By Kevin Schofield
Copyright huffingtonpost
A Tory civil war has erupted after Theresa May condemned Kemi Badenoch’s “catastrophic” decision to ditch the party’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050.
The former prime minister hit out at her successor as Conservative leader as party members prepare to gather for the party’s annual conference in Manchester.
Badenoch announced on Thursday that she would ditch the UK’s climate change act if the Tories win the next election, claiming it “tied us in red tape, loaded us with costs, and did nothing to cut global emissions”.
The law was initially passed by Labour with Tory support in 2008 before being updated when May was PM to commit the government to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Badenoch said: “Previous Conservative governments tried to make Labour’s climate laws work – they don’t.
“Under my leadership we will scrap those failed targets. Our priority now is growth, cheaper energy, and protecting the natural landscapes we all love.”
But May said: “I am deeply disappointed by this retrograde step which upends 17 years of consensus between our main political parties and the scientific community.
“To row back now would be a catastrophic mistake for while that consensus is being tested, the science remains the same.
“The harms are undeniable. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to ensure we protect the planet for their futures and that means giving business the reassurance it needs to find the solutions for the very grave challenges we face.”
Former Tory cabinet minister Alok Sharma, who was also president of the Cop26 climate conference, also hit out at Badenoch.
He said: “The path to a prosperous, secure and electable future for the Conservative party lies in building on our achievements, not abandoning them.
“Voters, especially younger people and those in key marginal seats which we need to retain or win back, expect serious, coherent and forward-looking policies from the Conservative party.
“Our legacy is one of global leadership. We should not squander this for the sake of short-term political expediency.”
Gavin Barwell, who was May’s chief of staff when she was PM, told HuffPost UK: “There is no future for the Conservative Party in being a Reform tribute act.”
The row is a major distraction for Badenoch as she comes under pressure to turn around her party’s fortunes after just a year as leader.