After the great U-turn, what exactly is Labour’s green policy now?

Keir Starmer has dropped a £28bn pledge that no one really understood. So, asks John Rentoul, is the party’s net zero plan any clearer?

Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer on a visit to Coventry on Friday (Getty)

As the smoke clears from the burning rubber of Labour’s U-turn in its plans to deal with the climate crisis, a more robust set of policies has emerged.

The party put out a statement on Thursday that said: “As part of the party’s finalisation of policies for a general election campaign, Labour has reconfirmed its commitment to the policies announced through the Green Prosperity Plan, to create jobs, cut bills and unlock investment.”

This is striking for two things: one, its pretence, almost worthy of Theresa May, that nothing has changed; two, that it doesn’t mention the climate crisis or net zero or anything to do with the environment apart from the word “green”.