Badenoch: Tory ‘policy renewal’ to confront problems with net zero and energy

The Conservatives are going to “confront the real problems” starting with energy and net zero as Kemi Badenoch launches a “policy renewal” process for the party.

The Tory leader will say she is not making a “moral judgment” on net zero or debating whether climate change exists, but that the target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 cannot be achieved without a drop in living standards.

The policy renewal will see shadow cabinet members set core priority questions as a move towards formulating new policy for the party.

The party may commission external reports on certain questions.

In a speech on Tuesday, Mrs Badenoch is expected to say that cutting energy costs and reducing the impact on the environment are “noble aims” but that the current policies are “largely failing” to improve nature and “driving up the cost of energy”.

“We’re falling between two stools – too high costs and too little progress,” she will say.

She will also say that net zero by 2050 is “impossible”.

“Net zero by 2050 is impossible. I don’t say that with pleasure.

“Or because I have some ideological desire to dismantle it – in fact, we must do what we can to improve our natural world.

“I say it because anyone who has done any serious analysis knows it can’t be achieved without a serious drop in our living standards or by bankrupting us.

“And responsible leaders don’t indulge in fictions which are going to make families poorer.”

The Tories are going to “deal with the reality”, she will say.

“We have to do better than this.

“And that’s why, today as part of our policy renewal, we are going to do something that Labour failed to do when in opposition – and explains why they are floundering so badly now.

“We are going to deal with the reality. Answer the real questions. Confront the real problems.

“And we start today on energy and net zero.”