Rachel Reeves was left squirming as a BBC presenter reminded her of her former words on Labour’s £28billion green investment pledge which has now been ditched.
Sir Keir Starmer yesterday confirmed the amount will be abandoned in his biggest U-turn to date.
During an appearance on BBC Breakfast, host Charlie Stayt reminded the shadow chancellor of comments made in 2021 when the policy was announced.
He said: “When we look back at your comments from 2021 when the pledge was made, I think people understand things change, but then we look at the words you used, I’ll just read them back to you, you’ll remember them well I’m sure.”
At the time, Ms Reeves billed herself as “Britain’s first green chancellor”, saying: “As chancellor, I will not shirk our responsibility to future generations. No dither, no delay. Labour will meet the challenge head on and seize the opportunities of the green transition.”
Ms Reeves looked awkward as Mr Stayt read her previous remarks to her.
He said: “Now what you just said to us is things change but it begs the question, why make that pledge which felt like it was set in cement, why make it if you’re prepared to turn back on it?”
She replied: “I’m absolutely going to be the first green chancellor.”
Mr Stayt pressed: “Well you’re less of a green chancellor is the truth, you can’t have it both ways. It is an enormous change from where you were, it cannot be the same.”
Ms Reeves said: “I’m not going to make any apologies for making sure our plans are consistent with the fiscal rules that I’ve set out, that they are responsible and achievable.
“The truth is no one foresaw the damage the Conservatives were going to do with the mini-Budget which crashed the economy, sent interest rates soaring.
“People experienced that themselves with their mortgages and an incoming government will experience it as well with the higher interest rates on Government debt. So we’ve had to adjust our plans but these are still ambitious plans.”
It comes after the Labour leader announced that the figure, central to the party’s green plans, would be dramatically cut to £23.7billion over five years if his party wins the next general election.
Sir Keir, who blamed the Tories for the state of the economy, defended the move following a backlash.
He said: “There is nothing we have said we will do that we are now saying we won’t do.
“I don’t want to have a row about the size of a cheque. I want to have a row about the outcomes.”
The Tories had seized on the original pledge as a key attack line in the run-up to the next general election.
Sir Keir’s party had already watered down the promise by saying the spending target would be met in the second half of a first parliament rather than immediately.
