Watering down the UK’s net zero strategy may backfire for Rishi Sunak

Just as the stop the boats' campaign didn't win the Tories support, their new red wall'-targeting policy on carbon emissions may backfire

The Augustinian message Lord, make us green, but not yet" was the basis of Rishi Sunak's announcement last week of his package of proposals to delay and water down Britain's policies to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

Supporters of the stance believe the recent Uxbridge byelection upset has revealed a valuable new electoral dividing line: voters who are keen on carbon-cutting in theory become much less keen when the bill arrives. By pushing everything costly further into the future, the Conservatives can win back disaffected voters by rousing latent fears of their big-spending Labour opponents.