Keir Starmer vows to ignore climate ‘extremists’ instead carve a ‘third way’ to protect planet and livelihoods

SIR Keir Starmer today vows to ignore the climate “extremists” and instead carve a “third way” which protects both the planet and people’s livelihoods.

The PM is announcing a £22billion cash injection over 25 years for “game-changing” carbon capture technology in Merseyside and Teesside.

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Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to ignore climate ‘extremists’[/caption]

Rex

He said the record ­investment would “reignite our industrial heartlands”, directly creating 4,000 jobs, while putting Britain on a “sensible” path to Net Zero.

Carbon capture pulls the ­emissions from burning fuels and traps them permanently underground.

While backed by groups including the Climate Change Committee, protest radicals such as Extinction Rebellion say it is not a proper solution.

Greenpeace last night ­criticised the move, calling it a “second-rate solution” that is “going to extend the life of planet-heating oil and gas ­production”.

But in a direct rebuke, Sir Keir writes on this page: “I know some like Extinction Rebellion will lecture me on carbon capture . . . they’ll say it isn’t the right choice.”

And warning that ­industries employing tradesmen including sparkies and brickies would go to the wall without action, he insisted: “It’s working people who come first.”

Ministers expect the plan to attract £8billion of ­private investment and indirectly ­support up to 55,000 jobs.

Officials said carbon capture would remove ­8.5million tonnes of carbon ­emissions each year, with the first carbon dioxide being stored from 2028.

The PM will today visit ­Liverpool with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy ­Secretary Ed Miliband to announce the ambitious plans.

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The PM is announcing a £22billion cash injection over 25 years for ‘game-changing’ carbon capture technology in industrial hot spots such as Teesside[/caption]