Labour's decision to retract its £28bn green prosperity pledge has sparked widespread criticism and accusations of creating an £8 billion financial gap in its environmental initiatives. Experts have labeled the party's green target as 'unachievable' following the withdrawal of the pledge. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt highlighted an £8 billion shortfall in Labour's revised green investment plans, attributing it to the scaling back of the original proposal. The controversy centers around Labour's U-turn on its commitment to invest in green energy, including the construction of a gigafactory in the West Midlands, contingent upon winning the next election. Labour representatives, including Pat McFadden, have defended the decision, citing rising interest rates as a significant factor while arguing against the fixation on monetary amounts in policy valuation. Critics, however, argue that the move undermines Labour's credibility and reveals an ideological vacuum within the party, with some commentators suggesting that Labour now lacks a concrete climate policy.
After scrapping its pledge to invest £28 billion in green energy, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has no real climate policy — just platitudes about shrinking the deficit and promoting economic growth. https://t.co/AGvyB34XYy
Labour’s green contortions are a foretaste of trouble ahead https://t.co/40jh8qf1Vb
Ditching of its green plan reveals Labour’s ideological vacuum | Larry Elliott https://t.co/qB7XqYQOwX
Jeremy Hunt cut taxes by £20bn a few months ago – almost the equivalent of Labour’s £23.7bn green plan. A reminder of how governments can spend far more easily than oppositions.
Spot on from @andrewrawnsley on Starmer's abandonment of his green flagship policy https://t.co/2q8m5HeMjS
"[Labour] have made an error sometimes... in judging the worth of every policy as the amount of public money spent on it" Labour's Pat McFadden says it is wrong to "obsess" over figures, when asked about his party scrapping a £28bn green plan #BBCLauraK https://t.co/jeHgbRQpp1 https://t.co/eCwWRE7N0t
By scuttling his flagship green policy Keir Starmer has imperilled his credibility https://t.co/TAh2uKr2aQ
‘The mother of all U-turns’: after Labour’s £28bn green policy climbdown, what’s left? https://t.co/gAsmrT8qY6
Britain’s Labour Party’s climate U-turn has been a long time in coming. But a bigger rethink is still needed https://t.co/jBORHuZoWK 👇
'Interest rates have gone up a great deal' since Labour's £28bn green prosperity pledge was announced, says Labour's @patmcfaddenmp. But @TrevorPTweets suggests interest rates alone are not to blame for the U-turn on the pledge. #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF https://t.co/VlmXP0bcph
After a U-turn over his party’s £28bn green prosperity policy how much is a pledge by @Keir_Starmer worth to build a gigafactory in the West Midlands if Labour wins the next election? #PoliticsMidlands with @robmayor begins at 10am on BBC1 https://t.co/LWw2SkeIAl
After a U-turn over his party’s £28bn green prosperity policy how much is a pledge by @Keir_Starmer worth to build a gigafactory in the West Midlands if Labour wins the next election? PoliticsMidlands with @robmayor begins at 10am on BBC1 https://t.co/LWw2SkeIAl
Jeremy Hunt has accused Labour of having an £8 billion black hole in its scaled-back green investment plans. The chancellor made the claim as the Treasury published official opposition policy costing on Labour’s proposed windfall tax ⬇️ https://t.co/AGBpe1dl7C
🔴 Labour's green target 'unachievable' after ditching £28bn pledge, say experts https://t.co/buTv6peBlb