Row breaks out over Labour pledge to spend £28bn-per-year on green initiatives

A FRESH row has broken out over the Labour Party’s promise to spend £28 billion-a-year on green initiatives.

Officials strongly denied claims that Sir Keir Starmer is considering a plan to further water down their pledge.

Sources in the Labour leader’s office suggested the figure may not be reached due to the state of public finances and there was pressure to reduce its cost, according to the BBC and Telegraph.

Sources suggested there will be an inquiry into the briefing.

And a Labour Party spokesperson hit back, saying it was “categorically untrue” that Sir Keir had asked for the plans to be “watered down”.

The spokesperson said all policies would be subject to Labour’s fiscal rules but the position on the green prosperity plan remained “unchanged”.

“Labour will ramp up investment in jobs and energy independence through our green prosperity plan to a total of £28 billion a year as planned in the second half of the parliament,” they added.

Labour had originally promised in 2021 to invest £28 billion-a-year until 2030 in green projects if it came to power.

But last summer shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the figure would be a target to work towards in the second half of a first parliament.

Labour is also in a tailspin over benefits with Starmer wanting to crackdown, but fearing a revolt from his MPs.