Sunak’s speech and Q&A – snap verdict
That was a relatively short speech, and given the reaction it provoked before it was even delivered, it can’t be described as a success. But it was more interesting than expected, and not unconvincing throughout.
On the substance, it was quite a mix. Sunak was probably at his most persuasive talking about boiler costs (he is a Yorkshire MP, and probably knows more people with off-grid oil boilers than most of us). But he failed to explain why keeping the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 is going to impose onerous costs on consumers, and he tried to take credit for banning a whole raft of proposals (see 4.50pm) that weren’t government policy anyway. That was classic straw man stuff, which is always the sign of a weak argument.
Sunak argued that the UK could afford to slow down because it is doing well on net zero, and he was at his most angry/passionate when he claimed that the overall goals weren’t being watered down (see 5.14pm) – even though the policies in place to achieve that are being watered down. There is some evidence to back what Sunak says. His argument seems to be: “We’re ahead in the race, so we can afford to take a breather.” But when the world as a whole is failing on net zero, according to the scientists, benchmarking the UK against other countries and declaring it’s OK to slow down seems complacent.
Surprisingly, Sunak also chose to wrap the net zero announcements in a speech about how he is now a “change politician”, determined to overhaul the way the UK does its politics. This was unconvincing for two reasons. First, if he wanted to run as a change candidate, he should have done it last summer; he’s now left it too late. And, second, if he really believes “our destiny can be our own choosing but only if we change the way our politics works”, he should be giving an entire speech on the subject, not just using this guff to pad out the intro to a U-turn announcement.
Sunak also kept stressing that he was taking difficult decisions for the long term. Politicians should take difficult decisions for the long term, and most of them give a version of this speech at some point. But to do that on a day when he was announcing measures No 10 must assume will be popular with his target audience (Tory supporters and the Sun – Sunak even referenced the paper’s position on net zero in the Q&A) just came across as muddled messaging.
Key events
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A summary of today’s developments
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Labour says Sunak’s net zero speech ‘act of weakness from desperate, directionless PM’
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Sunak’s speech and Q&A – snap verdict
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Sunak says net zero targets are not being watered down ‘in any way, shape or form’
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Sunak lists four ‘worrying’ net zero plans he says he’s scrapped
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Sunak says government to delay point at which people have to replace gas boilers with heat pumps
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Sunak says ban on sale of new petrol and diesel cars will come into force in 2035, not 2030
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Sunak says policies need overhaul because UK does not have ‘fairest credible path’ to net zero in 2050
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Sunak says UK needs ‘properly informed national debate’ on net zero
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Sunak says UK has ‘stumbled into consensus’ about future ‘no one seems to be happy with’
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‘Sensible, pragmatic changes’ – some Tory MPs say Sunak right to revise net zero targets
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Rishi Sunak due to deliver his speech on changing net zero targets shortly
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Speaker condemns Sunak for announcing net zero policy changes less than 24 hours after Commons started recess
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‘Hugely retrograde step’ – car industry alarmed at reports Sunak will delay introduction of ban on petrol cars
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E.ON boss hits out at Sunak’s plan to row back on net zero policies
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Boris Johnson urges Sunak to stick with existing net zero targets, saying business ‘must have certainty’
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Former Climate Change Committee chair suggests Sunak U-turn could be challenged in court
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Labour says it would back car industry ‘all the way’ after manufacturers criticise talk of abandoning 2030 target
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Opposition parties denounce Sunak’s net zero U-turn
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Polling suggests Sunak’s net zero measures may be popular with Tory supporters, but not voters overall
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Voters may think Sunak watering down net zero target because he’s ‘too incompetent to meet it’, says Tory policy expert
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No 10 confirms that Sunak to deliver his speech on anticipated net zero policies U-turn this afternoon
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Watering down net zero targets won’t save consumers money for years, says thinktank
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Sunak to hold emergency cabinet meeting to discuss new net zero plan
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Braverman claims Meta’s encrypted messaging plan will create ‘safe havens’ for paedophiles
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Tory rightwinger and former levelling up secretary Simon Clarke tells Sunak not to ‘shatter’ consensus on net zero
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Braverman implies current net zero targets ‘unrealistic and punitive’, saying Sunak right to rethink them
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Labour says Sunak’s handling of net zero shows his ‘chaotic approach to running country’
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What Sunak said last night about net zero, implying Boris Johnson was not honest ‘about costs and trade-offs’
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Sunak faces backlash over plan to drop key net zero targets, with Ford saying ‘vital catalyst’ for car industry at risk
A summary of today’s developments
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Rishi Sunak has announced he is delaying the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030 to 2035, triggering criticism from opposition MPs and sections of the property and car industry.
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The PM said he still expects that by 2030 “the vast majority” of cars will be electric because of improving technology.
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He added there will be “far more time” to transition from gas boilers to heat pumps
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A boiler upgrade scheme, which gives people cash grants, will be increased by 50% to £7,500 and there will be an exemption for the homes which will most struggle to switch to heat pumps.
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Plans to force landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of properties have been scrapped.
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Labour said it is recommitted to retaining the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
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Sunak insisted he remains committed to net zero by 2050 but wants to “bring people with us”. Ed Miliband, the shadow climate and net zero secretary, described Sunak’s speech as “an act of weakness”.
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The RAC Foundation said the change in policy contradicted the “huge sums of money” that the government has spent on electric battery production. Its research estimated if the UK is to meet its carbon reduction obligations then at least 37% of all miles driven by cars, taxis and vans will need to be zero emission by 2030.
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Rishi Sunak has been accused of leaving the motoring industry “high and dry” after delaying a ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said: “The PM has left the industry and drivers high and dry by sacrificing the 2030 target on the altar of political advantage.
“According to our research, only half of people could see how an EV (electric vehicle) could fit into their lifestyle as it is, suggesting major barriers to adoption.
“We should be positively addressing concerns over affordability and charging rather than planting seeds of doubt.
“This announcement has only served to remove trust and confidence in the UK market.”
The RAC Foundation said the change contradicted the “huge sums of money” that the government has already spent on electric battery production.
Steve Gooding, director of the transport research organisation, said RAC research estimated if the UK is to meet its carbon reduction obligations then at least 37% of all miles driven by cars, taxis and vans will need to be zero emission by 2030.
Here is some reaction from groups representing renters, property owners and landlords to today’s announcement.
Dan Wilson Craw, the deputy chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “Cancelling higher standards for rented homes is a colossal error by the government. Leaving the impact on the climate to one side, it makes the cost of living crisis worse and damages renters’ health.
“One in four private renters lives in fuel poverty and, without targets for landlords to improve their properties, they face many more years of unaffordable bills.
“Energy efficiency is also an essential part of a home’s quality. Backtracking leaves the government’s levelling up mission to halve the number of non-decent rented homes in shreds.”
The National Residential Landlords Association said landlords would welcome not having to spend “substantial sums of money” on energy efficiency improvements to properties, but criticised uncertainty over government policy as “hugely damaging to the supply of rented properties”.
Ben Beadle, its chief executive, said: “The NRLA wants to see all properties as energy efficient as possible. However, the uncertainty surrounding energy efficiency policy has been hugely damaging to the supply of rented properties.
“Landlords are struggling to make investment decisions without a clear idea of the government’s direction of travel.”
The British Property Federation called for more clarity on the roadmap for decarbonising the UK’s buildings.
Melanie Leech, its chief executive, commented: “Today’s speech from the prime minister was deeply frustrating for the investors and property owners who have already made long-term plans and financial commitments to ensure they can play their part in meeting the UK’s climate change commitments.”
Policy changes announced today could cost British households almost £8bn in higher bills over the next decade and more if gas prices spike again, due to cancelling new energy efficiency regulations for the private rental sector, according to analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).
There could be further impacts for household bills due to changes to the phase-out of oil boilers for off-gas grid homes.
Costs to the NHS due to poor housing could reach £1.2bn a year, or £12bn over the next decade.
More generally, if gas demand remains high across the economy, the UK could pay an extra £150bn over 10 years to overseas gas producers, compared with if the government introduced policies to ambitiously cut gas demand.
Jess Ralston, energy analyst at ECIU, said: “This looks chaotic and not the way long-term policy should be made around important issues, with emergency cabinet meetings and investors spooked.”
The Countryside Alliance was among the organisations that campaigned against the ban on new oil boilers, arguing that it would have a disproportionate effect on rural communities.
Tim Bonner, its chief executive, said: “The countryside is committed to fighting climate change and playing its part, but net zero policies, however well intentioned, must not disproportionately impact rural communities.
“The PM is right to provide significantly more time for people to transition to heat pumps, understanding that in some circumstances it just won’t work.
It is also right, in a cost-of-living crisis, that further financial support will be offered to those switching to heat pumps. Many rural people have been quoted eye-watering sums.”
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has addressed Sunak’s new policy at the UN climate summit in New York.
The Conservative Environment Network has told Rishi Sunak his watering down of green policies risks reputational damage for the Tories.
Its director, Sam Hall, said: “This was an unnecessary speech that risks damaging the Conservative party’s hard-won reputation on environmental issues.
“Today the PM has changed little of substance besides delaying the transition to electric cars.
“Sticking to the 2030 deadline would have saved UK motorists money, supported car firms that have invested in new EV factories, and unlocked crucial investment in charge-point infrastructure.”
Demanding parliament be recalled so MPs can debate the prime minister’s decision to u-turn on key net-zero policies, the SNP’s Cabinet Office spokesperson, Kirsty Blackman, MP said: “This is an arrogant move from an arrogant prime minister.
“Announcing sweeping U-turns that could have catastrophic effects on our climate is one thing, but to do so in recess shows he’s feart of the scrutiny and damnation MPs, from the SNP in particular, will level on his devastating plans to roll back on climate commitments.
“Parliament should be recalled immediately so MPs can fight against the Tories’ devastating attack on important climate targets.”
The shadow environment secretary, Steve Reed, predicted Rishi Sunak’s announcement on weakening environmental pledges would “blow up in his face”.
“What the prime minister just announced today was selling out the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century and that is for Britain to lead the world in the transition to a new green economy,” Reed told Sky News.
“And in doing that, he is undermining business confidence and deterring the business investment that will fund the well-paid jobs of the future that we could have had.”
But former environment secretary George Eustice has welcomed Sunak’s decision to delay some net-zero targets.
He told Times Radio: “I actually think he’s he’s making a difficult argument, but I think he is right.
“And the reason for that is if we’re serious about hitting net zero, it is important that we get the right path, because if you lock down prematurely to the wrong types of technologies or indeed locked down prematurely to the wrong equipment, that could become outdated quite quickly, then you actually jeopardize getting to net zero, not make it easier.
“So I think he’s right that we should make the space for there to be the technological advances that we need to get it right.”
The Green party co-leader Carla Denyer said: “This is a desperate and dangerous u-turn from the prime minister which will throw the UK economy, the wellbeing of its citizens and the future of our environment out the window in a misguided attempt to create divisions for political gain.
“More than anything this speech sounded like an admission of the government’s failure to implement climate policy in a way that brings people with them while showing the benefits of a more sustainable future.”
Libby Brooks
Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has said it would be “unforgivable” for the UK to row back on its climate commitments, accusing Rishi Sunak of “pandering to short-term populism”.
Yousaf was speaking from New York, where he has been attending events as part of Climate Week.
He said his own government’s net zero target of 2045 could be put in jeopardy by a major shift in UK policy.
“What they are doing is sending a signal that is outside the global consensus that we have got to take more action on climate change.”
Earlier in the week, the Scottish government fended off criticism that Yousaf had travelled more than 3,000 miles by air to attend the events.
From Times Radio’s Kate McCann on Labour’s green pledges.
Labour’s Steve Reed tells @TimesRadio the party will stick with the 2030 target on petrol and diesel cars. Can’t say the same for gas boilers. “Labour isn’t going to put people’s bills up” he says
— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) September 20, 2023
Al Gore has condemned Sunak’s announcement on CNN.
“I find it shocking and really disappointing,” says @algore on PM Rishi Sunak delaying climate action. “He’s done the wrong thing. I’ve heard from many of my friends in the UK – including a lot of Conservative Party members, by the way – who have used the phrase ‘utter disgust’.” pic.twitter.com/uPhw3i3Apa
— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) September 20, 2023
“Look at what’s happening around the world! Every night on the TV news is like a nature hike through the Book of Revelation,” says @algore. “People are waking up,” while fossil fuel companies “fight tooth and nail against anything that would reduce the burning of [fossil fuels].” pic.twitter.com/ZpJq0RI1JJ
— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) September 20, 2023
We want to speak to people in the UK who are looking to buy a car in the near future. What is your reaction to Sunak’s speech?
We’d like to know whether the delay is likely to affect your choice. Were you considering opting for an electric vehicle and are less sure now? If so, why? Or will it not affect your choice either way?
If you plan to buy a petrol or diesel car, what incentives would be needed to persuade you to opt for an electric vehicle?
If you’re looking to buy a car in the UK, share your reaction to the prime minister’s announcement.
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Responding to the PM’s press conference where he watered down key clean energy pledges, the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, said: “This is not leadership from Rishi Sunak, this is putting the UK at the back of the queue as the rest of the world races to embrace the industries of tomorrow.
“The prime minister’s legacy will be the hobbling of our country’s future economy as he ran scared from the right wing of his own party. It is selfish and it epitomises his weakness.
“At the very time we need to stand up and lead, Sunak rolled over.”
An exclusive poll conducted by FindOutNow for Channel 4 News has revealed more than 40% of people would be less likely to vote Conservative in the next general election if the government does not stick to its commitments on climate change.
The poll of more than 2,000 people asked voters: if the government does not stick to commitments it has already made to climate change, would you be more or less likely to vote for them at a general election?
12.3% of voters said they would be more likely to vote Conservative.
But 40.7% of people asked said they would be less likely to vote Tory.
Of those who voted Conservative at the last election, 26.8% said they would be more likely to vote for them again
But 21.4% said they were less inclined to vote for Rishi Sunak’s party.
Ben Quinn
Liz Truss, the former prime minister, has welcomed her successor’s watering down of green policies and urged him to go further in other areas such as abolishing the ban on fracking – as Labour released attack ads seeking to portray him as being in her pocket.
Allies of the former prime minister, who quit after just 45 days in the role and was replaced by the man she had beaten in a leadership election, have been seeking to suggest that his embrace of a range of policies vindicates her position.
She said in a statement released after his speech: “I welcome the delay on banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars as well as the delay on the ban on oil and gas boilers. This is particularly important for rural areas.
“I now urge the government to abolish the windfall tax on oil and gas and lift the fracking ban, which would reduce people’s energy bills and make the UK more competitive.”
Borrowing from a 2015 Tory advert that depicts Ed Miliband in the pocket of the former Scottish National party leader Alex Salmond, Labour used the opportunity of Sunak’s speech to release its own version, in which a tiny image of the prime minister was placed in the pocket of his No 10 predecessor.
