Commentary

Sunak may have made a U-turn, but he was right about net-zero honesty

Cheerful deceit is the right approach for politicians and regulators but it is surely very dangerous for companies

Friday 22 September 2023 at 11:39

In private, some business leaders may have had some sympathy for Rishi Sunak
In private, some business leaders may have had some sympathy for Rishi Sunak Photo: Getty Images

Rishi Sunak’s rowing back on many of the government’s net-zero pledges was met with public dismay by leading figures in business and the City.

Carmakers, which have been working on the basis that there would be a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030, were predictably furious that this has been pushed back by five years.