Keir Starmer has UK game-changer at his fingertips — he just needs to change one thing

OPINION

As the world struggles to deal with the extra costs of President Trump’s tariffs, Keir Starmer should seize this moment and rid the UK of its debilitating Net Zero targets. This would be an absolute game-changer for the country. If Starmer did this he would reduce one of the biggest overheads of British businesses at a stroke. Energy prices in the UK are currently the highest in the western world – 100% more expensive than America and 50% more than France. At those prices it’s a wonder we’ve any manufacturing businesses left in this country.

Cutting the cost of energy – and taking the opportunity to unchain ourselves from the idiotic, self- flagellating Net Zero targets – would go some way to shielding UK businesses from the fallout from Trump’s tariffs and allow British businesses to be competitive again. Unfortunately Starmer, the stiff human rights lawyer with the entrepreneurial skills of a gnat, doesn’t have what it takes and won’t do it. This is reinforced by his decision over the weekend to “help shelter British business from the storm” saying he will lay the ground for “state interentions” to shore up the worst-affected industries.

This sounds like a reheat of the Covid lockdown playbook, with more state aid leading to an even higher national debt, and as sure as night follows day, more taxes for the UK citizen to bear. It’s the exact opposite of what this country needs and can afford.

No, what Starmer should do this week – if he had any common sense – is use emergency legislation to remove all green taxes and tariffs on UK energy and ensure that the country uses its own gas and oil reserves. Immediately this would make us more self-sufficient, less at the mercy of hostile states, and turbocharge Britain’s economy and make us all richer overnight.

Getting rid of the loony green targets would also be a life-saver for our struggling car industry which is being killed by the ludicrous arbitrary targets on selling electric cars customers don’t want to buy, as well as Trump’s 25% tariffs on car imports.

This week Starmer recognised the issue and so decided to reduce the penalty on car makers for not selling enough electric vehicles from £15,000 per car to £12,000 per car. Does he not realise how ridiculous that suggestion sounds for an industry on its knees? Does he really think that suggestion will move the dial or make any difference at all?

Now is the time for radical action to kickstart our flagging economy, to make the most of our Brexit-gained freedoms and reduce costs for businesses. It would make the UK a stronger country, more prosperous and – dare I say it – help to make Britain great again.

Then from this position of greater strength, we could negotiate a free trade agreement with the US, and the nightmare of the Trump tariffs would become the unlikely catalyst to shake off our economic stagnation.