Wakefield Council has voted to rescind its climate and biodiversity emergency declaration from May 2019.

The motion to become carbon neutral by 2030 and help the district achieve this goal by 2038 was unanimously backed by councillors seven years ago, but, on Wednesday, new council leader Karl Johnson tabled a motion to axe the declaration.

Setting out his plan the Reform UK councillor said the focus would instead be on energy efficiency and cost of living interventions that “provide practical help to residents”.