Tories fail to set Net Zero target

THE Conservative Party's most senior energy spokesperson would not be drawn yesterday on when a Tory government might aim to reach Net Zero, after her party pledged to scrap the 2050 target.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho faced scrutiny over her party’s plans to abandon the 2050 target, as the Government unveiled the first national plan to train and recruit workers who can fill the skills gap in the clean energy transition.

Appearing on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Coutinho was asked about the future of the Tories’ climate policy.

“We think decarbonisation is not a bad thing, I think caring about pollution is important, but at the moment, the targets are actually pulling you in the wrong direction,” she said.

“If you want to decarbonise, the thing you have to do is get people to use electric products, cars, home, heating, industry, to electrify their machinery. So we don't have a target”