Rishi Sunak is preparing to water down some of the UK’s climate commitments. In a statement released last night, Sunak said he plans to set out a “proportionate” response to climate change in a speech that was planned for Friday but could now happen sooner, after details that up to seven climate policies could be loosened were leaked to the BBC. Some of the changes being considered include delaying the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2035 and weakening plans to phase out gas boilers. Chris Skidmore, a Conservative former energy minister, warned Sunak it would be the “greatest mistake of his premiership,” while the UK car industry is also distinctly unimpressed. Lisa Brankin, UK head of Ford, said the company had invested £430 million to build electric cars in Britain. “Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three,” she said.