Rishi Sunak is preparing to overturn a ban on building new onshore wind farms in order to prevent a revolt from members of his own Conservative Party. The Telegraphhas more.
Ministers are poised to unveil changes to planning rules that will free up councils to give the green light to proposed turbines where there is broad public support.
The move comes as MPs prepare to vote on the Government’s contentious Energy Bill on Tuesday after returning from their summer break.
A group of Tories is backing an amendment tabled by Sir Alok Sharma, the former Cop26 President, that would scrap the ban on new onshore wind.
It has attracted signatories from all wings of the party including Liz Truss, the former Prime Minister. Rebels are “confident” it is destined to pass.
Labour supports the proposal, which means only six more Tory backbenchers would need to vote in favour to overturn the Government’s majority.
The Telegraph understands ministers have been locked in talks with MPs for almost a week over a compromise deal to avoid a bruising Commons defeat.
Negotiations are set to continue on Monday as the final details are thrashed out, especially on how quickly the Government will be able to legally scrap the ban.
But plans are being drawn up for a minister to submit a written statement to the Commons this week committing to change the current planning rules.
Having secured the necessary guarantees, the rebels would then drop their amendment.
It would end the situation, which has been written into law since 2015, where an objection from just a single resident can prevent a wind farm from being built.
Government sources said the changes would allow councils to “more flexibly address the planning impacts of onshore wind projects as identified by local communities”.
One Tory MP who is supporting the amendment said No10 had little choice but to act, given it was supported by “senior people from all wings of the party”.
Another added: “It’s great to see ministers listening to concerns and, providing local communities are happy, it will make Net Zero easier and cheaper too.”
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Robin Guenier
6 months ago
Net Zero means the UK is legally obliged to pursue an unachievable, disastrous and pointless policy – a policy that could well result in Britain’s economic destruction. It’s utterly mad and its pursuit totally irresponsible.
Parliament has bound itself so it can free itself too. I hold on to the hope that when the ‘wheels fall off’ the people of the UK will elect people with different policies to Parliament.
Yes, it is a con. We export our production to places where they burn higher CO2 emission fuels, then we have to increase CO2 emissions further through importation / transportation costs. But the carbon use is off the UK books, so it looks good in government figures. The Chinese must be laughing at us for having such clueless, and / or duplicitous leaders.
But it’s literally all about virtue signaling, so whether it has any effect on the atmosphere is unimportant.
Jabby Mcstiff
6 months ago
The damage has already been done in terms of the setback. And the gamble of trillions in terms of Ukraine, although I suspect that there is still some serious action to come in regard to that. In terms of your economy and possibly your very survival you are already dead. You can only address this situation if you acknowledge this. I know people who live in impoverished tin pot dictatorships and they tell me sincerely that if the poor and elderly couldn’t afford to heat their houses then there would be revolution overnight. We just accept that fuel costs more here than in any other country in the world and despite low wages and the rest the devil take the hindmost. You have already signed your own death warrant with this attitude. Consider the corruption of your own soul because you haven’t done so until now.
lulu-b45
6 months ago
Love to know how they ”measure” emissions. Probably similar to saying the covid ”vaccines” help prevent hospitalisation and death, all of which is unquantifiable and unproveable.
RTSC
6 months ago
Perhaps Sallust could tell us how we can “register a complaint” which the Net Zero Lunatics in the Establishment will take any notice of?
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
Net Zero means the UK is legally obliged to pursue an unachievable, disastrous and pointless policy – a policy that could well result in Britain’s economic destruction. It’s utterly mad and its pursuit totally irresponsible.
I don’t think it ‘could’ – it certainly will as it destroys almost every aspect of our lives.
Net Zero means the UK is legally obliged…
Parliament has bound itself so it can free itself too. I hold on to the hope that when the ‘wheels fall off’ the people of the UK will elect people with different policies to Parliament.
We’ve got to find some first…
Yes, it is a con. We export our production to places where they burn higher CO2 emission fuels, then we have to increase CO2 emissions further through importation / transportation costs. But the carbon use is off the UK books, so it looks good in government figures. The Chinese must be laughing at us for having such clueless, and / or duplicitous leaders.
But it’s literally all about virtue signaling, so whether it has any effect on the atmosphere is unimportant.
The damage has already been done in terms of the setback. And the gamble of trillions in terms of Ukraine, although I suspect that there is still some serious action to come in regard to that. In terms of your economy and possibly your very survival you are already dead. You can only address this situation if you acknowledge this. I know people who live in impoverished tin pot dictatorships and they tell me sincerely that if the poor and elderly couldn’t afford to heat their houses then there would be revolution overnight. We just accept that fuel costs more here than in any other country in the world and despite low wages and the rest the devil take the hindmost. You have already signed your own death warrant with this attitude. Consider the corruption of your own soul because you haven’t done so until now.
Love to know how they ”measure” emissions. Probably similar to saying the covid ”vaccines” help prevent hospitalisation and death, all of which is unquantifiable and unproveable.
Perhaps Sallust could tell us how we can “register a complaint” which the Net Zero Lunatics in the Establishment will take any notice of?