KING’S SPEECH WILL FAIL NATURE, ENERGY SECURITY, AND HOUSEHOLDS

Responding to the King’s Speech, the Conservative Environment Network’s Managing Director John Flesher said: 

“Whilst attention is focused on infighting in Government, the far greater concern is the lack of a serious plan to boost our energy and food security and cut the cost of electricity for hard-pressed businesses and consumers. 

“The agenda announced in the King’s Speech risks exacerbating these problems. The arbitrary 2030 Clean Power Target will drive up costs and undermine the benefits of renewables. Instead, ministers should be ending hostile states' grip on our energy supply chains and cutting red tape to unleash cheaper electricity, which is crucial for encouraging the shift to clean technologies like EVs.

“Once again, the Government had virtually nothing to say about nature. Our food security and our natural world will suffer if there is no meaningful offer to restore nature, support farmers, and protect rural communities against the effects of extreme weather events like flooding.

“For the sake of our environment, our economy, and our security, the Government must do better.”