Fury as right-wing Tories call for vote on tearing green pledges

Disgruntled Tories are accused of trying to 'wage a culture war' over UK net zero commitments as weak Rishi Sunak urged not to back down by environmental groups

Rishi Sunak has been urged not to give in to disgruntled conservatives (

Image: AP)

Environmental groups have expressed horror after a crowd of conservative rebels called for a vote on removing green targets.

Weak Rishi Sunak has been urged not to back down as Red Wall MPs attempt to tear up the government's green agenda in hopes of avoiding oblivion at the polls. The under-fire PM was told now was not the time to water down the 2050 Net Zero target to please disaffected Tories.

Backbench MP Marco Longhi is leading calls for a referendum on whether to scrap it - although Net Zero was included in the 2019 Tory manifesto. It follows a call from former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel to 'suspend' the legal obligation to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to tackle the climate crisis.

July was the hottest month on record globally, and campaigners have urged politicians not to "wage a culture war" over green issues. The Prime Minister has previously claimed to be a champion of environmental issues, but is no stranger to a U-turn.

Curator Karl McCartney lashed out at 'London's woke green crowd' (

Picture:

James Turner/Lincolnshire Live)

Mr. Longhi that a real debate on decarbonisation "never took place", while fellow Tory MP Karl McCartney expressed his anger at "London's woke eco-zealot mob". The Prime Minister is under increasing pressure to reverse climate change measures following the Tories' surprise victory in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-elections amid protests over the city's Ultra Low Emissions Zone capital (ULEZ).

Greenpeace UK political campaigner Ami McCarthy told the Mirror: “About 98% of the votes cast in the last general election were for parties supporting net zero, including the Conservatives and Raise ...