Starmer has a strong green record – but a rightwing backlash weakened his plans

Keir Starmer's energy and climate policies, central to addressing the cost of living crisis, have encountered significant opposition from political parties who have prioritized dismantling this agenda. This marks a departure from historical British politics, where a cross-party consensus on climate and environmental issues had been maintained since the era of Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher herself acknowledged the climate crisis at the UN in 1988, and subsequent leaders like David Cameron promoted green initiatives. Theresa May legally mandated net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and Boris Johnson hosted the Cop26 UN climate summit in Glasgow in 2021. Even Rishi Sunak's attempts to partially roll back green policies were framed as a last-minute electoral tactic before calling a general election. Despite Starmer's strong green record, a right-wing backlash has compelled him to moderate some of his climate plans, even as public support for climate action remains high.