According to Sir Keir Starmer, the party leader, the original green programme is not possible in the current economic climate. Ahead of the expected election this year, such a change in position would have reduced Labour’s popularity, but the party leadership has vowed to back down.
Party sources say Starmer has chosen the lesser of two evils. In recent weeks, the Conservatives have attacked the opposition’s Green Deal almost daily, under which they would spend £28bn a year on environmental investment if they were in government. But according to the Conservatives, such a large budget item can only be funded by a huge increase in the public debt or a tax increase.
It must be said here that in British politics, the financial sources of each election promise must be precisely determined, otherwise the opponent, as well as the media, will pick up programmes that cannot be funded.
This is what is happening now, too, and the Labour leadership has decided that there is still enough time until the election, which is expected to be called this autumn, for voters to forget the latest developments, and at the same time it is time to get rid of the constant criticism of the Conservatives.
However, according to an election expert interviewed by The Times, a large proportion of voters have already decided they want change after 14 years of Conservative government, and Labour's current shift will not deter them.
Nor are the biggest losers from the decision being the residents, because instead of the originally planned £6bn a year, just £1.3bn will now be allocated to replace poorly sealed single-glazed flats and subsidies are being provided to insulate external walls. This means it could take up to 14 years for homes and flats in the island nation to meet basic insulation requirements.
