Energy & Climate
22 January 2025
Government whips were in crisis mode last night as attempts were made to stave off a mass rebellion amongst Labour MPs ahead of a key climate vote tomorrow (Friday).
The Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill is supported by more than 190 MPs – 80 of them Labour – and will face a Commons vote on Friday.
The private members’ bill, sponsored by Lib Dem MP Roz Savage, sets out bold plans to boost the UK’s transition to net zero and increase protections for nature.
Campaigners say record levels of support across the Commons mean they exceed the threshold of 100 MPs needed for the backbench proposals to pass.
The Climate and Nature Bill is the first non-government bill that threatens to be voted through by MPs under Keir Starmer’s leadership, despite opposition from the government.
However, Labour MPs were ‘absolutely furious’ last night after whips issued last-minute orders to vote against the Bill, despite the party backing its ‘ambition and objectives’ while in opposition.
One said ‘I will not walk into the voting lobby alongside the climate deniers and those with their heads in the sand. It must be a free vote on Friday’.
Government whips had previously called on volunteers to ‘help manage the day’ on Friday, but there was no suggestion that Labour MPs would be instructed to vote against the measures.
At least two Labour MPs say they have since been told they will lose the whip if they support the private members’ bill, sparking alarm across the backbenches.
It is understood that party bosses are considering moving Friday’s decisive vote from one-line to three-line whip, where MPs’ attendance in Westminster goes from optional to compulsory.
‘Labour MPs are understandably absolutely furious with those ordering them to pull their support for the Climate and Nature Bill at the eleventh hour. Their constituents will no doubt share this anger too.
‘The cross-party proposals to tackle the dual climate and nature crisis are overwhelmingly backed by the public. However, tomorrow’s vote is on a knife edge and the Government is clearly running scared.
‘Ministers ought to take every opportunity they have to find a way forward and back the Bill tomorrow.’DR AMY MCDONNELL
Co-director of environmental campaign group Zero Hour
Environmental campaign group Zero Hour say the numbers ‘sit on a knife edge’ ahead of Friday’s vote.
They say supportive MPs across the country are cancelling constituency engagements and returning to Westminster in order to see the Bill voted through.
‘Dozens of my Labour colleagues have backed the aims of the Climate and Nature Bill for years, and pre-election, the leadership did too’, said a Labour MP supporting the Climate and Nature Bill.
‘At the last minute, we are now being told we may have to vote against the CAN Bill’, the MP continued. ‘But what message does this send to our voters? Off the back of the decisions on winter fuel payments, WASPI women and other U-turns and climb-downs, it tells them we are not a government of principle. Rather, one that cannot be trusted to keep to our word. And that, I’m afraid, will not end well for us.
‘Therefore I will not walk into the voting lobby alongside the climate deniers and those with their heads in the sand. It must be a free vote on Friday. Or better still let the Government support it themselves.’
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Majority say politicians cannot be trusted to tackle climate change and should instead consult the public on their plans.
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