 2035. Photo: Eddie Mulholland
Rishi Sunak is facing growing Tory backlash over plans to water down his key net zero policy, with MPs saying it would be the «biggest mistake of his premiership».
A ban on petrol cars and oil boilers over the next decade are among the green pledges that could be eased under the Prime Minister's plan to achieve the net zero target by 2050 in a «better and more proportionate way».< /p>
Ahead of a major speech this week, he admitted the government «hasn't been honest about the costs and trade-offs» of net zero.
However, Tuesday night's apparent backsliding has left some furious. Conservative MPs and former ministers who advised Mr Sunak to remain fully committed to the 2050 target.
Chris Skidmore, the former Conservative energy secretary who led the government-commissioned net zero review, warned: “Rishi Sunak still has time to think again and avoid making the biggest mistake of his premiership by dooming the UK to miss out on what There could be a decade's worth of economic growth, jobs and future prosperity.»
What should Rishi Sunak do about key net-zero promises?
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, who resigned as environment secretary in June slamming Mr Sunak's «apathy» for the green agenda, said: «His short tenure as prime minister will be remembered as the moment Britain turned its back on » about the world and about future generations. A moment of shame.»
It is understood that some Tory MPs are even considering writing letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister if he continues to make changes.
Mr Sunak is expected to will announce that it will lift the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.
The planned ban on oil boilers could be delayed from 2026 to 2035, with only 80 per cent needing to be replaced by that date.
UK will cut carbon emissions by 2050 under net zero plan
Sir Alok Sharma, a former Cop26 president who served under Sunak, warned that relaxing the commitments could cost Tory votes.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: «I think it would be incredibly harmful.» for business confidence, for inward investment if the political consensus we have built in our country on the environment and climate change is destroyed.
“And frankly, I really don’t believe that it will help any political party at electoral level that decides to go down this path.»
Former Tory cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke said it was in the «environmental, economic, moral and — yes — political interests» The Tories are taking the lead on net zero, «not denying it».
But in a sign of the net zero schism that has often divided the Conservative Party, more skeptical MPs welcomed the move.
Craig McKinley, leader of the Conservative Net Zero Scrutiny Group, which is skeptical of the government's policies, said the expected Mr Sunak's statements were «sensible and pragmatic».
0907 net zero cost
«I hope to mark this as a smart win for consumers,» he said, arguing that his group's «research and statements» may have influenced the move.
Carl McCartney, a member of the House Select Committee on Transportation Commons, said he had pushed the government to delay the ban on new petrol and diesel cars, bringing it in line with the European Union, which has pushed the date back to 2035.
“I'm glad the government has seen the light.” , he said.
«The costs for regular drivers will be too high, the electric charging infrastructure will not be built, and the technology is too dependent on China.
» The only people who will complain about this delay are central London eco-fanatics who don't live in the real world and are rich enough not to be affected.»
Party success in Uxbridge and South Ruislip By-election won largely by Campaigns against the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have increased pressure on Mr Sunak within his party to reverse course on net-zero emissions before the next election.
Свежие комментарии