Rishi Sunak’s decision to rip up Conservative environmental pledges during recess has sparked outrage among politicians and the leader of the house, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
In a speech from Downing Street on Wednesday, the 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”.
He weakened plans to strip out polluting gas and oil boilers and scrapped policies forcing landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of homes.
Sunak insisted the UK was already ahead of allies in reducing emissions and could not impose “unacceptable costs” on British families.
But the decision to roll out the changes during recess has angered politicians from across the divide.
Hoyle was the first to blast the decision, saying in a statement:
“If he had the power, the Speaker would recall the house immediately – and he is writing to the prime minister today to express that view in the strongest of terms.
“This is a major policy shift, and it should have been announced when the house was sitting. Members with very different views on this issue have expressed their disquiet on the way this has been handled, especially as the Commons rose early last night, so there was plenty of time for this statement to be made.
“Instead, the unelected House of Lords will have the opportunity to scrutinise this change in direction this afternoon, when it hears the government’s response to a private notice question on this issue.
“This is not the way to do business. Ministers are answerable to MPs – we do not have a presidential system here.
“The House of Commons is where laws are made, national debates are had – and where statements should be made.”
Caroline Lucas also criticised the decision, tweeting: “Parliament must be recalled and should sit tomorrow- Sunak’s blatant and cowardly sidelining of Parliament cannot be allowed to stand.”
Earlier on in the day Lucas spoke to The London Economic about the moves.
Here’s what she had to say:
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