UK Labor Sitting On "Powder Keg", Dragging Endless Growth Agenda Past Voters' Growing Environmental Anger

Labour is being warned it is hurtling towards a “powder keg” confrontation with environmentalists, green groups and a swathe of its own supporters in the next few weeks, amid its claims that “blockers” are standing in the way of economic growth.

A flurry of pro-growth measures have been announced by ministers in recent days as part of a government fightback against claims that the economy is stalling. The drive culminated last week in chancellor Rachel Reeves’s assertion in Davos that economic growth is more important than net zero. She is now on the verge of effectively giving her backing to airport expansion at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton.

However, both Labour figures and influential environmentalists believe Downing Street is playing a dangerous game by ratcheting up rhetoric aimed at those deemed to be holding up growth. They warn that pugnacious interventions from Keir Starmer and the chancellor risk undermining months of behind-the-scenes work keeping green and wildlife groups onside over the pro-growth reforms – with key flashpoints just weeks away. “She is drowning and she is pulling at everyone and everything,” said one Labour MP. “This is a woman who was claiming she would be the first green chancellor three years ago. It feels desperate. They are desperate to appeal to the wrong people.”

Others warned that Labour could lose support across a swathe of seats that helped it to a massive majority at the last election. They pointed to previously Tory-held, affluent and rural seats in which environmental and green issues had become increasingly important. “A lot of it is virtue signalling that they are bold on growth, but the knock- on consequences of that for their broader coalition [of voters] is pretty significant,’ said one Labour insider. “You can hold together your coalition by having a constructive conversation between developers and environmentalists. They are doing that behind the scenes. “But then you have people in No 10 shooting from the hip to look tough on growth, and then Rachel’s vibes. The whole green agenda in the Labour party is fairly substantial – [as it is] in a rural constituency sitting on a majority of less than 5,000. That’s a lot of seats.”

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/25/labour-risks-powder-keg-clash-with-environmentalists-as-it-puts-growth-before-going-green