Voters are becoming increasingly resistant to the high costs associated with the race to achieve net-zero emissions, according to The Sun. The newspaper argues that while the ultimate goal of a carbon-neutral country is commendable, the pace at which it is being pursued is financially ruinous. Families are unlikely to replace their affordable vehicles with expensive battery-powered ones, especially when the latter have limitations such as insufficient range for long journeys. Similarly, the prospect of swapping cheap and efficient gas boilers for heat pumps, whose costs are five times higher, is also unattractive, particularly when it may leave households cold during winter. The public is also unwilling to bear the burden of increased taxes to support politicians’ ambitions to set an example on climate change. The article suggests that voters will reject any policy that imposes such pain, as demonstrated by the recent Uxbridge by-election in London where the Tories triumphed due to a revolt against the Labour Mayor’s levy on older vehicles.
Nonetheless, The Sun urges caution in swinging from one extreme to another. People are tired of the idea that the UK’s emissions hold the key to the planet’s survival, especially given their minimal impact in global terms. Additionally, the reduction in the country’s emissions since 2010 has already outpaced most major nations. The public is also tired of wealthy politicians preaching about the immorality of slowing down the country’s move to net-zero, while knowing they themselves will not struggle to pay the bills. The article calls for a postponement of the 2030 ban on new fossil fuel cars to at least 2035, as is the case in the EU, and proposes making heat pumps mandatory only in new homes. Furthermore, the net-zero deadline of 2050 must be revised based on economic reality instead of wishful thinking.
In a separate article, The Sun shifts its focus to Labour leader Keir Starmer. The paper argues that Starmer may have survived a recent dispute with his union backers but faces significant challenges leading up to the next election. Starmer’s economic goal of achieving G7-beating growth by improving energy security, similar to that of the US, clashes with his opposition to fracking and new oil and gas projects. These industries have been vital to America’s success, but Starmer’s stance has been met with dismay from his own party members and union supporters. Furthermore, his insistence on adhering to the same spending plans as the Tories, which he has criticized as miserly, while also reducing borrowing and lowering taxes, has provoked ire from his backbenchers. The article suggests there is no one on the Left to advocate for such policies. Indecision is cited as Starmer’s defining trait, with U-turns becoming his signature move.
