Rishi Sunak waters down UK climate policies to avoid public 'backlash'

Mr Sunak insisted the UK was already ahead of allies in reducing emissions and could not impose 'unacceptable costs' on British families.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech on the plans for net-zero commitments in the briefing room at 10 Downing Street, London. Picture: Justin Tallis/PA Wire

Rishi Sunak insisted he was acting to avoid a public “backlash” by watering down efforts to tackle the climate crisis as he faced fierce criticism from green-minded Tories, environmentalists and industry figures.

In a speech from Downing Street on Wednesday, the British prime minister announced a major U-turn by putting back a ban on new fossil fuel cars by five years as he claimed his raft of changes was “not about the politics”.