Rishi Sunak has sparked fury among environmentalists, business, international allies and many of his own MPs by watering down key climate change commitments aimed at reaching net zero by 2050.

The prime minister held a panicked called with cabinet ministers before announcing that the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be pushed back until 2035 at a Downing Street press conference.

Mr Sunak said it “cannot be right to impose such significant costs on working people” and insisted there had been no “meaningful democratic debate” on how Britain reaches net zero.

  • @Mateoto
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    151 year ago

    Climate change policies often disproportionately affect the working class, who struggle to afford green investments.

    It’s frustrating that the Tories, instead of subsidizing electric vehicles to help working-class folks, seem more interested in favoring the oil industry by extending petrol car sales. Rishi Sunak and his party need to prioritize people over profits.

    In other words: Sunak and the Tories are wankers.

  • @Gigan
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    1 year ago

    there had been no “meaningful democratic debate” on how Britain reaches net zero.

    Then do that

    • snooggums
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      51 year ago

      Or maybe acknowledge that it actually did happen and that was what lead to the 2030 deadline.

  • @killeronthecorner
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    1 year ago

    Mr Sunak said it “cannot be right to impose such significant costs on working people”

    Right now if you drive into a number of cities in the UK you’ll be charged for the privilege. UNLESS, you own a new car, in which case you’re magically exempt from such a clause.

    We already have “poor taxes” on travel and petrol prices are untenable for people on a"living" wage.

    Standing with one foot in and one foot out of this debate is an extremely weak stance to take.

  • @[email protected]
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    21 year ago

    He’s getting a brown envelope and pretending ULEZ has made people angry enough to vote for them. It’s got nothing to do with the country’s best interests.