Blair Criticizes Labour's Net Zero Plans as 'Doomed to Fail'

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has sharply criticized both the Labour Party's and the government's current net zero strategies, calling them 'doomed to fail' and labeling the debate around climate change as increasingly 'irrational.' Blair argued that policies asking citizens to make financial sacrifices for minimal global impact are eroding public trust and engagement. His remarks, made in a foreword to a report from his Institute for Global Change, have sparked significant controversy within Labour, with Environment Secretary Steve Reed acknowledging Blair's contribution as 'valid and important,' though not agreeing with every detail. The intervention was rebuffed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Downing Street, which defended its approach as economically beneficial and minimally disruptive to people's lives. Blair's comments have also been seized upon by political opponents such as Nigel Farage and Conservative ministers, who claim they validate skepticism about reaching net zero by 2050. The debate highlights deep divisions within UK politics over the feasibility and public acceptability of current climate policies.