Labour MPs have voiced growing concern that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s recent policy moves may undermine the UK’s climate ambitions. While Starmer has publicly pledged to meet climate targets, a series of decisions over the past months has raised doubts among his own party.
In September, Starmer wrote in the Guardian that Britain’s record‑breaking summer had highlighted the urgency of climate action. Yet, since then, his cabinet has approved the Jackdaw gasfield and announced cuts to heat‑pump subsidies, moves that have disappointed green‑focused MPs.
Rosebank Oilfield Decision Looms
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has already green‑lit the Jackdaw gasfield, and the government is now poised to decide on the larger Rosebank oilfield. Labour backbencher Catherine Fookes has urged the government to reject Rosebank, warning that approving it could erode the country’s renewable record. Her colleague Andrew Lewin echoed this sentiment, noting that the project “would risk undermining our record” and is “not worth it.”
Electric Vehicle Targets at Risk
Meanwhile, Chancellor John Healey’s recent announcement of cuts to green schemes, including heat‑pump subsidies, has intensified scrutiny over the upcoming decision on electric vehicle (EV) targets. Labour MPs are watching closely to see whether the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate will be maintained or scaled back.
“I know the prime minister is committed to the green transition and meeting our climate targets, and he understands the seriousness of the climate crisis,” said Fookes. “But the government has some incredibly difficult decisions to make in the coming months … I believe the ZEV mandate should stay, and Rosebank should be rejected.”
Environmental Groups Sound the Alarm
Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace, warned that the government’s “heart seems to be in the right place on climate, but there’s still a real danger of them sleepwalking into reversing the progress made so far.”
These developments come as the government balances the need for financial relief for voters this winter with national security concerns. Some Labour MPs have criticised Starmer for focusing on immediate practical advice—such as urging people not to use barbecues during wildfires—rather than addressing the broader climate emergency.
Source: The Guardian World
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