Dropping green pledges would be ‘political suicide’, Sunak and Starmer warned

There is a broad political consensus in the UK in favour of achieving net zero carbon emissions, which could now be under threat. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Britain’s leaders have been warned against a “politically suicidal” lurch away from their green pledges as concerns grow that both major parties may dilute their plans to combat the climate crisis in the wake of a shock byelection result.

Senior figures from business, the scientific community and across the political divide warned that any watering down of climate policies would be deeply unpopular with voters, set back the international fight to reach net zero and damage Britain’s green reputation.