Lessons Learned from the Uxbridge By-Election: The Need for a Bipartisan Approach to Climate Policy
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has acknowledged the need for his party to learn from its recent by-election defeat in Uxbridge, which was partly blamed on London Mayor Sadiq Khan's plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) - a tax on polluting vehicles.
Conservative Steve Tuckwell won the seat by campaigning against the tax.
However, Labour's Keir Mather won the contest in North Yorkshire, overturning a 20,137 majority to become the youngest sitting MP.
Sir Keir told the Labour Party's national forum that while the win in North Yorkshire should give them confidence, the loss of Boris Johnson's former seat in Uxbridge showed that there is still work to be done.
"That result in Uxbridge demonstrates there is never any reason to be complacent and never a reason to rest on our laurels," he said.
"We've got to face up to that and to learn the lesson." The by-election results have sparked debates about both parties' green policies, with some on the right of the Conservative party suggesting that pulling back from some green policies would be popular with voters.
However, Downing Street sources have said that there are no plans to change climate targets, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will try to set his party apart from Labour in the coming months.
Lord Ian Duncan, a Conservative ex-climate minister, warned that if Sir Keir and Rishi Sunak do not put politics aside and agree on a common approach to climate change, people will face "serious challenges".
He emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach to climate policies, which will ensure that the transition to greener technology works for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
The challenge is to make sure that climate policy does not penalize people beyond their ability to pay, otherwise, it will be a problem for democracy.
As the major parties digest the by-election results, a common climate policy approach between both parties is crucial to prevent serious challenges in the future.
However, Labour's Keir Mather won the contest in North Yorkshire, overturning a 20,137 majority to become the youngest sitting MP.
Sir Keir told the Labour Party's national forum that while the win in North Yorkshire should give them confidence, the loss of Boris Johnson's former seat in Uxbridge showed that there is still work to be done.
"That result in Uxbridge demonstrates there is never any reason to be complacent and never a reason to rest on our laurels," he said.
"We've got to face up to that and to learn the lesson." The by-election results have sparked debates about both parties' green policies, with some on the right of the Conservative party suggesting that pulling back from some green policies would be popular with voters.
However, Downing Street sources have said that there are no plans to change climate targets, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will try to set his party apart from Labour in the coming months.
Lord Ian Duncan, a Conservative ex-climate minister, warned that if Sir Keir and Rishi Sunak do not put politics aside and agree on a common approach to climate change, people will face "serious challenges".
He emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach to climate policies, which will ensure that the transition to greener technology works for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
The challenge is to make sure that climate policy does not penalize people beyond their ability to pay, otherwise, it will be a problem for democracy.
As the major parties digest the by-election results, a common climate policy approach between both parties is crucial to prevent serious challenges in the future.
