Rishi Sunak is likely to use the King’s Speech on Tuesday next week to further North Sea oil and gas expansion and introduce more pro motorist policies.
Sources from Whitehall have told The Guardian that they anticipate such legislation despite the UK’s commitment to move away from fossil fuels and net zero.
The move follows the prime minister’s decision to expand drilling at Rosebank and the North Sea. However, Labour said it would block all North Sea oil and gas projects if it wins power at the next general election.
The prime minister also carried out a u-turn on a range of net zero policies, including pushing back the 2030 date mandating the sale of all cars to be electric to 2035.
Potential moves to get backing from motorists come after Ulez was a key issue at the Uxbridge byelection, which saw the Conservative party keep a hold on Uxbridge.
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Several Conservative councils in outer London launched a High Court case against Mayor Sadiq Khan’s expanded ultra low emission zone, however the court maintained that he be allowed to go ahead with the policy.
Despite the Uxbridge loss, Labour have seen wins at byelections including Selby, and in the formerly majority Conservative Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire constituencies.
A recent Opinum poll showed that nine in 10 of the swing voters who say they intend switch from Conservative to Labour at the next election say that “green growth” is important for the future of Britain’s economy.
Investors including Ikea, Nestlé and Eon wrote an open letter to the prime minister, which was signed by 400 business leaders, urging him not to back down on net zero policies.
“Watering down these policies would damage the UK’s credibility as a good place for green investment,” they wrote.
