Cllr Craig Smith is the Deputy Chairman of the Leicestershire Conservatives Area Executive and a councillor for Coalville North Division on Leicestershire County Council.
Recently I attended a local screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing in Hugglescote.
It was a thoughtful and well-attended event, bringing together a range of perspectives on climate change, environmental pressures, and the potential long-term risks facing our country. These are serious issues, and they deserve serious, open discussion.
However, what struck me most was not just the content of the film, but the framing of the response. The suggestion that we must move onto a permanent “emergency footing” or face inevitable societal collapse is a powerful message, but it is also one that risks oversimplifying a complex challenge.
The world is rarely that binary, and public policy certainly shouldn’t be.
As Conservatives, we have always believed in protecting our environment. That should not be in question. Clean air, safe water, thriving natural habitats, and strong flood defences are not abstract ideals; they are essential to the quality of life in communities like ours. In my role locally, I see the importance of resilience every day, whether that is improving drainage, maintaining infrastructure, or ensuring planning decisions reflect the realities on the ground.
But alongside that responsibility sits another equally important truth: you cannot protect the environment by undermining the economy. If businesses are overburdened, if energy costs spiral out of control, and if families are priced out of everyday essentials, then public support for environmental action quickly erodes. Without that support, even the most ambitious policies will fail.
This is why a balanced, practical approach is not a compromise, it is a necessity.
I was fortunate last week to also spend some one-to-one time with Claire Coutinho MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. What was clear from that conversation is that this balanced, pragmatic approach is exactly where the Conservative Party is now heading. We are aligned in recognising that environmental responsibility and economic strength must go hand in hand.
And it is important to be honest about this: the Conservative Party is evolving. Under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, we are under new management. That means learning from the past, recognising where policies may have placed too much burden on businesses or families, and setting a new direction that is rooted firmly in realism and delivery.
The current direction of policy too often places additional burdens on businesses in the name of environmental compliance. Mandatory reporting requirements, complex regulations, and layers of bureaucracy risk stifling growth without delivering meaningful environmental outcomes. A future Conservative approach will instead focus on freeing businesses from unnecessary red tape, allowing them to innovate, invest, and develop the technologies that will ultimately drive long-term environmental progress.
Energy policy is perhaps the clearest example of where balance is required. Without energy security, there can be no economic stability. And without economic stability, there can be no sustained investment in environmental improvements. That is why it is vital to strengthen domestic energy supply, including maximising responsible extraction from the North Sea, supporting the development of new nuclear power, and reducing reliance on foreign imports.
At the same time, we must reduce costs for households and businesses. Cutting VAT on energy bills, removing unnecessary levies, and backing a Cheap Power Plan are not just economic decisions, they are about maintaining public consent for long-term change.
This is not about ignoring environmental concerns; it is about addressing them in a way that is both realistic and effective. Offshoring industry in pursuit of domestic targets does not reduce global emissions; it simply shifts them elsewhere, often to countries with lower environmental standards.
A similar principle applies to transport policy. For many people, cars are not a luxury but a necessity. Policies that increase costs or restrict choice without providing viable alternatives risk alienating the very people they are intended to support. A common-sense approach would focus on improving road infrastructure, addressing issues such as potholes, and ensuring that policies reflect the needs of communities rather than imposing blanket restrictions from above.
Underlying all of this is a broader point about how change is delivered. History shows that lasting progress is driven not by fear, but by innovation. From advances in energy production to improvements in efficiency and new technologies, it is human ingenuity that has consistently provided solutions to complex challenges. But innovation requires investment, and investment depends on a strong, growing economy.
Perhaps most importantly, any successful approach must bring people with it. Policies that are perceived as unfair, unaffordable, or disconnected from everyday life will not endure. Public support is not optional; it is fundamental. A balanced approach ensures that environmental goals are pursued in a way that people can realistically support and sustain over the long term.
The environmental challenges we face are real, and they should not be dismissed. But neither should we ignore the economic realities that underpin our ability to respond to them. The choice is not between protecting the planet and supporting prosperity. The two are intrinsically linked.
A modern Conservative approach recognises this connection. It seeks to protect our natural environment while backing British industry, reducing costs for families, and supporting the innovation that will deliver lasting change. It is an approach grounded not in ideology or alarmism, but in practical, real-world solutions.
That is how we build a cleaner, stronger, and more resilient country, not through panic, but through balance, leadership, and common sense.
Cllr Craig Smith is the Deputy Chairman of the Leicestershire Conservatives Area Executive and a councillor for Coalville North Division on Leicestershire County Council.
Recently I attended a local screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing in Hugglescote.
It was a thoughtful and well-attended event, bringing together a range of perspectives on climate change, environmental pressures, and the potential long-term risks facing our country. These are serious issues, and they deserve serious, open discussion.
However, what struck me most was not just the content of the film, but the framing of the response. The suggestion that we must move onto a permanent “emergency footing” or face inevitable societal collapse is a powerful message, but it is also one that risks oversimplifying a complex challenge.
The world is rarely that binary, and public policy certainly shouldn’t be.
As Conservatives, we have always believed in protecting our environment. That should not be in question. Clean air, safe water, thriving natural habitats, and strong flood defences are not abstract ideals; they are essential to the quality of life in communities like ours. In my role locally, I see the importance of resilience every day, whether that is improving drainage, maintaining infrastructure, or ensuring planning decisions reflect the realities on the ground.
But alongside that responsibility sits another equally important truth: you cannot protect the environment by undermining the economy. If businesses are overburdened, if energy costs spiral out of control, and if families are priced out of everyday essentials, then public support for environmental action quickly erodes. Without that support, even the most ambitious policies will fail.
This is why a balanced, practical approach is not a compromise, it is a necessity.
I was fortunate last week to also spend some one-to-one time with Claire Coutinho MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. What was clear from that conversation is that this balanced, pragmatic approach is exactly where the Conservative Party is now heading. We are aligned in recognising that environmental responsibility and economic strength must go hand in hand.
And it is important to be honest about this: the Conservative Party is evolving. Under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, we are under new management. That means learning from the past, recognising where policies may have placed too much burden on businesses or families, and setting a new direction that is rooted firmly in realism and delivery.
The current direction of policy too often places additional burdens on businesses in the name of environmental compliance. Mandatory reporting requirements, complex regulations, and layers of bureaucracy risk stifling growth without delivering meaningful environmental outcomes. A future Conservative approach will instead focus on freeing businesses from unnecessary red tape, allowing them to innovate, invest, and develop the technologies that will ultimately drive long-term environmental progress.
Energy policy is perhaps the clearest example of where balance is required. Without energy security, there can be no economic stability. And without economic stability, there can be no sustained investment in environmental improvements. That is why it is vital to strengthen domestic energy supply, including maximising responsible extraction from the North Sea, supporting the development of new nuclear power, and reducing reliance on foreign imports.
At the same time, we must reduce costs for households and businesses. Cutting VAT on energy bills, removing unnecessary levies, and backing a Cheap Power Plan are not just economic decisions, they are about maintaining public consent for long-term change.
This is not about ignoring environmental concerns; it is about addressing them in a way that is both realistic and effective. Offshoring industry in pursuit of domestic targets does not reduce global emissions; it simply shifts them elsewhere, often to countries with lower environmental standards.
A similar principle applies to transport policy. For many people, cars are not a luxury but a necessity. Policies that increase costs or restrict choice without providing viable alternatives risk alienating the very people they are intended to support. A common-sense approach would focus on improving road infrastructure, addressing issues such as potholes, and ensuring that policies reflect the needs of communities rather than imposing blanket restrictions from above.
Underlying all of this is a broader point about how change is delivered. History shows that lasting progress is driven not by fear, but by innovation. From advances in energy production to improvements in efficiency and new technologies, it is human ingenuity that has consistently provided solutions to complex challenges. But innovation requires investment, and investment depends on a strong, growing economy.
Perhaps most importantly, any successful approach must bring people with it. Policies that are perceived as unfair, unaffordable, or disconnected from everyday life will not endure. Public support is not optional; it is fundamental. A balanced approach ensures that environmental goals are pursued in a way that people can realistically support and sustain over the long term.
The environmental challenges we face are real, and they should not be dismissed. But neither should we ignore the economic realities that underpin our ability to respond to them. The choice is not between protecting the planet and supporting prosperity. The two are intrinsically linked.
A modern Conservative approach recognises this connection. It seeks to protect our natural environment while backing British industry, reducing costs for families, and supporting the innovation that will deliver lasting change. It is an approach grounded not in ideology or alarmism, but in practical, real-world solutions.
That is how we build a cleaner, stronger, and more resilient country, not through panic, but through balance, leadership, and common sense.