How Tories’ green hostility will hinder a future Labour government

Houses must now be retrofitted to low-carbon standards at an average cost of £33,000 a property, which will fall on homeowners or taxpayers. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

The Conservative government’s hostility to net zero and environmental policy will make it tougher for Labour to pursue green growth and mend the damage to the UK’s economy and climate goals if elected, experts have warned.

Anti-green rhetoric was one of the strongest themes of the Tory party conference last week, with the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, warning about the costs of net zero policies as his ministers took even stronger attack lines.