Boris Johnson has emerged to lead a charge against the next Conservative Party leader watering down the party’s commitment to tackling climate change.
He emerged this weekend alongside his leadership predecessors William Hague and Michael Howard, all of whom pressed the next Tory leader not to abandon environmentalism.
It comes as analysis of the the election suggests Rishi Sunak’s move away from Net Zero hurt rather than helped the party.
The trio of Tory grandees warned the next Tory leader to stick to backing environmental progress, as well as championing biodiversity.
Lord Hague of Richmond also backed a new environmental manifesto from the Conservative Environment Network, which calls for improvements to grid infrastructure, tax breaks for Freeport’s and tackling invasive species.
Boris Johnson said that protecting the environment “has consistently been a priority for the British people”.
“Whether it is investing in homegrown offshore wind and nuclear to create green jobs across the country, or incentivising our farmers to restore nature, successive Conservative governments have taken bold environmental action and built an impressive record.”
"Continued conservative environmental leadership is critical for our party’s electoral prospects and the environmental cause.
“Unlike the left, we know that it is only through unleashing private enterprise and driving innovation that we will finish the job of reaching net zero.
“We must avoid a costly, hair-shirt approach to the environment that alienates the public and undermines support for going green.
“Conservatives should champion our environmental achievements and put forward a positive plan to finish the job of cutting emissions while delivering more jobs and growth across the UK."
Lord Hague added that the future of conservatism must have the environment “at its heart”.
“Our environment is inextricably linked to three of the other great issues that matter most to both our country and our party: our security, our prosperity, and our society.”
Michael Howard said that while the need to decarbonise is accepted by both Labour and the Tories, the left’s approach to Net Zero of unaffordable borrowing and state-ownership will crush private enterprise and push up costs.
He pointed to Ed Miliband’s GB Energy as proof that it is “vital we continue to champion a conservative approach to net zero”.
"How we decarbonise is a political space that conservatives should own.
“We must not be afraid to put forward a conservative environmentalist vision, built on a vibrant, decarbonised economy.
“As CEN’s statement correctly argues, conservative environmentalism is responsible, economically efficient, and an undoubted political asset for our party.”
A poll by More in Common after the election found that Rishi Sunak’s move to delay certain Net Zero measures made no difference to the Tories’ popularity.
While just 6% of voters said his moves away from climate zealotry was one of his top three achievements, 11% said it was among his biggest mistakes.
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