What's happened
The UK government has abandoned plans to require landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their rental properties.
Why it matters
The decision to drop the energy efficiency requirements for landlords could result in higher energy bills for tenants and hinder progress towards the UK's net-zero emissions target.
What the papers say
The Times reports that the government's decision to abandon the energy efficiency requirements for landlords has been met with criticism, with concerns raised about the impact on tenants. The Mirror highlights Labour's warning that the U-turn will lead to higher energy bills for millions of families. The Independent reports that the government's energy efficiency taskforce has been disbanded, leading to accusations that the Prime Minister does not care about tackling climate change. BBC News reveals that the taskforce was disbanded following Rishi Sunak's decision to scrap energy efficiency regulations for landlords. The Independent also reports on the potential impact of the U-turn on renters, with campaign groups warning of higher bills and colder homes.
How we got here
The UK government had previously proposed requiring landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their rental properties, with the aim of reducing total UK energy demand and meeting climate change targets. However, the government has now abandoned these plans, leading to concerns about the impact on tenants and progress towards net-zero emissions.
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Rishi Sunak is a British politician serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer since February 2020. He was appointed Chancellor by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, following the resignation of Sajid Javid during a Cabinet reshuffle in 2020.
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