Tory backlash as Badenoch turns away from net zero by 2050

But the comments have been heavily criticised by the Conservative Environment Network, which boasts 50 Tory MPs in its Parliamentary caucus, which has warned the Tories risk turning off voters from the party.

Sam Hall, Director of the Conservative Environment Network (CEN), said: “It is a mistake for Kemi Badenoch to have jumped the gun on her own policy review and decided net zero isn’t possible by 2050.

“This undermines the significant environmental legacy of successive Conservative governments who provided the outline of a credible plan for tackling climate change. The important question now is how to build out this plan in a way that supports growth, strengthens security, and follows conservative, free market principles.”

While the CEN agreed with Badenoch that Labour’s approach to meeting net zero was “not credible”, it warned: “The net-zero target is driven not by optimism but by scientific reality; without it climate change impacts and costs will continue to worsen.

“Abandon the science and voters will start to doubt the Conservative Party’s seriousness on the clean energy transition, damaging both growth and the fight against climate change.”

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