Weakening of key net zero policies

[chris_n]

Now scrapping the home energy efficiency taskforce before they have even been in existence long enough to do anything.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66900999

[cycling_mike]

F**k the environment, a few more votes is what matters. Useless b'stards.

This exactly

Hmm, votes = democracy.
Democracy is obvously a bad thing.

It seems to me that this is an alignment with what most European countries are doing or should the UK be an outlier?

Going into hiding for a week or so!

[chris_n]

F**k the environment, a few more votes is what matters. Useless b'stards.

This exactly

Hmm, votes = democracy.
Democracy is obvously a bad thing.

It seems to me that this is an alignment with what most European countries are doing or should the UK be an outlier?

Going into hiding for a week or so!

As far as vehicles go it would have been sensible to be in line anyway but having publicly made the decision you were going to be a leader going back on that is not a good look. If we are going to align with EU on cars then maybe the same should be done for insulation standards in our buildings!

[Mart]

F**k the environment, a few more votes is what matters. Useless b'stards.

This exactly

Hmm, votes = democracy.
Democracy is obvously a bad thing.

It seems to me that this is an alignment with what most European countries are doing or should the UK be an outlier?

Going into hiding for a week or so!

That's actually a fun spin, and I think a valid point to raise. But can I say, I don't think it's a true vote winner, as it may upset as many, or more than it gains.

I'd have thought the small, but very vocal minority that this plays to, would vote Tory, regardless. It would be far better to sit down with these folk and explain that they don't need to fear change.

In the case of the 2030 to 2035 ICE change, it's a nonsense anyway. Only a minority of annual car sales are new, around 85% each year are secondhand, so for the vast majority of us, 2030 is irrelevant. Next, it's not an ICE ban anyway, as you could buy an ICE, as a PHEV, till 2035, and if so minded, never plug it in. So the true shift, for ICEV loyalists isn't till long past 2035, or 2035 for those who simply have to have a new ICEV that year.

In reality, sales of ICEV's will collapse this decade, PEV's will probably reach 50%+ of new sales in 2025/26, and BEV's a year later. As the cost reductions from the 'virtuous circle' for BEV's kick in, and the 'vicious circle' for ICEV's continues (their sales have been falling globally since 2017) we will hopefully see price parity in the UK several years before 2030.

So, my personal opinion, is that this policy change achieves nothing beneficial for the UK, nor UK car drivers, it only plays to some voters, and sadly helps to undermine confidence in the car industry, which can cope with change, but really needs fixed deadlines to work towards, not policy led goalpost shifting.

[AE-NMidlands]

I'd have thought the small, but very vocal minority that this plays to, would vote Tory, regardless. It would be far better to sit down with these folk and explain that they don't need to fear change.

It fits in with

After the flurry of U-turns and new policy ideas floated last week, some in government say that decisions appear to be being made in accordance with Sunak’s personal preferences, including his long-held dislike of HS2 and smoking.

On Saturday, the Guardian suggested No 10 was looking at measures that would effectively ban young people from ever buying cigarettes. “It’s a strange basis to make policy,” said one senior Tory. “Net zero, smoking, A-level reform – what unites these things other than his personal views?”

(https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... conference)

[Mart]

I appreciate this is only a survey, and the fact it's being reported in the Guardian may not convince the hard right, but it seems to show what I suspect many of us thought - that the PM's policy shift is a net loser of voters.

Had I not seen some survey results, I think a year or so back, showing that Tory voters had strong support for RE, then I might not have thought this way. But, the results, as I recall, showed solid support, almost as strong as the national average. So it seems, attacking RE, BEV's, HP's, efficiency, etc etc, isn't a net vote winner.

But perhaps it's a vote winner for the PM, from Conservative Party members, who I suspect have a harder, more right wing leaning, than the average voter.

Tory swing voters switch to Labour after Sunak’s green retreat, poll finds

Almost nine in 10 voters who intend to switch their support from Conservative to Labour candidates in the next general election believe that “green growth” is important for the future of Britain’s economy, according to a poll.

Carried out by pollsters Opinium, the survey found that 82% of all respondents backed the growth of Britain’s green industry to boost the economy, in the same week that the prime minister announced a series of U-turns on the government’s green commitments in an attempt to create a dividing line with Labour before the election.

The survey of more than 5,000 adults found support for the green economy was even stronger among swing voters who supported the Conservatives in 2019 and are now planning to switch to Labour, at 88%.

If, and it's a big if, I'm right that he's courting party members, not voters, then I also suspect a U-turn isn't possible, as that would make him look weak(er) too.

But, fingers crossed.