Labour’s decision to withdraw its pledge to spend £28bn per year on green investment is causing controversy amongst environmental groups, trade unions, and the energy industry. The move by Sir Keir Starmer is being seen as a U-turn aimed at drawing a line under a political dispute over his party’s potentially high borrowing levels. The new proposal amounts to just £5bn per year of investment in green industries, leading some to suggest Starmer is facing a “credibility crisis.”
Shadow Climate Secretary, Ed Miliband, did initially oppose the U-turn at a meeting on Tuesday. Despite this, he ultimately accepted Starmer’s final decision. Meanwhile, the Unite union has accused Labour of outsourcing its policymaking to the Conservatives. The energy industry’s trade group is also concerned about the reduced ambition for the sector’s future in the UK.
The Financial Times suggests that Starmer is blaming the U-turn on financial constraints produced by Liz Truss’s premiership in 2022, stating that “as conditions change, you adjust your position.” The decision by Labour has caused a significant stir in political circles, with some accusing Starmer of using the death of a transgender teenager to “distract from his party’s chaos.”
The Manchester bombing conspiracy theorist claim, which was dubbed as “absurd and fantastical” by a judge, also makes the headlines. Richard Hall, currently being sued for harassment and misuse of private information, made the claim that the attack was faked as part of a government exercise. The judge in the case called the claim an insult to the victims, stating that those affected by the bombing deserved to be treated with respect and sensitivity
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