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The Prime Minister insisted he is \u201cabsolutely not slowing down\u201d efforts to combat climate change after delaying bans on new petrol cars and boilers to 2035.<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak challenged Labour to set out its defence for imposing punishing targets earlier than is necessary. He said: \u201cFor those who disagree with me \u2013 and there are plenty of people as we can see over the last day or two \u2013 they should explain to the country why they think it\u2019s right that ordinary families should have to fork out five, 10, \u00a315,000 to make the transition earlier than necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak dismissed claims by former environment minister Lord Goldsmith that he was \u201cpretending to halt frightening proposals that do not exist\u201d, including the possibility of taxes on meat and compulsory car sharing. The PM said: \u201cI reject that entirely. These are things that have been raised by credible people about ways to meet our net zero obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Rishi Sunak made the right decision to pull back on Net Zero targets<\/strong><\/p>\n During a visit to an Writtle University College in Essex, he said the changes were \u201cparticularly important for our rural and farming communities who were facing huge costs and are the backbone of our economies\u201d. He added: \u201cWe are absolutely not slowing down efforts to combat climate change. I am very proud of our country\u2019s leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n Some 92% of the 3,000 Express readers who voted in our online poll said they backed his decision.<\/p>\n Mr Sunak dismissed a backlash from the car industry, after Ford warned that delaying the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles would \u201cundermine\u201d its needs for \u201cambition, commitment, and consistency\u201d from the Government.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n He said the reforms were not about politics, saying he wanted to \u201cchange the direction of our country\u201d meaning he had to be \u201cwilling to change politics\u201d. Ed Miliband, shadow energy security secretary, said he relished the opportunity to go \u201ctoe-to-toe\u201d with the Tories on net zero during the election.<\/p>\n Labour said the watering down of green pledges would cost the public more in the long term and accused the Prime Minister of \u201cselling out\u201d the opportunity for a jobs boom.<\/p>\n But Conservative Party Chairman Greg Hands said: \u201cHow do the critics, the opposition and the naysayers justify lumping these costs on to people who simply can\u2019t afford it?\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4971744.jpg?r=1695322211158\")
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Rishi Sunak sticks to net-zero car policy set to affect all UK manufacturers[POLITICS] <\/strong>
Lee Anderson attacks BBC over Rishi Sunak’s fiery clash with Nick Robinson[POLITICS] <\/strong>
‘Electric cars are cost-effective but Sunak is ignoring urgent action needed'[POLITICS] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4971749.jpg?r=1695322211223\")
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