The BBC reported that Sunak would be making a speech in the next few days where he will announce that there will be no new energy efficiency regulations on homes. Number 10 confirmed that the speech would be today (20 September) at 4.30pm.

This comes after Housing Secretary Michael Gove said the government should relax the expectations put on landlords to improve the energy performance of rented homes by 2028.  

Plans to phase out gas boilers by 2035 will also be watered down and amended so that just 80% of gas boilers are no longer in use by the same deadline. 

A proposal to ban new oil boilers from off-grid homes from 2026 is also expected to be pushed back to 2035 with a goal of 80% being phased out by that date. 

Sunak issued a statement which said: “No leak will stop me beginning the process of telling the country how and why we need to change. As a first step, I’ll be giving a speech this week to set out an important long-term decision we need to make so our country becomes the place I know we all want it to be for our children.” 

He continued: “For too many years politicians in Governments of all stripes have not been honest about costs and trade-offs. Instead, they have taken the easy way out, saying we can have it all. This realism doesn’t mean losing our ambition or abandoning our commitments. Far from it. 

“I am proud that Britain is leading the world on climate change.”

Sunak added: “We are committed to net zero by 2050 and the agreements we have made internationally – but doing so in a better, more proportionate way. Our politics must again put the long-term interests of our country before the short-term political needs of the moment.” 

The ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is also expected to be pushed back from 2030 to 2035 and the Prime Minister is set to announce there will not be a tax on flying to discourage use.