Liz Truss and James Wild praise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to scale back on Net Zero approach

West Norfolk’s MPs have backed the Prime Minister’s decision to scale back on the way we hit Net Zero targets, praising his “proportionate approach”.

Rishi Sunak announced plans earlier this week to reduce the UK’s emissions in a way which will not “impose unacceptable costs on hard-pressed British families”.

These proposals will involve increasing the cash given to people to replace boilers with heat pumps by 50% to £7,500, and this will never have to be repaid.

Mr Sunak has also scrapped Government plans to interfere with how many passengers drivers can have in their cars, provide homes with seven separate bins for recycling, encourage changes to diet by taxing meat, and create new taxes to discourage flying.

The Government's proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has also been pushed back to 2035.

“And nor will we ban new oil and gas in the North Sea which would simply leave us reliant on expensive, imported energy from foreign dictators like Putin,” the Prime Minister said.

Both North West Norfolk MP James Wild and South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss have backed the move.

Mr Wild said: “The UK remains committed to Net Zero by 2050 and we’ve cut emissions by 50% since 1990 with plans to deliver further reductions of 68% by 2030 – faster than other major countries.

“The pragmatic, proportionate approach set out by the Prime Minister will ensure we meet our international commitments without imposing unnecessary costs on families, particularly in rural areas and off the gas grid.

“The 2035 deadline for ending the sale of electric cars and vans brings us into line with Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, California and other places.

“At the same time, this approach increases support for home insulation measures, replacing boilers, and investing in green energy projects.”

Ms Truss said: “I welcome the delay on banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars as well as the delay on the ban on oil and gas boilers. This is particularly important for rural areas.

“I now urge the Government to abolish the Windfall Tax on oil and gas and lift the fracking ban, which would reduce people’s energy bills and make the UK more competitive.”

Mr Sunak had highlighted the fact that the last Carbon Budget was debated by parliament for just 17 minutes, saying this was not a responsible way to make decisions.

He said he hopes to limit extreme views on the Net Zero debate – from those who believe green plans should be scrapped altogether, and those “with an ideological zeal” who believe they should be sped up no matter the cost to people’s lives.

“This debate needs more clarity, not more emotion,” the Prime Minister said.

“The test should be: do we have the fairest credible path to reach Net Zero by 2050, in a way that brings people with us?

“We seem to have defaulted to an approach which will impose unacceptable costs on hard-pressed British families.

“Costs that no one was ever told about, and which may not actually be necessary to deliver the emissions reduction that we need.

“We’ll now have a more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach that eases the burdens on families.”