Labour's Budget Must Prioritise Green Investment, Says London Mayor
Keir Starmer's government lacks confidence in addressing the country's problems, Sadiq Khan said on the eve of a summit of world mayors in Rio de Janeiro, urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to back green investment in this month's budget. The mayor of London called for the Treasury to be more supportive of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband as he pursues the government's target of an 81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Khan said that Starmer's government had shown a lack of clarity about its purpose, adding that the public would reward the government for facing down those who claim net zero policies are adding to the cost of living. He also argued that cabinet ministers should be true to their beliefs and not try to out-do others in their pursuit of the green agenda.
The London mayor emphasized the importance of authenticity in politics, saying "people can smell somebody who's inauthentic" and that the public respects those who are genuine. Khan cited his own experience as an example, explaining how he had initially faced opposition from some voters over his Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) policy but ultimately won them over by explaining its benefits.
Khan also emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to tackling climate change, saying "it can't just be the Ed Miliband show" and that the whole government needs to be behind the green agenda. He argued that investing in green jobs could provide good growth opportunities and create jobs in areas such as heat pump installation and electric bus maintenance.
The mayor also criticized President Donald Trump's views on climate change, calling his speech at the United Nations a "disgrace". Khan said that Starmer had not been fawning enough to Donald Trump during their recent state visit, arguing that politicians should be honest and candid with each other.
Overall, Khan is urging Chancellor Reeves to prioritize green investment in this month's budget and to work towards a more coordinated approach to tackling climate change.
Keir Starmer's government lacks confidence in addressing the country's problems, Sadiq Khan said on the eve of a summit of world mayors in Rio de Janeiro, urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to back green investment in this month's budget. The mayor of London called for the Treasury to be more supportive of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband as he pursues the government's target of an 81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Khan said that Starmer's government had shown a lack of clarity about its purpose, adding that the public would reward the government for facing down those who claim net zero policies are adding to the cost of living. He also argued that cabinet ministers should be true to their beliefs and not try to out-do others in their pursuit of the green agenda.
The London mayor emphasized the importance of authenticity in politics, saying "people can smell somebody who's inauthentic" and that the public respects those who are genuine. Khan cited his own experience as an example, explaining how he had initially faced opposition from some voters over his Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) policy but ultimately won them over by explaining its benefits.
Khan also emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to tackling climate change, saying "it can't just be the Ed Miliband show" and that the whole government needs to be behind the green agenda. He argued that investing in green jobs could provide good growth opportunities and create jobs in areas such as heat pump installation and electric bus maintenance.
The mayor also criticized President Donald Trump's views on climate change, calling his speech at the United Nations a "disgrace". Khan said that Starmer had not been fawning enough to Donald Trump during their recent state visit, arguing that politicians should be honest and candid with each other.
Overall, Khan is urging Chancellor Reeves to prioritize green investment in this month's budget and to work towards a more coordinated approach to tackling climate change.
. It sounds like he’s got a good track record of getting things done in London with his Ulez policy, so if he can convince Chancellor Reeves to back Ed Miliband’s green agenda, it could be a game-changer 
. The thing is, though, we’ve heard all this before and the next few years are going to be crucial in terms of meeting those 2035 targets 
. I don’t know if Starmer's government can pull off the transformation that Khan seems to think it needs to 
. Still, a bit of green investment never hurt anyone, right? 
. I mean, it seems like London Mayor is playing politics with the economy and energy policies all over again 
. The budget can't just focus on one area without considering the broader implications on the cost of living 
.
. I mean, didn't the policy spark controversy and opposition among some voters initially? Not saying it wasn't a good idea, but how can we be sure that Starmer's government will make better decisions just because they're more 'genuine'? 
let's see some real investment in green jobs and heat pump installations instead of just throwing a few token sums at renewable energy projects. the public can smell authenticity from a mile away so politicians need to stop pretending they care about climate change if they don't actually do something about it 
I mean i get it he's trying to sound like a climate warrior but come on man he's still the same guy who thinks the Ulez policy is a good idea 
. and now he's criticizing Starmer for not being outspoken enough about Trump? like what's next gonna be him calling out Trump for liking that one tweet from 2016 lol 
. seriously though its time for some actual leadership on climate change instead of just shouting into the void. and btw can we get some real details on how this green investment is going to actually make a difference rather than just being a bunch of buzzwords? 
come on chaps! can we even have a decent conversation about climate change without some politician trying to sell us out? i mean seriously, 81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 sounds like a bloody good target but what's the actual plan here? it's all just words on paper if nobody is willing to back it up with some serious cash and effort.
but didnt he say something about not being fawning enough to trump during that state visit 
guess thats a bit of a contradiction?
i mean, it makes sense, but I'm not sure if it's just a case of Khan wanting more power 
. What about all the people who lose their jobs in traditional industries because of these "green" measures? I'm not saying climate change ain't a big deal, but let's not be naive here... just 'cause we can do something doesn't mean we should.