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Rishi Sunak will head to Scotland on Monday as the Conservatives kick off a week of campaigning on energy security.

Number 10 said the prime minister would use the trip to “highlight the central role” the country will play in “defending the UK against disrupted global energy supplies” and reaching the government’s net zero targets.

Reports over the weekend claimed Mr Sunak would announce a new carbon capture project on the visit, as well as new licenses for North Sea oil and gas exploration – putting down a marker against Labour’s plans to stop any new drilling.

But Labour accused the PM of “lurching desperately towards a culture war on climate to appease his split party”.

Mr Sunak is expected to confirm how “Scotland will continue to be at the forefront of UK government plans to strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security” during his trip to the north east of the country.

The prime minister will also “highlight the crucial role that the region will play in enhancing and delivering on the UK government’s commitment to reaching Net Zero in 2050 and enhancing long term energy security for generations to come”

But the move comes as both main parties continue to argue over the future of their green policies.

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The Conservatives’ narrow victory in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election two weeks ago opened a can of worms within the Labour Party over its London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the capital’s outer boroughs – something Sir Keir Starmer blamed for the loss.

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Sadiq Khan says ULEZ ‘landmark decision is good news for London’

The Labour leader and Mr Khan are continuing to hold discussions over the extension, with Sir Keir calling on his colleague to “reflect” on the impact on voters.

But Mr Khan has stood by the decision, on the basis it will improve air quality for five million people in Greater London.

Meanwhile, MPs on the right of the Conservative Party are appealing to the PM to rethink the government’s net zero commitments in light of the win, with calls for delays to a number of targets – including putting back the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.

Mr Sunak insisted on Sunday the 2030 deadline would remain, but did announce plans to for a review of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), saying he was on the side of drivers.

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Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, Lord Deben, says the government needs to pursue its net zero targets

Downing Street has confirmed ministers are scrutinising existing pledges “in light of some of the cost of living challenges”, as the prime minister promised a “proportionate and pragmatic” approach to net zero.

Read more:
Is carbon capture and storage a fossil fuel industry fig leaf or vital for net zero plans?

What are the Conservatives’ green policies – and what could be scrapped?

Mr Sunak is set to meet industry leaders and workers while on the visit to Scotland.

And the government pledged that they and energy authorities would “go further than before in announcing continued decisive action to boost the capability of the North Sea industry to transition towards net zero, strengthen the foundations of the UK’s future energy mix and create the next generation of highly skilled green jobs”.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said any investment would be welcome, but he warned against any more “broken promises or delays”.

Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow climate change secretary, Ed Miliband, attacked the government for “13 years of failed Tory energy policy”, saying: “Every family and business is paying the price, in higher energy bills.”

He added: “It is absurd that having left this country so exposed, the Conservative Party is asking the public to believe they can fix it.

“And it’s telling that while Labour focuses on lower bills and good jobs, Rishi Sunak lurches desperately towards a culture war on climate to appease his split party, losing track of what he believes from day to day, depending on which faction he’s met with.

“It’s no way to govern and it’s costing working people.”

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RWAs build mirrors where they need building blocks

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RWAs build mirrors where they need building blocks

RWAs build mirrors where they need building blocks

Most RWAs remain isolated and underutilized instead of composable, DeFi-ready building blocks. It’s time to change that.

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Collapsed crypto firm Ziglu faces $2.7M deficit amid special administration

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Collapsed crypto firm Ziglu faces .7M deficit amid special administration

Collapsed crypto firm Ziglu faces .7M deficit amid special administration

Thousands of savers face potential losses after a $2.7 million shortfall was discovered at Ziglu, a British crypto fintech that entered special administration.

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Heidi Alexander says ‘fairness’ will be government’s ‘guiding principle’ when it comes to taxes at next budget

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Heidi Alexander says 'fairness' will be government's 'guiding principle' when it comes to taxes at next budget

Another hint that tax rises are coming in this autumn’s budget has been given by a senior minister.

Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was asked if Sir Keir Starmer and the rest of the cabinet had discussed hiking taxes in the wake of the government’s failed welfare reforms, which were shot down by their own MPs.

Trevor Phillips asked specifically if tax rises were discussed among the cabinet last week – including on an away day on Friday.

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Tax increases were not discussed “directly”, Ms Alexander said, but ministers were “cognisant” of the challenges facing them.

Asked what this means, Ms Alexander added: “I think your viewers would be surprised if we didn’t recognise that at the budget, the chancellor will need to look at the OBR forecast that is given to her and will make decisions in line with the fiscal rules that she has set out.

“We made a commitment in our manifesto not to be putting up taxes on people on modest incomes, working people. We have stuck to that.”

Ms Alexander said she wouldn’t comment directly on taxes and the budget at this point, adding: “So, the chancellor will set her budget. I’m not going to sit in a TV studio today and speculate on what the contents of that budget might be.

“When it comes to taxation, fairness is going to be our guiding principle.”

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Afterwards, shadow home secretary Chris Philp told Phillips: “That sounds to me like a barely disguised reference to tax rises coming in the autumn.”

He then went on to repeat the Conservative attack lines that Labour are “crashing the economy”.

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Chris Philp also criticsed the government’s migration deal with France

Mr Philp then attacked the prime minister as “weak” for being unable to get his welfare reforms through the Commons.

Discussions about potential tax rises have come to the fore after the government had to gut its welfare reforms.

Sir Keir had wanted to change Personal Independence Payments (PIP), but a large Labour rebellion forced him to axe the changes.

With the savings from these proposed changes – around £5bn – already worked into the government’s sums, they will now need to find the money somewhere else.

The general belief is that this will take the form of tax rises, rather than spending cuts, with more money needed for military spending commitments, as well as other areas of priority for the government, such as the NHS.

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