Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has criticised the Green party for offering 'simple solutions to complex problems' and making 'undeliverable' promises that could leave voters disappointed. In an exclusive interview, Jones described the Greens as 'a bit like the populist left version of the populist right' of Reform UK, warning that both parties risk failing those who support them.
Jones's comments come as a YouGov poll shows Labour just four points ahead of the Greens, who are on 16% – more than double their 6.7% share at the last election. The Labour minister acknowledged that the party has fallen to record lows in the polls, losing support to both the Greens and Reform UK. He stressed that Labour must convince younger voters it is a 'modern party of the future' to win back progressive support.
On the government's green agenda, Jones insisted Labour is not rowing back from its commitments, citing funding for renewables and insulation. He noted that the global consensus on net zero has weakened, but said Britain continues to engage in the debate. Jones also defended the possibility of breaking manifesto commitments, arguing that governments must be 'frank with the public about trade-offs' and take decisions in the national interest, even if unpopular.
Jones admitted that the prospect of a Nigel Farage-led government keeps him up at night, describing the next election as a fight between Labour and Reform. He called on centre and progressive parties to unite against the populist right, saying 'we can't allow that to happen and we won't allow that to happen'.
