4 h. ago Phasing out fossil fuels ‘doomed to fail’, says Tony Blair as he calls for rethink of net zero policy – UK politics live

‘Any strategy based on either phasing out fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail,’ says former PMSeverin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.Keir Starmer is not expected to campaign in the Hamilton byelection, a critical contest for Scottish Labour which takes place in early June, Anas Sarwar has confirmed.I wouldn’t expect Keir to be campaigning in the byelection. That’s not to say he won’t, but I’m not expecting Kier to campaign in the byelection.I’ll be on the stump campaigning for a Labour win. I’m the candidate for first minister next year. I’m the one that wants to remove the SNP from government.Next year, we’ve got to demonstrate to people that for all Nigel Farage might want to come here with his easy answers and create a bit of a circus, the reality is a vote for Reform only helps the SNP. If you want to get rid of the SNP, only Scottish Labour can beat them. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Plan to phase out fossil fuels ‘doomed to fail’, says Tony Blair as he calls for rethink of net zero policy – UK politics live

‘Any strategy based on either ‘phasing out’ fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail,’ says former PMSeverin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.Keir Starmer is not expected to campaign in the Hamilton byelection, a critical contest for Scottish Labour which takes place in early June, Anas Sarwar has confirmed.I wouldn’t expect Keir to be campaigning in the byelection. That’s not to say he won’t, but I’m not expecting Kier to campaign in the byelection.I’ll be on the stump campaigning for a Labour win. I’m the candidate for first minister next year. I’m the one that wants to remove the SNP from government.Next year, we’ve got to demonstrate to people that for all Nigel Farage might want to come here with his easy answers and create a bit of a circus, the reality is a vote for Reform only helps the SNP. If you want to get rid of the SNP, only Scottish Labour can beat them. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Tony Blair says Net Zero push has become 'irrational' and 'hysterical' and warns critics of green energy costs must not be dismissed as 'climate deniers'

The former Labour prime minister said that while most people in developed countries believe it is real they are turning away from the politics because of the sacrifices they are being asked to make.

Events

8 h. ago Tony Blair calls for radical reset of climate change policies in major intervention

Former PM warns climate policy has become disconnected from ‘political, public, and economic reality’ and claims COP is struggling to ‘deliver change at the speed required’

Society

10 h. ago BP makes ‘significant progress’ on fossil fuel strategy as profits slump

The company also reported that its debts swelled to 27 billion US dollars (£20.1 billion).

Politics

16 h. ago It’s time to reset our failing climate policies, says Tony Blair

Former PM warns climate policy has become disconnected from ‘political, public, and economic reality’ and claims COP is struggling to ‘deliver change at the speed required’

Events

17 h. ago Blair demands net zero policy reset over ‘credibility gap with voters’ in blow to Miliband

Former PM warns climate policy has become disconnected from ‘political, public, and economic reality’ and claims COP is struggling to ‘deliver change at the speed required’

Politics

18 h. ago Government urged to invest £260m in teacher training to boost school standards

All teachers should be given free access to a ‘golden thread’ of core professional qualifications, a think tank and charity has suggested.

Economics

64 h. ago Angela Rayner 'repeatedly threatened to resign from the Cabinet over the 'impossible' target of building 1.5 million homes in the next five years'

Lord Ashcroft writes in Red Flag it was only a call from Tony Blair that prevented the Deputy Prime Minister from quitting.

Events

4 d. ago Public affairs firms in Europe enable pollution by lobbying for big oil, says analysis

Exclusive: EU Transparency Register shows law firms also among lobbyists working for fossil fuel companiesA handful of “small but dirty” public affairs and law firms in Europe are enabling pollution by lobbying extensively for big oil, an analysis has found, with most major companies in the industry working for at least one fossil fuel client.Several of the top spenders on activities to influence EU policymaking are on the payroll of oil and gas companies, according to an analysis of the EU Transparency Register by the Good Lobby nonprofit, but fossil fuel clients represent just 1% of the industry’s revenue. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago US interior agency to fast track fossil fuel and mining permits over ‘fake emergency’

Department cites Trump’s ‘energy emergency’ declaration to expedite permissions from multiple years to 28 daysUS politics live – latest updatesThe US interior department has announced plans to radically fast track permitting for projects involving fossil fuels and mining citing Donald Trump’s ‘energy emergency’ declaration that many experts say does not exist.The move would reduce to a maximum of 28 days permitting procedures that previously could take multiple years, the department said late Wednesday. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago US trade war will hurt UK growth, Bank of England governor warns; Tesla’s European sales fall again – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsACEA’s latest European car sales report shows a continued decline in demand for fossil fuel-powered vehicles.While new battery-electric car sales grew by 23.9% in the first three months of 2025, to 412,997 units, petrol car registrations saw a significant decline of 20.6%, with all major markets showing decreases. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago UN chief: no group or government can stop clean energy future

Remarks by António Guterres follow virtual meeting with world leaders including China’s Xi JinpingNo government or fossil fuel interest can hold the world back from pursuing a clean energy future, the the UN secretary general has said, after a key meeting with the president of China.António Guterres held a closed-door virtual meeting with Xi Jinping of China on Wednesday, along with Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; the EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and about a dozen other heads of state and government, to discuss the climate crisis. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago A surprising number of Americans want climate action. But why aren’t there more?

Support for climate action is growing in the US, but partisan divides and fossil fuel interests hold swayOver the last 12 months, the United States has endured a rash of disasters worsened by the climate crisis: devastating wildfires in southern California, a catastrophic hurricane in western North Carolina, and deadly heatwaves across the country.Americans increasingly believe global heating is a serious threat that will affect them personally – and 74% want to see more climate action. Yet while that sounds high, it is still lower than most other countries around the world. What explains this disparity? Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘An outlier’: why does the US rank low on demands for climate action?

Support for climate action is growing in the US, but partisan divides and fossil fuel interests hold swayOver the last 12 months, the United States has endured a rash of disasters worsened by the climate crisis: devastating wildfires in southern California, a catastrophic hurricane in western North Carolina, and deadly heatwaves across the country.Americans increasingly believe global heating is a serious threat that will affect them personally – and 74% want to see more climate action. Yet while that sounds high, it is still lower than most other countries around the world. What explains this disparity? Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Earth Day marks the chance to help save the planet. The environment was already on the edge before Trump took office

Scientists are calling for rapid action to curb emissions as the Trump administration embraces the fossil fuel industry

Politics

7 d. ago Pope Francis hailed as ‘unflinching global champion’ on climate crisis

Officials and campaigners from around world pay tribute to pontiff who put environment at heart of his papacyPope Francis, groundbreaking Jesuit pontiff, dies aged 88He declared destroying the environment a sin, warned that humanity was turning the glorious creation of God into a “polluted wasteland full of debris, desolation and filth”, and located the cause of the climate crisis in people’s “selfish and boundless thirst for power”.The messages Pope Francis delivered on the climate and environmental crises were forceful and direct. He called the leaders of fossil fuel companies into the Vatican to hold them to account; declared a global climate emergency, in 2019; and in his final months, held a conference on “the economics of the common good”. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Government accused of ‘sabotaging’ tourism with ‘barriers to travel’

A report by the World Travel and Tourism Council found people visiting the UK spent £40.3 billion in 2024.

Politics

8 d. ago Politicians pay tribute to ‘devoted’ and ‘compassionate’ Pope

MPs from across the political spectrum also paid tribute to Francis, with several noting his compassion for the poor and refugees.

Politics

8 d. ago Scots peer heads call for Donald Trump to be blocked from addressing Parliament

Efforts to prevent Trump addressing parliamentarians are being co-ordinated by Scottish lord George Foulkes, who was a minister in Tony Blair’s former government.

Politics