Miliband vows to stand firm on green policy after PM's U-turn

Labour will "double down" on making the case that tackling the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis can only be done in tandem, despite an intensifying Conservative attack on net zero policies, the Guardian has learned.

- Fiona Harvey

Labour will argue that seeking green growth is the way to bring down household bills and secure the future of the UK economy.

The party believes that Rishi Sunak's U-turns last week on key netzero policies reveal a weakness in his strategy, a lack of vision for future economic growth, and open him to criticism that he is adding to the cost of living for people on low incomes.

Ed Miliband, the shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero, told the Guardian: "Rishi Sunak is a man bankrupt of ideas who has shown this week he neither has answers to the cost of living crisis nor the climate crisis. His announcements will put up costs for working people, threaten investment and jobs, and lead to climate delay, loading more costs on to families."

Some commentators had predicted that Labour would weaken its own stance in response. Miliband made clear the opposite was true.

"We relish the fight ahead on the question of who can really stand up for working people," he said. "Labour's plan will cut bills, create jobs, deliver energy security and tackle the climate crisis, while Rishi Sunak will leave Britain stuck in a doom loop of a permanent cost of living crisis and economic stagnation."