The ITV general election leaders’ debate was sparky, at points aggressive, and as expected left no clear idea of what an incoming Labour government might do. You guess that Labour feels it is doing enough by ‘just not being the Tories’, and it may be, but it leaves some big questions over green policies.

As an audience member questioned the change in tack that both parties have made in regard to climate targets, few details emerged other than Labour’s ‘commitment’ to setting up a nationalised energy provider (details to follow at some point, probably, maybe). For his part Sunak berated the potential costs to individuals, such as heat pumps and EVs, arguing for a ramping up rather than ‘all in’ approach. Starmer, in return argued that applying these technologies right here, right now would reduce costs in the future.

None-the-less, both parties are committed to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism to increases the proportion of heat pumps sold.

Alasdair Johnstone at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), summed the climate part of the debate up, saying: "The debate was just a little confused. What is clear is that the UK's over-reliance on gas has led to record energy bills, and they are set to rise again later this year."

Clear as mud then.

---