‘We’re up for this fight’: Labour plans to make
climate key focus of election
Leadership now sees environment as core issue for
voters and strong dividing line against the Tories
Fiona
Harvey and Helena Horton
Fri 24 May
2024 08.00 CEST
Labour is
planning to make the climate a key focus for its election campaign, putting its
net zero commitments “up in lights”, and drawing a clear link between the
“chaos” of the Conservative government and the effects of the climate crisis.
Fears over
the climate – exemplified by a sopping Rishi Sunak calling the general election
in a downpour on the same day scientists warned about the increased likelihood
of seemingly “never-ending” autumn and winter rain – will be tied strongly to
what Labour will portray as a polluting and careless Tory vein of climate
denial.
“We are up
for this fight,” one Labour insider said. “This is going to be huge.”
Sunak
appears to have invited such a response, using his Tory conference speech last
year to attack “environmental dogma” he implied was to blame for high energy
prices, a remark green campaigners condemned as “divisive” and “dangerous
rhetoric”, as well as a potential vote loser.
Tom Burke,
a veteran government adviser and co-founder of the E3G thinktank, said: “The
reference to environmental dogma in Sunak’s speech was a big mistake. If Labour
win this election, it will be very clear that the Tories have misread public
opinion on the climate and lost the culture war they are trying to wage.”
It is a
stark contrast to the picture a mere 100 days ago, when Labour appeared to be
in turmoil over its environmental commitments. For months, speculation had
increased about whether Keir Starmer would renege on his longstanding
commitment to invest £28bn a year on a low-carbon transformation of the UK
economy or not.
In
February, after tortuous internal negotiations, the £28bn plan was watered down
to about £15bn a year. The Labour leader said the change was necessary because
of high inflation and the worsening economic outlook, and the state of public
finances under the Conservatives.
The
Guardian understands that some voices within the top echelons of Labour had
urged caution, worried that the spending commitment would be a focus of attack.
It still is, even after the change of tack.
After the
Uxbridge byelection last summer, when the London mayor, Sadiq Khan’s plan to
widen the capital’s ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) was seen by some as a
factor in Labour’s narrow failure to win the seat, senior figures also worried
that net zero policies could be soft targets for the Conservatives and a
turnoff for some voters.
Khan’s
decisive re-election victory, after a campaign unabashedly championing the
Ulez, put paid to many of those fears earlier this month. Questions over
Labour’s commitment to net zero have been firmly settled, insiders say. The
leadership sees the environment as a core issue for voters and a strong
dividing line between Labour and the Tories. Labour has long sought to show
that pursuing net zero is a source of economic growth and will bring down the
cost of living, especially for poorer families, through cheaper renewable
energy and home insulation. The message appears to be getting through.
A party
spokesperson said: “The choice at this election is clear: a Conservative
government that pollutes our rivers with record levels of toxic sewage, is led
by and funded by climate deniers and fails to meet our climate and nature
targets; or a Labour government that will restore nature, deliver the largest
investment in clean energy in our history so we can cut bills for families,
make Britain energy independent and tackle the climate crisis to protect our
home for our children and grandchildren.
“Britain
needs change. It’s time to stop the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild.”
Nurturing a
low-carbon economy must be a priority for the next government, green
campaigners insisted. Mel Evans, a climate team leader at Greenpeace, said:
“Investing in green technologies of the future would give the UK the bold green
industrial strategy it needs that will create millions of jobs, grow our
flailing economy, make us more energy independent, ease pressure on the NHS,
and help the cost of living and climate crises all at the same time.”
“This is
the opportunity Labour should seize in their election manifesto,” she added.
Starmer has
pledged to create a new publicly owned energy company to invest in renewables,
capitalised with £8.3bn, as well as a national wealth fund for investment in
electric vehicle manufacturing, green steel, carbon capture and storage and
other green technologies, with a British jobs bonus aimed at attracting more
private investment in green companies in the UK’s industrial heartlands. A warm
homes plan is intended to double current spending on home insulation.
On
Wednesday, the National Grid unveiled plans to double investment in the UK
electricity network to £31bn over the next five years. The energy secretary,
Claire Coutinho, hailed this as “a huge vote of confidence” in Tory plans. But
the investment could also assist Labour, as upgrading the grid is a necessary
step to decarbonising the power sector.
Sunak’s
comments on the steps of No 10 on Wednesday made clear that Labour will face an
onslaught from the Conservatives on the climate and net zero. But Labour will
also have to convince voters on the other side, people who think the party is
not environmentally minded enough, and might be tempted by the Greens or
Liberal Democrats instead.
“Labour’s
rhetoric on the climate emergency is strong but they have to back it up with
firm plans and commitments,” said Mike Childs, the head of science, policy and
research at Friends of the Earth. “After scrapping their £28bn investment there
are serious questions about how they will insulate our heat-leaking homes,
boost our depleted bus network, and ensure that our homegrown wind and solar
resources are developed at the speed and scale we so urgently require.”
Childs said
far more detailed commitments would be needed. “If Labour forms the next
government, they will have to produce a comprehensive and lawful climate plan
that meets our domestic carbon budgets and our international commitment to
reduce emissions by two-thirds by 2030 – or face possible legal action if it
falls short,” he said. “Warm words on how to tackle an overheating planet are
not enough. We need urgent action now.”
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