Tories plot to oust Rishi Sunak if he gives in to Liz Truss by delaying car ban
Flip-flopping Rishi Sunak faces the threat of angry Tory MPs starting efforts to oust him if he delays a ban on new petrol and diesel cars by five years, it has been claimed.
The Prime Minister is expected to announce the ban will now come into force in 2035 in a major speech in the coming days. He will also reportedly say the commitment to phase out gas boilers will be pushed back in a bonfire of environmental commitments.
It comes after weeks of calls from disgruntled backbenchers - including disaster PM Liz Truss and Dame Priti Patel - to delay key parts of the Government's Net Zero programme.
The Government is set to water down plans to stop new gas boilers by 2035, instead saying only 80% will be phased out. And no new energy efficiency regulations are expected to be brought in for homes - meaning plans to fine landlords will be abandoned. A ban on off-grid oil boilers - scheduled for 2026 - will be put back to 2035, it is claimed.
On top of this, regular flyer Mr Sunak may shelve plans for taxes on flying, and measures to encourage car-pooling. But the Government's commitment to reaching Net Zero on greenhouse gases by 2050 remains in place, the PM has insisted.
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It is understood that some Tory MPs are considering writing letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister if he goes ahead with the changes.
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In a statement, Mr Sunak said: "We are committed to Net Zero by 2050 and the agreements we have made internationally - but doing so in a better, more proportionate way."
Since the Tories secured an unexpected victory in Boris Johnson's old Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, voices calling for green measures to be delayed have grown. The party's narrow victory in that by-election was attributed to the backlash against the ULEZ expansion - aimed at improving air quality across London.
Quizzed about the petrol and diesel car ban back on July 25, Mr Gove said: "We're committed to maintaining our policy of ensuring by 2030 there are no new petrol or diesel cars being sold."
On Monday 49-day PM Ms Truss demanded Net Zero plans are delayed, saying: "And finally we should – as many other Western countries are already doing – delay implementing Net Zero commitments such as the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030. Other environmental regulations which are hiking the cost of living like enforcing the replacement of gas and oil boilers should also be abandoned."
Liberal Democrat Climate and Energy spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: "What Rishi Sunak should see in front of him is the opportunity to embrace the industries of the future and protect the coming generations from the catastrophic impacts of climate change."Instead, he has cowered to the delayers and deniers like the disgraced Liz Truss and adopted wholesale their policies. This Conservative Government has done nothing but damage our nation and this would be the most destructive move yet."
Former Tory Cabinet Minister Simon Clarke warned his own party against "seeking to extract political advantage" on the environment. He tweeted: "Businesses rely on certainty to make major investments like that just secured from Tata in Somerset. It is unclear how they are to plan at all if we respond to one by-election in west London by tearing up key planks of government policy."
A Government spokesperson said: “The Government remains completely committed to its Net Zero commitments, with the UK having cut emissions faster than any other G7 country. Our approach will always be pragmatic and ensure costs are not passed onto hard-working families. We will not comment on speculation."
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