Net zero pledge threatened by Tory leadership candidates

The government’s commitment to net zero could be scrapped by a number of the candidates. Former levelling-up minister Kemi Badenoch, who is backed by her old boss Michael Gove, has indicated that she would scrap the targets. “Too many policies, like net zero targets, [are] set up with no thought to the effects on industries in the poorer parts of this country,” she said. Attorney general Suella Braverman has said she would not meet the net zero target and would stop climate action, claiming it to be too expensive. New chancellor Nadhim Zahawi’s stance is unclear. He has previously spoken in favour of the targets, but also has ties to the oil industry and as a backbencher was chief strategy officer at Gulf Keystone Petroleum between 2015 and 2017. While former health secretary Jeremy Hunt is thought to be in favour of the net zero targets, his running mate is Esther McVey, who is a member of the sceptic Net Zero Group in the Commons. The Times (£) The Guardian