Rishi Sunak delays some green targets and scraps others as he reveals net zero policy shift – as it happened

A summary of today’s developments

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.”

From Times Radio’s Kate McCann on Labour’s green pledges.

Al Gore has condemned Sunak’s announcement on CNN.

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.