Labour will “double down” on making the case that tackling the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis can only be done in tandem, despite an intensifying Conservative attack on net zero policies, the Guardian has learned.

Labour will argue that seeking green growth is the way to bring down household bills and secure the future of the UK economy.

The party believes that Rishi Sunak’s dramatic U-turns last week on key net zero policies reveals a weakness in his strategy, in a lack of vision for future economic growth, and by adding to the cost of living for people on low incomes.

Ed Miliband, shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero, told the Guardian: “Rishi Sunak is a man bankrupt of ideas who has shown this week he neither has answers to the cost of living crisis nor the climate crisis. His announcements will put up costs for working people, threaten investment and jobs, and lead to climate delay, loading more costs on to families.”

Some commentators have predicted that Labour would weaken its own stance in response. Miliband made clear the opposite was true.

“We relish the fight ahead on the question of who can really stand up for working people,” he said. “Labour’s plan will cut bills, create jobs, deliver energy security and tackle the climate crisis, while Rishi Sunak will leave Britain stuck in a doom loop of a permanent cost of living crisis and economic stagnation.”

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    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    The party believes that Rishi Sunak’s dramatic U-turns last week on key net zero policies reveals a weakness in his strategy, in a lack of vision for future economic growth, and by adding to the cost of living for people on low incomes.

    Miliband said: “Every family is paying the price in higher energy bills, due to 13 years of Tory failure on insulating homes.

    After Sunak’s track record as chancellor with the disastrous green homes grant, this is another shortsighted decision that will cost families money.”

    Emails from the Conservative party to journalists last week also revealed a Tory attack on Labour’s pledge of £28bn investment in a low-carbon economy.

    But leading economists have argued for years that investing in low-carbon activities will be crucial for developed economies, as there are no viable alternatives for future growth.

    Tom Burke, a veteran government adviser and co-founder of the green thinktank E3G, warned Labour not to respond by weakening its own policies.


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