Rishi Sunak demands Labour prioritise 'family finances' over net zero - as defiant Ed Miliband shakes his head

Rishi Sunak demands Labour prioritise 'family finances' over net zero - as defiant Ed Miliband shakes his head
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 17/07/2024

- 15:02

Updated: 17/07/2024

- 15:22

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged Sir Keir Starmer to prioritise "family finances" over net zero targets, during his first King's Speech address as the opposition leader.

Sunak told the Chamber: "This country has decarbonised quicker than any other major country, and we have managed to do that while growing the economy as a country and across this whole house I know we will all be proud of that achievement.

"Now the government plans to decarbonise the grid by 2030, but there is a real danger. But if the government puts the speed of doing this ahead of family finances and our energy security, then we will again lose public consent for the measures necessary to ensure that we actually reach our 2050 net zero target, a target on which there is genuine consensus between our two parties.

"As even one of the Prime Minister's own supporters has warned, this 2030 plan will, and I quote, just mean we will have to import our energy. Strategically, we become more vulnerable. We will pay more money for our energy. So I hope that the Energy Secretary reflects on those thoughts."

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