Some Labour MPs are concerned that the government has not made a significant political push on the climate crisis or a renewed case for net zero, despite a summer of record-breaking wildfires, deadly heat, and drought in Britain. Almost 2,900 heat-associated deaths were recorded in England during May and June alone, and homes were recently destroyed by fires in the West Midlands.
Jeevun Sandher, Labour MP for Loughborough, argues that climate is an electoral dividing line Labour should embrace, as the party's voters remain strongly supportive of net zero. He stated that climate is "a fight that fires up our base, persuades the middle and splits our opponents." Another Labour MP suggested the party is "trying to ride two horses," with half of its movement based on net zero and left-leaning values, while still being wary of Reform UK.
Recent polling from More in Common indicates that 67% of Britons are worried about unbearably hot weather becoming more frequent, and 86% believe climate change was at least partly responsible for recent heatwaves. This includes 73% of Reform supporters, 87% of Conservative supporters, and 96% of Labour supporters. However, support for the UK's net zero target has decreased from 68% in 2024 to 45% today, with opposition almost doubling from 12% to 23% over the same period.
Government figures reject the idea that Labour has moved away from net zero, citing the clean power 2030 target, investments in clean energy, the transition to electric vehicles and heat pumps, and the commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences. A Labour source stated that the government has "the most ambitious energy climate agenda in British history."