Peter Hoskin

Reducing the cost of living should be the Tories’ priority

Hm. I’m not sure about Cameron’s ‘green’ speech today. Not because I have anything hugely against the green agenda per se. But I am concerned about how the current Government’s environmental taxes have trickled downwards and hit the public hard in the pocket. Of course, Cameron says that he is too. Although this passage, in particular, could create the opposite impression:

“I understand that right now the cost of living is the number one concern for Britain’s families. And I understand, with that backdrop, why people might think fighting climate change seems a costly diversion. But those who say we’ve got to choose either the environment or the economy, who say, ‘look, we can’t tackle climate change. Going green will cost too much when the cost of living is already too high. Tough emissions targets will damage our industry and business…’ they’ve got it exactly wrong.

The truth is: it’s not that we can’t afford to go green – it’s that we can’t afford not to go green.

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