PM’S empty boasts repeated by ministers

BORIS Johnson’s boasts about Britain’s world-leading action on climate change look pretty hollow following a judgement in the High Court on the government’s compliance with the Climate Change Act.

The judgement held that the proposals for achieving Net Zero approved by the Secretary of State were too vague to enable him to be satisfied that the statutory targets would be met. It also determined that the Secretary of State had failed to inform Parliament and the public of his plans.

The rub is that it’s so easy for politicians to make empty commitments to net zero in 2050 because it’s 28 years away. Indeed, Johnson’s possible replacements have both done this. However, one needs to examine their track record and what they are committing to now.

As Chancellor, Sunak allowed the oil and gas industry a massive 80 per cent tax break for investments, thereby subsidising the extension of fossil fuel extraction. He’s also said he wouldn’t lift the restrictions on onshore wind farms.

Truss has proudly declared she’d been a teenage eco-warrior.

However, Open Democracy has revealed the hypocrisy of that statement.

During ministerial visits to the USA she had secretive meetings with representatives of think tanks that have received over $712 million from the USA’S biggest climate change deniers. A briefing note from one meeting revealed she wanted to slash UK environmental regulations.

In her recent statements she’s said she’d ditch the green levy on fuel bills and would be supportive of fracking.

Neither candidate has a true commitment to net zero, but the extraordinary heat across Europe highlights the need for urgent action, rather than lip service to a far distant target.

Paraphrasing the words of Canadian songwriter Tamara Lindeman, right now we have to live and act as if the truth about climate change was true.

Terry Riordan Ottery St Mary operations and medical tests?

Oh! silly me, of course, Boris should have given them £400 billion... to waste on pen pushers, administrators, etc... but not nurses or doctors. Shame on you, NHS.

B Brown

Basford