I'm absolutely fuming this morning. Just spilled coffee all over my keyboard while reading about Starmer's latest Brussels love affair. Typical Monday.
So here's teh deal – our illustrious PM is apparently gearing up to hand Brussels what Conservative critics are calling a "blank cheque" by tying Britain to an EU emissions trading scheme. And guess who'll end up paying for this cozy little arrangement? That's right – you and me, to the tune of potentially over £100 per household.
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What Fresh Hell Is This?
Back in 2019, I remember having this heated argument with my brother-in-law (massive Remainer, won't shut up about it at family dinners) about how Brexit would actually give us more control over our own environmental policies. God. I feel stupid now.
The scheme in question forces companies to purchase credits for each ton of greenhouse gas they pump into the atmosphere. Sounds reasonable on paper, right? Except linking our system with the EU's means UK businesses might have to pay whatever rates Brussels decides.
My neighbor works for a manufacturing plant in Sheffield. Texted him about this yesterday. His response: "Already updating my LinkedIn profile. We're screwed if this goes through."
The £112 Question Nobody Asked
Acting Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie didn't mince words when he pointed out the glaring hypocrisy: "Labour promised to cut energy bills by £300, yet Britain faces some of the highest energy costs in Europe."
He called it what it is – Starmer trying to appease his "Europhile eco-zealot allies." (I spent $230 at the pub last weekend and got into an argument with a self-described eco-warrior who insisted we should all stop using washing machines. Easy to say when you live alone in a studio flat, mate.)
Nick Timothy, Tory MP, dropped the real bombshell – analysis suggesting we're looking at an extra £112 on our cost of living because of this European alignment nonsense.
Brussels Before Britain? Come On.
Listen. I'm not saying we shouldn't care about the environment. My kids deserve a planet that isn't on fire.
But there's something deeply frustrating about watching Starmer prioritize EU relations over domestic concerns. It's like watching someone polish the brass on the Titanic while the ship is actively sinking.
Cabinet Office Minister Lord Hunt admitted last month that the Government was "actively considering the case" of linking to the Brussels green scheme.
When Technology Can't Keep Up With Political Promises
Timothy hit another nail on the head: "So long as policy races ahead of technology, it means higher energy bills, fewer jobs and weaker growth."
This feels like watching someone promise to build a skyscraper when they've only got enough materials for a garden shed. The ambition might be admirable, but the execution is going to be a catastrophic mess.
Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been saying what many of us have been thinking – hitting Net Zero by 2050 is about as realistic as me winning the Olympic marathon. It's just not happening without serious sacrifices to our standard of living.
The Government's Weak Defense
A government spokesman (probably some poor sod who drew the short straw that morning) claimed they "don't recognize" the figures about added household costs.
Yeah, and I don't "recognize" my credit card bill after Christmas, but it still needs paying, doesn't it?
They added that any agreement would need to "work for the UK" – which is about as reassuring as a chocolate teapot.
Poor families across Britain are already choosing between heating and eating. Adding another £100+ to their bills for the sake of EU harmony feels like watching someone pour champagne into the ocean to raise the water level.
I've got three kids and a mortgage that just went up by £280 a month. The last thing I need is Starmer playing happy families with Brussels at my expense.
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