Head to Ed: Miliband and Blair clash over net zero

Sir Tony Blair has gone to war with Sir Keir Starmer's government over its pursuit of net zero policies.

- DAVID MADDOX POLITICAL EDITOR

The former prime minister warns energy secretary Ed Miliband his eco policies are wrong because voters know their sacrifices will have virtually no impact on climate change.

Sir Tony has publicly warned the energy secretary and other Western governments of the “inconvenient facts” that their climate change policies are wrong.

In a foreword to a report by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), the ex-PM claimed voters “feel they’re being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know that their impact on global emissions is minimal”.

The major intervention has been condemned by climate change activists and has given succour to those calling for a Donald Trump-style ditching of the green agenda in favour of fossil fuels.

Sources close to the energy secretary have hit back, pointing out that the green agenda Mr Miliband is pursuing was in Labour’s election manifesto and that Sir Keir Starmer has described them as part of “the DNA of the party”.

Amid claims that green policies are contributing to rising energy policies, Sir Tony has warned of a serious credibility gap with voters and businesses.

The concerns outlined by the former PM come against a fraught political background where Nigel Farage's Reform UK has used the "net zero madness" messaging to propel its surge in the polls, with a promise to follow President Trump and reverse the policy.

The Tories, who have embraced rowing back on net zero under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, have seized on Sir Tony’s comments.