CRAIG MACKINLAY

WE will be hearing lots of noise over the announcements by the Prime Minister which bring pragmatism and realism to the net zero pathway.

Some Conservative colleagues may take to the airwaves as they see their uncosted dreams hitting the buffers of reality.

Conservatives should never ban things – consumers are more than capable of making choices as to what works for them. It’s called the power of capitalism and the market – not a Whitehall mandarin mandating what we should do.

The short to medium-term net zero pathway of banning new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, new oil boilers after 2026 and gas boilers from 2035, together with unachievable energy standards for properties, was never realistic.

Consumers will have choice returned to them and will welcome it.

It’s good politics too as Labour peddle more extreme, expensive, controlling and unachievable pipe dreams.

The primary problem with the previous net zero pathway, littered with Boris boosterism, was that it was founded on full electrification of motive power, heating and industrial processes.