Green bonfire as PM rows back on net zero targets

Sunak's attempt to close poll gap with Labour triggers condemnation

- Pippa Crerar, Fiona Harvey, Kiran Stacey

Rishi Sunak announced a U-turn on the government's climate commitments yesterday as he promised to put his government on a more radical path in an attempt to close the gap on Labour before the general election.

In one of his biggest policy reversals since taking office, Sunak confirmed the UK would push back the deadline for selling new petrol and diesel cars and the phasing out of gas boilers, prompting furious condemnation from the automotive and energy industries. Some senior Tories, led by Boris Johnson, criticised the decision, with the former prime minister warning his successor that he "cannot afford to falter now" as heaping uncertainty on businesses could drive up prices for British families.

The changes were met with despair by climate scientists and environmental experts who said costs to consumers would rise in the long run and the UK's global leadership on the issue was at risk. The former US vice-president Al Gore said Sunak was "doing the wrong thing".

At a Downing Street press conference, Sunak insisted that his scaling down of climate policies was "not about the politics", even though the Conservatives' conference slogan adorned the lectern and party insiders said the move was about creating dividing lines with Labour before the next election. The prime minister said he was "absolutely unequivocal" about sticking to the commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 but wanted to take a "more pragmatic, proportionate and realistic approach". However, he set out little detail on what measures he would now bring in to help meet that target.