Sunak’s weakening of climate targets ‘retrograde’, says former Tory minister

Claire O'Neill, a former climate minister, says PM's move was to try and create political division and dividing lines'

The UK government's decision to weaken some of its climate commitments was a retrograde step" that would set back vital cross-party action to cut carbon emissions, Claire O'Neill, a former Conservative climate minister, has said.

O'Neill, who was known as Claire Perry when she served as a minister under David Cameron and Theresa May, said the rolling back of emission reduction efforts by Rishi Sunak appeared to be a ploy for political advantage.