The Prime Minister said he does not want to heap “hassle” or extra costs on to families as Conservatives on the right of the party pressure him to weaken commitments to possibly win back voters. Downing Street insisted Mr Sunak is committed to the ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 after he declined to give the same assurance himself. The Tories’ campaigning against the expansion of London’s Ulez scheme has been widely credited for them retaining the Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat (Lucy North/PA)But No 10 made clear that ministers are scrutinising existing net zero pledges “in light of some of the cost-of-living challenges”, citing the potential for technological advances. Mr Sunak said he does not want to add to the pressure households are experiencing from high inflation amid a challenge to get the UK to net zero on carbon emissions by 2050. Former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Danny Kruger, co-leader of the New Conservatives group of Tory MPs elected since the Brexit referendum, have been urging the Prime Minister to reconsider the deadlines for green initiatives.

Source: The Times July 24, 2023 10:24 UTC