Khan Urges Burnham Not to Retreat on Net Zero
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, publicly urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham not to slow down on net zero, as the government weighs cutting the UK’s electric-vehicle sales targets under pressure from carmakers. The intervention exposes tension within Labour over how hard to push climate policy. Ministers say the targets must be realistic; campaigners warn against backsliding.
Mr Khan’s public challenge to the Prime Minister is a rare open show of dissent from a senior Labour figure, and it lands as the government consults on relaxing the mandate that requires carmakers to sell a rising share of electric vehicles. The mayor, who has staked much on clean-air policies in London, argues that retreating would betray the party’s climate promises and cede ground on an issue of health and leadership; the industry counters that the targets are unrealistic amid soft demand. The row captures a wider dilemma for Mr Burnham, caught between a struggling car sector, hard-pressed motorists and net-zero commitments. How he resolves it will signal how green his government intends to be. Watch where the targets land and whether other figures follow Mr Khan.