Keir Starmer’s government faces criticism from London Mayor Sadiq Khan over its perceived lack of confidence and coherence in addressing the UK’s major challenges, particularly in the realm of green investment. As the COP30 climate summit in Rio de Janeiro approaches, Khan has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to present an “authentic” Labour budget that firmly backs the government’s green agenda and supports Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s ambitious target of an 81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Speaking before the global summit of mayors, which he is co-chairing alongside Rio de Janeiro’s mayor Eduardo Paes, Khan underscored the importance of authenticity in political leadership. He argued that the public’s trust hinges on clear communication and genuine commitment to policies, especially those aimed at tackling the climate crisis. Using London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) as a case study, Khan highlighted how transparent explanations about the health benefits of reducing air pollution helped shift public opinion from scepticism to support, despite some initial resistance. “People respect somebody if you’re authentic,” he said, emphasising the need for ministers to stand united on their climate commitments and deliver substantively rather than performative green policies.
However, Khan expressed frustration at what he described as a “lack of clarity” and a Treasury that might be “behind the curve” on the green agenda. He called for the whole government to rally behind Miliband’s leadership on the issue, rather than leaving climate action to a single departmental effort. Stressing the economic upside of climate policies, Khan argued that green investment could spur growth and create quality jobs, potentially easing social issues such as welfare dependency. “People think, what is a green job? It’s a plumber with heat pump skills, an electrician supporting net zero, someone making electric buses,” Khan said, urging increased funding to train workers for the green economy, especially in London where skills programmes currently operate but lack sufficient investment.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure to reflect this spirit in her forthcoming budget later in November. The government’s official stance, outlined in a previous budget announcement, focuses on rebuilding Britain with over £100 billion in public investment over five years and a commitment to no increases in income tax or VAT, alongside asking businesses and the wealthy to contribute more. While the budget promises support for green jobs and initiatives, Khan’s call for a more “authentic” approach suggests there is a belief that existing plans do not yet fully meet the scale or sense of urgency required.
Government documents also highlight the UK’s broader clean energy ambitions, with a Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan projecting the net-zero economy to grow three times faster than the general economy and create 400,000 clean energy jobs by 2030. The Prime Minister’s recent commitment at COP29 to become a clean energy superpower, including incentives like the Clean Industry Bonus for offshore wind investments, reflects a policy framework designed to transition key regions towards sustainable industries and employment. Additionally, regional investment summits have secured billions in commitments, creating jobs across sectors including life sciences and AI, which complement the climate agenda by fostering innovation and economic diversification.
Locally, Sadiq Khan has committed £10 million through London's Green New Deal to support thousands of green jobs and environmental projects aimed at reducing air pollution and achieving net-zero emissions in the capital by 2030. This local-level investment aligns with his national-level advocacy, framing climate action as both an economic and public health imperative.
Khan also criticised the government’s diplomatic posture, particularly in relation to former US President Donald Trump’s dismissal of climate change science. He welcomed Starmer and Miliband’s presence at the Rio summit as a potential turning point, signalling a readiness for more confident climate leadership. On the UK’s “special relationship” with the US, Khan suggested that frankness and higher expectations should characterise close alliances, hinting at his preference for a more candid and principled approach to international diplomacy.
In sum, Khan’s critique paints a picture of a Labour government still seeking to define its green strategy with the conviction and coherence necessary to inspire public confidence and deliver transformative change. His calls for investment, unity, and authenticity resonate with a broader context of UK policies aiming to harness the economic and environmental benefits of the green transition, yet also reveal tensions in how these ambitions are communicated and prioritised at the highest levels of government.
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Source: Noah Wire Services