Myenergi co-founder Jordan Brompton has warned of the danger of the Prime Minister putting the brakes on the banning of petrol and diesel cars.
Plans for 2030 to see an end to new sales in favour of electric models have been put back to 2035, as speculated ahead of Wednesday's Downing Street press conference. Gas boiler deadlines have also removed with the switch to heat pumps given moe time. Rishi Sunak said the move was a fair, proportionate and pragmatic approach, while doubling down on what can make a difference, while sparing families costs.
The Grimsby business has been one of the fastest growing companies in recent years, from start-up in 2016 to a £53 million turnover. A slowdown in expansion that saw it recognised by The Sunday Times as a top 10 British success story has already been witnessed recently, leading to significant staff cuts as stratospheric sales stuttered.
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Speaking ahead of what was confirmed in the speech, co-founder Jordan Brompton, said: “The (then) rumoured postponement of the 海角视频’s 2030 date for phasing out new petrol and diesel car and van sales – which of course has always permitted some forms of hybrids to continue to be sold – is not good news for anyone,” she said. “It weakens confidence in 海角视频 investment.
“Vehicle manufacturers don’t like it. Those of us who are working to decarbonise homes and transport don’t like it. And families that cannot afford a new car won’t like it, because they may have to wait even longer to buy a cleaner and cheaper-to-run electric car in the used market.”
Mrs Brompton, currently the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year, and also nationally recognised for her work in STEM, had met Mr Sunak earlier this year. She followed up on social media, adding: "If we’re serious about net zero, intent on decarbonisation and really committed to hitting our targets, we need to make big, bold, brave decisions – and stick to them! I’m sorry, Prime Minister, but this simply isn’t good enough!"
Boiler manufacturer Ideal Heating is understood to be following developments closely, having also just unveiled huge investments in heat pump manufacturing and installation training in Hull.
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Mr Sunak said in his speech that the 海角视频 is “so far ahead of every other country in the world” on tackling climate change.
“How can it be right that British citizens are now being told to sacrifice even more than others? Because the risk here for those of us who care about reaching net zero, as I do, is simple. If we continue down this path, we risk losing the consent of the British people.”
He continued: “That’s why we have to do things differently. We need sensible green leadership. It won’t be easy and it will require a wholly new kind of politics. A politics that is transparent and the space for a better, more honest debate about how we secure the country’s long-term interests.”
The Prime Minister continued: “I’m not saying there will be no hard choices, and nor am I abandoning any of our targets and commitments. I’m unequivocal that we will meet our international agreements, including the critical promises in Paris and Glasgow to limit global warming to 1.5C degrees.”
On electric vehicles, he said: “I expect that by 2030, the vast majority of cars sold will be electric. Why? Because the costs are reducing, the range is improving, the charging infrastructure is growing. People are already choosing electric vehicles to such an extent that we’re registering a new one every 60 seconds.
“But I also think that at least for now, it should be you, the consumer that makes that choice, not Government forcing you to do it, because the upfront cost still is high, especially for families struggling with the cost of living.
“Small businesses are worried about the practicalities. And we have got further to go to get the charging infrastructure truly nationwide and we need to strengthen our own auto industry, so we aren’t reliant on heavily subsidised carbon intensive imports from countries like China.
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“So to give us more time to prepare, I’m announcing today that we’re going to ease the transition to electric vehicles. You’ll still be able to buy petrol and diesel cars and vans until 2035. Even after that, you will still be able to buy and sell them second-hand.”
On heat pumps, Mr Sunak said that under the previous policy, a family living in a terraced house could be faced with an upfront cost of £10,000 to switch to a heat pump.
He continued: “Even the most committed advocates of net zero must recognise that if our solution is to force people to pay that kind of money, support will collapse and we will simply never get there.
“So I’m announcing today that we will give people far more time to make the necessary transition to heat pumps.
“We will never force anyone to rip-out their existing boiler and replace it with a heat pump. You will only ever have to make the switch when you are replacing your boiler anyway, and even then not until 2035.”
Bans on new North Sea oil and gas will not be considered and proposals to tax meat and flights will also be binned.
The prospect of the major shift had been condemned by senior figures in the party. Former COP 26 president Sir Alok Sharma warned that “for any party to resile from this agenda will not help economically or electorally”.
Tory former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke tweeted that “it is in our environmental, economic, moral and political interests as Conservatives to make sure we lead on this issue rather than disown it”.
Chris Skidmore, a Conservative former energy minister who has become increasingly outspoken on net zero, had warned how the "decision will cost the 海角视频 jobs, inward investment, and future economic growth that could have been ours by committing to the industries of the future".
“It will potentially destabilise thousands of jobs and see investment go elsewhere," Mr Skidmore told PA.
Across the benches, the response was equally damning.
Labour’s shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “This is a complete farce from a Tory government that literally does not know what they are doing day to day. 13 years of failed energy policy has led to an energy bills crisis, weakened our energy security, lost jobs, and failed on the climate crisis.”
Liberal Democrat climate and energy spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: “What Rishi Sunak should see in front of him is the opportunity to embrace the industries of the future and protect the coming generations from the catastrophic impacts of climate change. Instead, he has cowered to the delayers and deniers like the disgraced Liz Truss and adopted wholesale their policies.”
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said: “This decision would be economically illiterate, historically inaccurate and environmentally bone-headed. This absurd rollback will mean higher energy bills, colder homes, fewer jobs, more air pollution and more climate chaos.”