Sunak to force Labour MPs to vote on 2035 petrol car ban
The Prime Minister said MPs will be given a vote on 'all the measures that are required to deliver that carbon reduction'
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Rishi Sunak has revealed MPs are to get a vote on his new approach to net zero, forcing Labour MPs to vote on the petrol car ban.
In an interview with GB News, the Prime Minister said MPs will be given a vote on "all the measures that are required to deliver that carbon reduction".
This comes after Sunak unveiled a swathe of new measures to achieve net zero, watering down the UK's approach to tackling climate change last week.
Sunak's speech - delivered last week - saw him herald a new approach to tackling climate change, warning: "We risk losing the consent of the British people” for net zero policies.
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He said the UK is "proud to be a world leader in reaching net zero by 2050 - but we simply won't achieve it until we change".
Sunaks' new policies involve pushing the ban on petrol and diesel cars back to 2035.
Labour has publicly said it would reinstate the 2030 deadline for banning the cars.
A vote on the issue would mean that Labour MPs are forced into voting against delaying the ban, which could later be held against them at an election as they would be putting increasing pressure on individuals to buy new cars - something which is deeply unpopular with the electorate.
When asked by GB News if he will give MPs a vote on the issue, Sunak said: "Well actually MPs do vote on these carbon budgets which decide how much we're going to reduce carbon emissions.
"One of the things I pointed out in my new approach to net zero is we’ve got to be more transparent here about if that vote happens again in the future.
"So when I said very clearly when MPs vote on the amount of carbon reduction, we’re gonna do – they should be considering all the measures that are required to deliver that carbon reduction."
He added: "That’s the kind of honesty and transparency politicians should have with the country.
"I didn’t like this Westminster consensus that all this stuff was being cooked up over here, people weren’t being open with the country about what was required – I wanted to change that.
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"Look and as you can see, there were people who criticised me for the decision I made. But I’m going to do what is right for the long term of this country.
"I’m not gonna take the easy way out that’s my approach to leadership."