Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said the Labour government is building a "shocking record" on climate issues. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Polanski's statement came after revelations that the government is poised to water down electric vehicle (EV) targets. A Guardian scoop by Kiran Stacey said the government is on course to soften EV targets, though a final decision has not yet been taken.
In his statement, Polanski said: "This week leaders meet for the UN climate summit. The context? A summer of heat deaths. Scientists saying 2026 will be the hottest year ever. To bend over backwards to the car industry, and scrap plans for rapid electrification. This Government is building up a shocking record of backsliding and bad decisions on climate issues. At a time when we desperately need leadership, they bend to the will of polluters by slashing key rules and pushing ahead with fossil fuel extraction."
Former Green leader Caroline Lucas also condemned the move, saying: "A truly terrible decision at a truly terrible time. The shift to electric vehicles is government's single biggest decarbonisation policy. Cutting EV targets would send a message on eve of #COP31 that UK is no longer serious about #climate action."
The news comes as Andy Burnham visits a hospital in Hertfordshire this morning to talk about a £40m programme in England to try to keep vulnerable patients out of hospital. The Department of Health and Social Care has the details, and Andrew Gregory explains it all.
But Burnham may find he ends up taking more questions from the media on the Guardian's EV story. With Burnham attending the COP climate crisis summit later this week, the revelations won't boost his credentials with environmentalists.
The final EV decision has not yet been taken, but the Greens are already outraged. These are from Zack Polanski, the Green party leader.
Morning: Andy Burnham is visiting a hospital in Hertfordshire.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
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