'Ideological posturing' criticism as Newcastle's Reform-led council scraps net zero strategy
As support is withdrawn for the borough's green policies opposition councillors are ready to challenge the new administration ahead of climate emergency vote
Newcastle Borough Council’s Sustainable Environment Strategy and steps toward Net Zero 2030 included installing solar panels on council-owned buildings, businesses and homes, transforming its vehicle fleet to electric and hydrotreated vegetable oil, and switching heating systems from gas to electric, heat pumps or hydrogen.
But since being elected last month, the new Reform council immediately axed this strategy, with council leader Jonathan Gullis, who defected after serving as Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent North from 2019 to 2024, calling the approach “the worst kind of groupthink,” adding: “As a Reform UK-led administration, we make no apology for putting residents before ideology, value for money before virtue signalling.”
Yesterday, it issued a statement saying that replacing waste collection lorries with electric models when vehicles needed renewing has been cancelled. While the council argues this will save money, it will lead to higher carbon emissions and a reliance on diesel, which is generally costlier and more vulnerable to price fluctuations than electricity.
Every pound of spending linked to Net Zero is now under review, he added. “Where money has not been spent or legally committed, we will look to stop it.” The council also plans to formally cancel the council’s emergency climate declaration.
Gullis’s comments sit in stark contrast to a recent report, The Race for Net Zero: The UK Net Zero Economy and the Transition to a Competitive Future, which points out that green firms support more than a million jobs and generate more than £100 billion in economic value. In Newcastle, this would include firms such as Hamptons Group, which offers a government-approved eco-friendly car scrapping service.
Emergency climate declaration to be voted on
The newly-elected administration is set to put forward a motion at the next Full Council in July formally cancelling the council’s climate emergency declaration, which was originally passed in 2019. If passed – and there is an expectation that it will be, given that 27 out of 44 seats are now held by Reform – all spending associated with that programme, as well as spending linked to the wider central government Net Zero agenda, will be reviewed.
A key vote is expected at the Full Council meeting on 22 July, where councillors will decide whether to formally revoke the 2019 climate emergency declaration.
Cllr Dave Jones, who represents Keele and is leader of the Labour group on the council, is one of many opponents of the new council’s lack of commitment to sustainability and climate. He told The Knot: “Scrapping the sustainable environment strategy and moving to formally cancel the 2019 climate emergency declaration isn’t bold local leadership; it’s ideological posturing dressed up as fiscal prudence.
