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As Andy Burnham takes office as Prime Minister, our latest wave of MP data reveals that most remain firmly behind climate policies.
As Andy Burnham takes office as Prime Minister and ushers in his first policy changes, our latest wave of MP tracker data reveals that MPs remain firmly behind net zero and the transition to clean energy.
MP support for net zero remains strong
The new poll of 103 MPs shows that 76% of MPs overall – and 92% of Labour politicians – remain supportive of the net zero target. And although Conservative support has shifted over recent years – just 18% of MPs overall, and 3% of Labour MPs, oppose the target.
At the same time, 80% of MPs – including 92% of Labour MPs – think the government has either been ‘doing the right amount’ on climate change, or ‘should be doing more’.
There are also signs that climate policy support has grown amongst MPs in recent months: 70% of Westminster politicians (and 83% of Labour MPs) said it will cost ‘too much not to tackle climate change now’ (up from 66% of all MPs in Oct 2025); while 74% overall (and 89% of Labour MPs) said that the UK should be ‘one of the most ambitious countries in the world when it comes to addressing climate change’ regardless of what other countries do – up from 67% of MPs in the last wave of polling.
MPs back renewables amidst North Sea uncertainty
While speculation has been rife about what a “change of emphasis” means for North Sea drilling, Westminster continues to back the shift to renewable energy ahead of oil and gas.
Two-thirds of sitting MPs (68%) believe that renewable energy, such as solar and wind, will be ‘better for the country’s energy security’ – including more than three-quarters of Labour MPs (77%). Just 17% of MPs overall and 9% of Labour MPs think the UK’s energy security lies with coal, oil and gas.
MPs also view renewable energy as being more ‘popular with the public’ (66% overall; 64% Labour MPs) and ‘cheaper’ (60% overall; 76% Labour), while views on which energy sources are more ‘reliable’ have changed substantially – with equal numbers of MPs now saying this about fossil fuels and renewables (40%).
In addition, substantially more Labour MPs (49%) say they are supportive of ‘ending drilling for gas in the North Sea’, than opposed to this (just 18%).
But there is divergence along party lines here: whilst 49% of Labour MPs see solar and wind as more reliable, 89% of Conservatives believe this about coal, oil and gas. And views on ending North Sea drilling are more mixed amongst MPs overall (with 40% supporting and 35% opposing this).
With Ed Miliband moving to the Foreign Office, these will continue to be key issues for new Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.
Backing for household policies
With easing the cost of living crisis front and centre of Burnham’s first speech and cabinet meeting, large majorities of MPs back net zero policies that may help to lessen the pressure on households and local communities.
MPs strongly back incentives and investment for household insulation (90% overall, 93% Labour MPs), support for communities to own and benefit from local renewable energy projects (87% MPs overall; 89% Labour MPs), and financial support for low-income families to afford green home upgrades (73% overall; 85% Labour MPs).
But with Burnham’s first policy announcements garnering criticism for budget reallocations – including cutting VAT on energy bills, and a £2 cap on bus fares – there will continue to be questions about where the money comes from.
On this note, MPs expressed clear views in our poll. The majority (74%) are highly supportive of a windfall tax on energy and oil and gas company profits to support the climate transition, including 91% of Labour MPs – it’s Conservative MPs who diverge here.
This broad sentiment is likely to be aligned with the public stance – Climate Barometer’s recent survey with Flooded People, for instance, showed that three-quarters of Britons want big polluters and risk creators to pay for the cost of dealing with worsening climate impacts.
Burnham’s route forward
There is lots for Burnham’s team to take stock of when it comes to the path ahead: Walking the fine lines between supporting industry workers and trade unions, an emphasis on being a ‘cost of living’ government, greater devolution of decision making, and staying true to Labour’s manifesto pledges may be a tricky balancing act. And it’s to be seen which direction his government will take on many of the major issues.
Latest Climate Barometer tracking finds that people in Scotland and London are most likely to have seen measures to address climate change in their local area.
As highlighted in the chart below, people in Scotland are most likely to have noticed
Londoners are similar, but also noting more EV infrastructure, traffic reduction measures and flood defences. Londoners are also by far the most likely of all regions to have seen heat reduction measures implemented in their area.
Those in the North of England, Wales, England’s East and the Midlands, and the South are more likely than those in Scotland and London to say that they have seen ‘none of the above’ in their area.
This data points to emerging evidence for gaps and inequalities in the regional implementation of climate measures, building on other Climate Barometer tracker data showing income gaps around the same measures.
Policies proposed to address climate change are varied in scope. Our latest Climate Barometer tracker looks at whether many of these policies are seen by the public as ‘climate policies’ or whether they are believed to be targeting other issues.
Some policies are seen as primarily addressing climate change:
Many policies that involve improving the natural environment are seen as ‘protecting nature’ rather than tackling or responding/adapting to climate change:
Other urban infrastructure and design policies tend also to be seen as primarily addressing other issues:
And policies aiming to target the wealthy/ polluting groups are also less likely to be seen as outright climate policies
Policies often have multiple aims and goals, and whether policies are seen as ‘climate’ policies is not a problem in and of itself. In many cases, a climate policy being seen as a cost of living or nature protection measure may mean a wider section of society see its benefits. Crucially, it is important to be aware of how various policies are being ‘read’ by the public, and whether or not the aims of the policy are being understood.