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The government’s Net Zero emperor warned that it would be a “abandonment” of responsibility for ministers to “play politics” on environmental policy.
Kingswood Conservative MP Chris Skidmore warned that achieving the environmental goals was “a key economic driver of future growth and investment that can change the UK for the better”.
His comments come after the Conservatives defended Boris Johnson’s former Uxbridge South Ruislip seat in Thursday’s by-election, a surprise victory widely believed to be due to a dispute over Labor Mayor Sadiq Khan’s expansion of ultra-low emission zones (Ules) in car-dependent regions.
The plan has proven unpopular, so climate-skeptical Conservatives are asking Rishi Snak to drop other environmental promises, such as phasing out new gas boilers by 2035 and banning the sale of new petrol cars by 2030, to face Labor in the next election.
But Skidmore, who chairs the government’s independent review of net zero, said it was “extremely regrettable” to water down environmental promises, adding that “the lives and health of the people” must “take precedence over strategy”.
“The UK has been an international leader in growing its economy, taking action on climate change and reducing emissions,” he said.
“That’s why the Conservatives opposed and supported the landmark 2008 Climate Change Act, which will create political stability for businesses and industries by investing billions in green industries, make our country a world leader, and create new jobs and investment, such as the £4 billion Electric Vehicle Battery Gigafactory announced this week.”
“The Net Zero review, which I chaired, demonstrated that Net Zero is more than just environmental policy, it is a major economic driver of future growth and investment that can change Britain for the better.
“To do so would not only be extremely regrettable, but would be an abandonment of a responsible government that must put the life and health of its people above strategy and the opportunities for economic growth through investment in future industries.
“It’s also really bad politics, given that tackling the environment and climate change consistently ranks third among issues on which voters care.
“A mainstream party that does not recognize the priorities of the people and is instead swayed by a vocal minority will eventually become a minority party,” he added.
His intervention comes after the controversial statement by Net Zero Scrutiny Group chairman Craig McKinley. telegram Uxbridge’s result was “an alarm bell to warn politicians against a nation-wide anti-auto policy”.
“The 2030 petrol and diesel ban on new car sales needs to be overturned until at least 2035,” he said.
Times Citing an ally of the prime minister, the newspaper reported that Mr Sunak was preparing to enter next year’s elections with a “more political edge”.
The newspaper said Sunak had a big lead in polls for Kia’s campaign and planned to focus on “divisive” issues such as crime, crackdowns on small boats of migrants arriving in the UK and transgender rights to win back Labor support.
Additional coverage by the Press Association