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Tory Civil War Erupts As Rishi Sunak Is Urged To Delay Petrol Car Ban

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A Tory civil war has erupted after dozens of the party’s MPs and peers called on Rishi Sunak to delay the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

Under the policy, drivers will be unable to buy the vehicles from 2030.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the prime minister said: “The 2030 target has been our policy for a long time and continues to be – we are not considering a delay to that date.”

But in a letter to the PM, 45 Tory MPs and peers – including former members of the cabinet – urged him to think again.

It said: “You rightly put on record this week that net zero is important, but you do not want to add to consumers’ bills and that measures need to be ‘proportionate and pragmatic’.

“We believe the proposed ban on petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 would risk that entire approach and do grave harm to the economy.”

They said Sunak should follow the EU’s lead by delaying the ban until 2035.

“The future for this country is in imposing fewer burdens and being more lightly regulated than the EU, not in unilaterally imposing additional job-destroying burdens to meet and unnecessary and unworkable deadline,” the letter said.

Sunak hinted at rowing back on the government’s environmental commitments in the wake of the recent Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election.

The Tories managed to hang on to Boris Johnson’s old seat by campaigning against opposing the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which will see drivers of old cars charged £12.50 a day.

The letter said that showed net zero policies which cost voters’ money “are deeply unpopular”.

The MPs and peers added: “We urge you to review this policy to make sure car ownership remains affordable and manufacturers are protected.

“A move to 2035 to match competitor countries such as the EU bloc and the USA would seem entirely sensible.”

The letter’s signatories include Jacob Rees-Mogg, David Davis, Esther McVey and Lord Frost.

Sunak has also been attacked by environmental groups for “watering down” his environmental commitments.

He said last week that he would not introduce any policies that led to “more hassle and more costs” in people’s lives.

Dozens of groups, including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK, the National Trust, RPSCA and RSPB, have written to the PM warning him not to use the environment as “a political football”.

They said: “Acting on climate change needs to be done fairly, but that is best done by delivering well-designed policy, backed up with public and private finance, and by working hand-in-hand with industry and communities. There is no public mandate for a delay.

“It is therefore with deep alarm that we have read reports over the last few weeks of your government considering watering down its commitments on almost every front of environmental policy.”

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Rishi Sunak Slammed By Environmental Groups For ‘Watering Down’ Net Zero Commitments

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Rishi Sunak has been condemned by leading environmental groups over plans to row back on some of the Tories’ net zero commitments.

The prime minister said that he would not introduce any policies that led to “more hassle and more costs” in people’s lives.

That led to speculation that he could ditch the government’s commitment to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and dilute plans to phase out the use of gas boilers.

The shift in approach comes in the wake of the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, which the Tories won on a campaign opposing the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which will see drivers of old cars charged £12.50 a day.

Dozens of groups, including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK, the National Trust, RPSCA and RSPB, have now written to the PM warning him not to use the environment as “a political football”.

The letter, which has 52 signatories, said: “The planet needs politicians to act urgently – not least, to protect people here in the UK, but also those across the world, who are being hardest hit by our changing climate.

“At the last election, the Conservative Party manifesto put the 2050 net zero target front and centre. It did so because, as well as being the right thing to do, the environment remains a central concern for voters.

“Acting on climate change needs to be done fairly, but that is best done by delivering well-designed policy, backed up with public and private finance, and by working hand-in-hand with industry and communities. There is no public mandate for a delay.

“It is therefore with deep alarm that we have read reports over the last few weeks of your government considering watering down its commitments on almost every front of environmental policy.”

The letter added: “We will not stand by whilst politicians use the environment as a political football. It is courage and leadership that we need now.”

In a further sign of Sunak’s weakening commitment to protecting the environment, the prime minister has also order a review of “low traffic neighbourhoods”.

The schemes close off certain roads to traffic in an attempt to improve air quality and encourage people to use their cars less.

However, they have proved highly controversial in some areas.

Sunak told the Sunday Telegraph: “The vast majority of people in the country use their cars to get around and are dependent on cars.

“I just want to make sure people know that I’m on their side in supporting them to use their cars to do all the things that matter to them.”

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Celebrity Masterchef: Everything Fans Will Want To Know About The 2023 Series

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Celebrity Masterchef will be back on our screens in a matter of days with a fresh batch of famous faces hoping to impress in the kitchen.

This year’s series will see everyone from Love Islanders to soap stars demonstrating their culinary skills and knowledge in the hope of following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Lisa Snowdon.

From who’s taking part to the all-important release date, here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 series of Celebrity Masterchef…

Who’s in the line-up?

A total of 20 famous faces will be battling it out in the show’s iconic kitchen.

The first episode will feature Love Island’s Dani Dyer, The Inbetweeners’ Jay Cartwright actor James Buckley, comedian Marcus Brigstocke, Mica Ven from Gogglebox and Strictly Come Dancing’s Richie Anderson.

Emmerdale’s Amy Walsh, Cheryl Hole of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK fame, rapper Apl.de.Ap, Strictly pro Dianne Buswell and comedians Shazia Mirza and Terry Christian will also be trying to impress the judges.

Lisa Snowdon is the reigning Celebrity Masterchef champion
Lisa Snowdon is the reigning Celebrity Masterchef champion

BBC/Shine TV

Also taking part are singers Jamelia and Sam Fox, entertainer Dave Benson Phillips, veteran actor Michael Praed and broadcaster Remi Burgz.

Musician Locksmith, Love Islander Luca Bish, The Wanted’s Max George and opera singer Wynne Evans complete the line-up.

What challenges will they face?

The first 60-minute episode of each heat week will see all five celebs take on the show’s classic ‘Under The Cloche’ challenge before creating their two-course dinner party dishes.

Returning challenges will include the Dinner Party and Nostalgia dish rounds, and a mysterious new Celebrity Food Truck challenge is also on the cards.

Is there a trailer?

There is! You can watch it below:

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Who will be judging?

As always, Gregg Wallace – fresh from fronting Channel 4’s controversial Miracle Meat mockumentary – and John Torode will be back to oversee the competition.

When does the series start?

The first episode airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 2 August at 9pm. The next episodes air the following day at 8.30pm and on Friday 4 August at 8pm.

It’s expected that the rest of the series will follow this pattern, but the schedules will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

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