The debate over net zero has taken a dramatic turn, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch now declaring that the UK’s 2050 target is “impossible”—a shift that’s already sparked accusations of political opportunism. Critics have questioned why she didn’t oppose the policy sooner if she truly believed it would bankrupt the country.
Reform UK wasted no time in calling out her sudden change in stance, branding it a “desperate policy from a leader and party floundering in the polls.” They claim the Tories are simply latching onto Reform’s momentum rather than offering a real alternative, as reported by the Express.
Badenoch, however, insists it’s time to “get real” about the UK’s approach to net zero. She argued that pushing ahead with ambitious climate targets while other nations lag behind is only making Britain “less safe, less secure, and less resilient.” In a direct attack on Reform UK, she dismissed their energy policies as lacking substance, saying: “They don’t have real answers to our country’s challenges, that’s why their energy policy fell apart right after they announced it.”
Badenoch also took aim at the arbitrary nature of the 2050 target, questioning why that date was chosen in the first place. “Why is it 2050 in the first place? No-one knows,” she said, suggesting the government would take a fresh approach by either rethinking the path to net zero or shifting focus to clean energy and energy security instead.
The shift has led to accusations of inconsistency, given that Badenoch previously backed the 2050 goal while in government. But she defended her past stance, insisting she was bound by “collective responsibility” at the time and hadn’t personally changed her mind.
While the Conservatives promise to reveal new energy policies in the future, Badenoch’s comments mark a clear departure from the party’s previous commitments. The big question now is whether this move is a genuine change in direction or simply a last-ditch attempt to win back voters from Reform UK.
