Brits must not be clobbered by policies in drive for Net Zero, warns Rishi Sunak
BRITS must not be hit by “hairshirt” policies in the drive for Net Zero, Rishi Sunak warned last night.
The PM said families must not be clobbered by higher bills in the transition to going green.
But he insisted the commitment to hit Net Zero by 2050 should be kept because, done right, it will boost jobs and growth.
Speaking at the G20 summit in New Delhi, Mr Sunak said: “The Net Zero story for me shouldn’t be a hairshirt story of giving everything up and your bills going up.
“That’s not the vision of Net Zero that I think is the right one for the UK.”
He added: “I’ve said consistently that we should do that in a way that is pragmatic, that is proportionate, that is cognisant of the impact on families.
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“I don’t want to unnecessarily increase people’s bills, particularly at a time when inflation is higher than any of us, including me, would like.”
Mr Sunak has dumped a string of unpopular green policies after outcry from Brits already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
He has torn up plans to slap hydrogen levies on energy bills and led criticism of expansion of the Ulez anti-driver charge in London — brought in by its Labour mayor Sadiq Khan.
Barmy EU eco rules which stopped new homes being built are also going.
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But he is under pressure to go even further.
Many of his own MPs want the PM to delay the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
They also want plans to ban gas boilers in new builds by 2025 scrapped.
But MPs on the party’s left wing have fired warning shots at Mr Sunak not to ditch green policies.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat told the Tory Reform Group’s One Nation day: “We need to keep the green policies.”
While former cabinet minister Damian Green added: “Voices wanting us to renege on our commitment to Net Zero by 2050 are wrong.”
Despite his tough words, the PM risked sparking fresh Tory fury by agreeing to dole out a record £1.6billion on international climate change aid at the summit in India.
He also defended handing out millions of pounds to wealthy India.
He insisted aid cash to India helps boost British businesses.