Sunak’s green U-turn is part of plan to cast PM as change candidate

Insiders say purpose of speech was to create dividing lines with Labour, with more policy announcements expected in weeks to come

Downing Street expected a backlash after Rishi Sunak announced that he was pushing back some of the government's key commitments for reaching net zero; in fact they wanted it.

The purpose of the speech was to create dividing lines with Labour," said a No 10 insider. The fight is the point." What they didn't expect, was for the speech to be leaked 72 hours early and chaos to ensue.