The Conservatives and Reform have announced plans to repeal Labour’s Climate Change Act and walk back from commitments to green industries.

The policy has been condemned by business – with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which represents more than 150,000 businesses, warning it would “damage our economy”.

Energy UK, the trade association which represents Teesside green industry sites including MGT, Sembcorp, and Equinor, slammed the policy due to its risk to the region.

Energy UK Chief Executive, Dhara Vyas, said:

“Treating the Climate Change Act as a political football is a sure fire way to scare off investors.

“It has given businesses the confidence to invest in jobs, skills, and innovation that benefit people in areas like the Humber, Teesside, and across the whole country.

“Pulling out the rug from under these critical investments will do nothing to lower energy bills.”

Speaking to BBC News, Luke Myer MP said:

“There are currently over 8,000 jobs in green industries on Teesside, with thousands more on the way in carbon capture, turbine manufacture, hydrogen and solar.

“This position is not only backwards, it would risk thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of investment in our region.

“While they stay stuck in the past, we are powering ahead with the industries of the future.”

Luke encouraged all traditional, moderate conservatives to join him in condemning the policies and standing up for Teesside jobs.