Households face extra £100 on bills if Britain hands over ‘blank cheque’ to EU by joining Net Zero scheme, Tories warn
BRITAIN is preparing to hand over a “blank cheque” to Brussels by tying in with a controversial EU Net Zero scheme, Tories warn.
And households could face paying an extra £100 or more on bills if the link-up to the European green plan goes ahead.
There are fears the PM will use a summit next month to align UK-EU emission trading schemes as part of a “reset”.
The system will force firms to buy credits for each ton of greenhouse gas they emit.
But linking the schemes means UK firms may have to pay a higher, EU-set rate.
Acting Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie said: “Labour promised to cut energy bills by £300, yet Britain faces some of the highest energy costs in Europe.
“Keir Starmer’s plan to tie us to Brussels’ carbon trading scheme would push them even higher.
“This is clearly about appeasing his Europhile eco-zealot allies.”
Mr Bowie added: “This is a blank cheque for EU alignment at our expense.
“Starmer should start putting Britain first, not Brussels.”
Cabinet Office Minister Lord Hunt last month said the Government was “actively considering the case” of linking to the Brussels green scheme.
But Tory MP Nick Timothy said: “Analysis shows we could be heading towards an extra £112 on the cost of living because of European alignment.
“So long as policy races ahead of technology, it means higher energy bills, fewer jobs and weaker growth.”
The move comes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said hitting Net Zero by 2050 is impossible and will see a serious drop in living standards.
A spokesman for the Government said he did not recognise the figures concerning the added household costs.
He added the Government is actively considering linking the EU and UK schemes “but it will be important any agreement works for the UK”.