Tory voters want tougher stance on net zero targets

A BIG majority of Conservative voters want the next prime minister to pause and review the push for net zero, a new poll has revealed.

Six in 10 of those who voted for the Tories at the 2019 general election would support a rethink on the Government’s central climate policy.

The findings will pile pressure on leadership hopefuls Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to toughen their stance on the cost of the green transition.

Both have committed to keep the pledge to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050 but said they will revisit how the UK is set to achieve it.

A new poll by Yougov found 59 per cent of Tory voters want net zero frozen, which rises to 70 per cent when “don’t knows” are excluded.

In contrast, only 30 per cent of Labour and Liberal Democrat backers would like to see the climate target suspended.

Ms Truss, the frontrunner, has pledged to temporarily scrap green levies on energy bills to help with the costof-living crisis.

Mr Sunak has pledged to build more offshore wind farms but has also insisted hitting green targets “can’t mean neglecting our energy security”.