Kemi Badenoch has ignited a significant controversy by pledging to abolish the UK’s Net Zero laws, a move that has been met with strong condemnation from former Prime Minister Theresa May, reports BritPanorama.
The Conservative Party leader announced her commitment to reverse climate change legislation, arguing that the current Net Zero plan is ineffective. May responded to Badenoch’s declaration with disappointment, criticizing the potential erasure of 17 years of bipartisan agreement on climate policy, originally established during her tenure as Prime Minister in 2019.
May stated, “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. The science remains the same. The harms are undeniable.”
Badenoch’s intention includes eliminating legally binding carbon targets and the commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. She defended her position by claiming, “The plan for Net Zero is not working.”
Former Environment Minister Lord Deben also criticized Badenoch’s stance, asserting that Margaret Thatcher would have been “appalled” by the decision to repeal the climate act and emphasizing that such a move would damage the economy. He noted that Thatcher would have preferred to invest in new industries to support sustainable growth.
