The Conservative Party is facing a fresh internal storm after James Cleverly, a senior figure within the party, publicly rebuked party leader Kemi Badenoch over her decision to abandon the UK’s net-zero commitments. Cleverly, speaking with striking candour, accused Badenoch of caving in to reactionary voices within the party and betraying a long-standing commitment to tackling climate change. His remarks have brought simmering Tory divisions into full view, just as the party struggles to redefine its identity.
Cleverly didn’t mince his words, calling out what he sees as a retreat into short-term thinking driven by what he labelled as “neo-luddites” on the right. In his view, Badenoch’s shift isn’t just a political misstep, it’s a moral and strategic failure. He argued that the UK must maintain its commitment to environmental leadership, insisting that economic growth and net-zero goals are not only compatible but necessary allies in the global effort against climate change.
Badenoch, who secured her leadership by appealing to grassroots members wary of environmental regulation, has defended the move as pragmatic. She claims the UK’s previous climate commitments were financially burdensome and unrealistic. But that message is wearing thin among moderate Tories, many of whom see climate responsibility as a defining issue for the next generation of Conservatives.
The net zero debate is not just about emissions: it’s about the future direction of the party. Cleverly’s criticism taps into broader unease within the Conservative ranks. Figures like former Prime Minister Theresa May and several MPs aligned with the Conservative Environment Network have also voiced concerns that abandoning green goals could alienate younger voters and international allies alike.
Badenoch, meanwhile, is under mounting pressure as her broader leadership agenda struggles to gain traction. With polls showing slipping support and Reform UK nipping at the party’s heels, the internal squabbling is doing little to bolster public confidence.
What’s becoming clear is that climate policy has become a defining fault line within the Tory party. Cleverley’s public intervention signals that the battle over Britain’s environmental future is far from settled, and that Badenoch may have a fight on her hands not just with the opposition, but within her benches.
