Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Sunak’s green target U-turns & ‘le rock and royal’
Thursday’s front pages lead on a speech by the prime minister on Wednesday, in which he announced exemptions and delays to several targets in the government’s net zero strategy.
The strategy, which is enshrined in law, commits the UK to eliminate its contribution to the overall amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 2050.
The PM’s U-turn could cost the party at the next election, as it faced massive backlash.
PM’s climate U-turns
The Times notes the PM says he would not impose “unacceptable costs” on households, but notes that the move faces opposition – even from some Tory MPs.
The i looks at the U-turn as an election challenge to Labour saying PM Rishi Sunak has insisted net zero can be achieved with a more “pragmatic approach” but also quotes former PM Boris Johnson who accuses him of “faltering” on climate change and former Tory environment minister Zac Goldsmithcalling for an election.
The Guardian notes the move is one of the prime minister’s biggest reversals since taking office and part of an attempt to put his government on a more radical path ahead of the next general election. The paper notes the change has been “met with despair by climate scientists” and quotes former US Vice President Al Gore saying the government is “doing the wrong thing.”
The Financial Times says the PM has “ignited a business backlash” and quotes Lisa Brankin, chair of Ford UK, saying the business needs “three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment, and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three”.
The paper adds that Labour has pledged to reinstate the 2030 deadline for petrol cars if it wins the next election.
The tabloids seem to welcome the news.
“Given us a brake,” says the Sun. The paper says drivers now have a “five-year reprieve from going electric.” The Express quotes the PM saying he has “pushed back green policies that hard-up voters cannot afford in the cost-of-living crisis”.
The Daily Telegraph notes that in his speech the prime minister said the change was the first in a series of policy changes that he plans to announce. The paper also reports there is some upset amongst the Tories with some suggesting the change has “reopened the Tory civil war.”
King Charles in France
Several of the newspapers feature images of King Charles on a state visit to France where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron at a star-studded state banquet that included Mick Jagger.
“Le rock & royal,” says the Daily Mirror. “The French connection,” says the Metro – which features an image of Charles and Macron smiling.